The Adams Sustainability Celebration aims to recognize U of T’s progress on sustainability-related issues, envision its future and mobilize sustainability-minded students, faculty and staff across the three campuses. The 2022 Celebration runs from February to April. Events include virtual showcases, virtual panels, and grants and prizes to support sustainability focused-courses and projects.
Author: Kristy Bard
U of T News: U of T geoexchange project to reduce emissions, boost sustainability learning: National Observer
https://climatepositive.utoronto.ca/U of T Chief Operating Officer of Property Services & Sustainability and CECCS Co-Chair, Ron Saporta, discusses the geothermal exchange system built at St. George campus. The facility is connected to U of T’s historic Landmark Project and contributes to the St. George campus’s ambitious goal of becoming climate positive by 2050 by cutting out 15,000 tonnes a year of greenhouse gas emissions.
U of T News: From climate action to social justice, U of T accelerates tri-campus sustainability efforts
“We can’t deal with these sustainability issues without also dealing with issues of social justice, equity and diversity.” says CECCS Co-Chair John Robinson. U of T is driving sustainability initiatives across three campuses, with equity and diversity made front and centre. These initiatives are outlined in the annual CECCS report and include: Procurement Services diversifying its supply chain to provide more opportunities to businesses owned by people from under-represented groups; the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design’s employment and mentorship program for Indigenous youth; and the CECCS expanding its membership by appointing a seat for an Indigenous staff member.
U of T News: Universities ‘a golden bullet’ in race to realize Canada’s net-zero future, U of T’s Scott Mabury says
U of T is advancing Canada’s goals of transitioning to a low-carbon future and strengthening its economy through each of its research, innovation and teaching missions – with students playing a key role. This includes the Sustainability Pathways to train the next generation of sustainability-minded leaders, the Institutional Strategic Initiative on Climate-Positive Energy, fossil fuel divestment to spearhead responsible investing, and building cutting-edge sustainability infrastructure.
U of T News: ‘He’d be thrilled to see this’: U of T’s massive geoexchange project built on pioneering work of late prof
Late U of T Professor Frank Hooper’s seminal work on ground-source heat pumps is being built on an unprecedented scale as U of T constructs Canada’s largest urban geoexchange system at the heart of the St. George campus. This project is being built in connection with the ongoing Landmark Project and marks U of T’s transition to a climate-positive future.
U of T News: U of T students, researchers brainstorm ways to advance UN Sustainable Development Goals
The 17 Zoom Rooms @ U of T event saw 120 graduate students, post-doctoral researchers and professors find ways to incorporate the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their academic activities. Participants were assigned to one of 17 virtual “rooms” to generate ideas on how to advance the SDGs at the university and beyond. This event was inspired by the 17 Rooms Initiative launched by the Brookings Institution and the Rockefeller Foundation to stimulate innovative forms of collective action to advance the SDGs.