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On September 19,the University of ݮƵ launchedthe Sustainable Futures initiative – a collaboration that brings together the ݮƵ Climate Institute, the Water institute, and the to accelerate holistic approaches to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a focus on the interconnections between energy, climate and water.
The event was held at Federation Hall with 125 of ݮƵ’s key collaborators, including government, industry partners, community organizations, researchers and students who gathered to celebrate the launch and learn aboutthe current andfuture projects we are pursuing to unlock solutions for greater impact.
Charmaine Dean, Vice-President, Research and International, and Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of ݮƵ, welcomed the audience and were followed by keynote speaker Catherine Abreu, Executive Director, Destination Zero, who provided a in Canada and reasons to push towards a net-zero society.
A panel session “Exploring ݮƵ's Sustainable Futures Initiative” with Institute Executive Directors, Sarah Burch, ݮƵ Climate Institute, Roy Brouwer, Water Institute and Claudio A. Cañizares, ݮƵ Institute for Sustainable Energy was moderated byTova Davidson, Executive Director, Sustainable ݮƵ Region. The panel focused on the Institutes’ strong history of collaboration and the potential to unlock more impactful solutions to advance progress towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in Canada and around the world.
Fostering deeper partnerships between the three institutes holds great promise in accelerating innovative research and education aimed at achieving Canada’s net zero commitments.
The afternoon technical panels on advancing climate change science and technology toward a net zero future described leading-edge research programs and projects.
Theme 1: Exploring nature-based solutions
- Marjorie Shepherd (moderator), Director, Science and Technology Strategies, Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Dr. Pascal Badiou, Research Scientist, Ducks Unlimited Canada
- Nandita Basu, University Research Chair in Global Water Sustainability and Ecohydrology, Professor, Earth and Environmental Sciences/Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of ݮƵ
- Meaghan Eastwood, Supervisor, Climate Transition & Sustainability, Region of ݮƵ
- Maria Strack, Canada Research Chair in Ecosystems and Climate, Professor, Geography and Environmental Management, University of ݮƵ
Theme 2: Exploring technology-based solutions
- Peter Massie (moderator), Senior Policy Advisor, Energy Technology Policy, Natural Resources Canada
- Kate Daley, Environmental Sustainability Specialist, Region of ݮƵ
- Laura Hug, Canada Research Chair in Environmental Microbiology, Professor, Biology, University of ݮƵ
- John McNally, Program Director, Clean and Resilient Growth, Smart Prosperity Institute
- Vanessa Schweizer, Professor, Knowledge Integration, University of ݮƵ
Theme 3: Exploring municipal-scale solutions
- Mary Jane Patterson (moderator), Executive Director, Reep Green Solutions
- Amelia Clarke, Professor, School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, University of ݮƵ
- Michael Drescher, Professor, School of Planning, University of ݮƵ
- Geoff McMurdo, Chief Administrative Officer, Activa
Thank you to all those who attended and to the guest speakers and panelists for making the event a success.
If you missed the event, and stay up to date with the Sustainable Futures.
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