Banner with text "Courage to act: tackling the world's toughest environmental changes"

TD Walter Bean Professorship in Environment

We are proud to welcomeÌý³§¾±°ùÌýAndrew Steer, the 2025 TD Walter Bean professor.Ìý

Sir Steer brings decades of global climate leadership to À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ for two timely and thought-provoking lectures on how we - leaders, innovators, and citizens - canÌýrise to meet the world’s most pressing environmental challenges, for nature, our cities and our future.

As former President & CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund and a longtime global advisor on climate and development, Dr. Steer brings deep insight into how transformative solutions take root—across governments, industries, and communities. At a moment when the need for bold, coordinated action has never been clearer, he will explore what it takes to drive real progress for cities, ecosystems, and future generations.Ìý

From resilient cities to restored ecosystems, Sir. Steer will explore what strategies have worked and what hasn’t, how transformative solutions can be scaled—and how leadership across sectors is key. TheseÌýlectures invite us all to consider Canada’s responsibility and opportunity to lead on the global stage, not only by acting decisively at home, but by bringing together governments, industries, and communities to shape a more sustainable future.ÌýÌýAs climate change accelerates and global cooperation is strained, the future of our natural systems and societies depends on bold, collective action.

ÌýPresented as part of the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ’s À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ at 100 vision and in partnership with the Future Cities Institute.Ìý

About the 2025 TD Walter Bean Professor

man in white collared t-shirt, blue striped tie and thin framed glasses

Sir Andrew is a globally recognized economist and leader in sustainable development, and climate and nature action. He is currently serving as Professor of Economics and Sustainability at the London School of Economics and Georgetown University.

As the President and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund, he directed the world’s largest philanthropy for climate and nature. Previously, he served as the President and CEO of the World Resources Institute, the world’s foremost Think Tank/Do Tank on Environment and Development.

With a distinguished career spanning leadership roles in the World Bank and the UK Government, he has been instrumental in designing policies that advance economic growth with environmental stewardship. He has advised world leaders, corporations and financial institutions on green finance, carbon reduction strategies and sustainable development.

In 2024, Sir Andrew was knighted in recognition of ‘his sustained contribution as one of the world’s best-known leaders in global sustainable development economics with a focus on climate change and poverty reduction’. He was also named in 2024 by Forbes as one of the world’s 50 most impactful climate leaders, an honour that was recognized in the publication’s inaugural Sustainability Leaders list.

Sir Andrew is a Global Agenda Trustee for the World Economic Forum, where he co-chairs its Global Futures Council on Innovative Finance for Climate and Nature. He serves on the UK Foreign Secretary’s External Foreign Policy Board, is a Board member of the Global Energy Alliance for People and the Planet and a member of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development. He has served on the advisory boards of Bank of America and IKEA, and was co-chair of HSBC’s climate advisory committee.

Discover past lectures

Over the past three decades we have welcomed a number of outstanding research professionals from around the globe, including Dr. Denis Aheto, Dr. Shari Fox, Dr. Amber Wutich, and Dr. Julian Agyeman. Their lectures and many more are in our archives.Ìý

History of TD Walter Bean Professorship

The TD Walter Bean Professorship in Environment was founded in 1992 by the late Walter Bean, who was president of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Trust until its merger with Canada Trust in 1968. Since 1994, the professorship has promoted hands-on learning and a focus on youth, education and the environment. Formerly a partnership between the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's faculties of Engineering, Environment and Science, as of 2019, the Faculty of Environment will be the host of the TD Walter Bean Professorship in Environment.

Many of us are concerned about the world the next generation will inherit. That’s why our partners at TD Canada Trust, are committed to help create a more vibrant planet by continuing to grow and enhance green spaces for everyone to use. The Faculty of Environment is proud to use our unique position as a leading teaching and research institute for the environment to create sustainable solutions needed to address the complex challenges facing our world to bring you the TD Walter Bean Professorship and Public Lectures.

Thanks to generous support and sponsorship from TD Canada Trust, the Faculty of Environment continues its mission to raise awareness for global sustainability and offers an opportunity for our broader community including all À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ alumni, students, community members, and high school students from across Ontario to learn and understand how their decisions and actions affect the environment. With each lecture highlighting one or more of the United Nations' Sustainable Development goals, attendees are able to build the knowledge and skills necessary to address and unpack complex environmental issues.