Research
The University of Toronto has a long history and distinguished record of research and innovation in sustainability and its related subjects, with countless scholars, creators and scientists leading transformative work on climate, energy, cities, Indigenous studies, environmental justice and more.
- 118 graduate programs with sustainability related content
- 300++ Canada Research Chairs
- 86 early career researchers engaged in transdisciplinary co-production research training and events
Brought together through several Institutional Strategic Initiatives and more than 30 academic units and affiliated hospitals, U of T’s research community studies sustainability through a wide range of disciplines and in collaboration with national and international partners and organizations.
Integrating Sustainability into Research
U of T’s research excellence in sustainability involves both conduct and content. Aided by the CECCS Research Subcommittee, the university considers new policies, procedures and practice changes on how research is shaped more meaningfully by sustainability objectives and imperatives. Opportunities to assess and improve sustainability engagement among researchers and to collaborate with the thriving sustainability research ecosystem are explored at various levels.
Sustainability Research Ecosystem at U of T
There has been a steady rise of new research centres and institutes on sustainability in the last decade, creating opportunities for improved coordination and collaboration.
Institutional Strategic Initiatives (ISIs) are large-scale, cross-divisional and interdisciplinary centres of excellence designed to produce research and solutions to address society’s most pressing challenges, including several dedicated to sustainability.
Collaborative Centre for Climate, Health & Sustainable Care
A multi-faculty academic unit of four faculties (the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing and the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy), the centre’s purpose is to catalyze climate and sustainability action for health and health systems through research, education and practice and policy change.
Institute for Environment, Conservation and Sustainability
IECS will support research to develop evidence-based solutions to address the challenges of a rapidly changing environment due to the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, loss of biosphere integrity and loss of biodiversity. The Institute will create conditions for interdisciplinary and historically grounded conversations about the relationships between people and the natural world.
Institute for Inclusive Economies and Sustainable Livelihoods
The Institute for Inclusive Economies and Sustainable Livelihoods will provide an intellectual environment for the exploration, development and sharing of diverse economic solutions to the environmental, technological, demographic and globalization changes that are producing increasing precarity, disruption and loss of livelihood. It will facilitate research and partnerships with community organizations in pursuit of its vision of sustainable and just economic futures in an age of degrowth.
Lawson Climate Institute
Through a multidisciplinary approach, the Lawson Climate Institute will ramp up U of T’s capacity to advance the technologies and policies needed for Canada to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It will also empower students from any field of study to make climate action a priority, infusing them with a fundamental sense of optimism by focusing on positive and achievable gains in environmental and human well-being.
Mobility Network
Institutional Strategic Initiative
A multidisciplinary, collaborative and diverse network of mobility and transportation researchers that connects the U of T’s exceptional strengths in data sciences, engineering and social sciences to address the technological, social, environmental and health disruptions facing society globally.
School of Cities
Institutional Strategic Initiative
The School of Cities is a unique multidisciplinary hub for urban research, education and engagement creating new and just ways for cities and their residents to thrive. The School fosters opportunity, collaboration, insight and knowledge exchange with a global reach, playing a critical role in addressing climate change and justice, migration and belonging, inequality and democracy and the world’s collective ability to address urgent urban challenges.
SDGs@UofT
Institutional Strategic Initiative
SDGS@UofT, based at U of T Scarborough, catalyzes research on sustainable development at the university, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Focused on peace and prosperity for people and the planet, this ISI builds on existing research initiatives and forges new interdisciplinary and global partnerships.
Researcher Spotlight
Explore Discover Research, a new tool to access a growing directory of U of T scholars.
Laura Tozer
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Physical and Environmental Sciences, UTSC
Laura Tozer’s research focuses on the governance and politics of climate change, energy, and urban sustainability. Her work tries to understand how we can accelerate action to address the climate crisis. She studies the policies and politics that can help us stop using fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy.
Shashi Kant
Professor, Institute for Management and Innovation, UTM
Shashi Kant is the founding director of the Master of Science in Sustainability Management Program (MScSM). He specializes in forest resource economics and forest management systems with an emphasis on economics of sustainable forest management.
Fiona Miller
Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
Miller directs the Collaborative Centre for Climate, Health & Sustainable Care at the University of Toronto and a national initiative for climate action and awareness in healthcare: CASCADES. In these roles, she leads and supports efforts to improve the sustainability of health systems through research, education, practice change and policy development.
Transdisciplinary Knowledge
Co-Production Research
Traditional academic training often focuses on extractive research methods, but real-world sustainability and climate challenges require a different approach – one that is solutions-focused and deeply engaged with non-academic partners.
U of T builds capacity and community around transdisciplinary co-production, targeting early-career researchers and graduate students interested in starting or advancing their TKC research.
Co-Chairs
Co-Chairs
Barbara Fallon (Co-Chair)
Associate Vice-President, Research, Office of the VP Research & Innovation; Professor, Social Work
Imre Szeman (Co-Chair)
Director, Institute for Environment, Conservation & Sustainability, UTSC; Professor, Human Geography
Subcommittee Members
Subcommittee Members
Heather Cunningham
Assistant Director, Research & Innovation Services, Gerstein Science Information Centre
Erica Di Ruggiero
Research Director, SDG@UofT ISI; Associate Professor, DLSPH
Jessica Fields
Vice-Dean, Faculty Affairs, Equity & Success, Office of Vice Principal Academic & Dean, UTSC; Professor, Health & Society
France Gagnon
Vice Principal, Research & Innovation; Professor, DLSPH
Vinita Haroun
Director, Centre for Research & Innovation Support (CRIS)
Ito Peng
Director, Centre for Global Social Policy, FAS; Professor, Sociology
David Sinton
Academic Director, Climate Positive Energy ISI; Professor, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, FASE
Matti Siemiatycki
Director, Infrastructure Institute, School of Cities; Professor, Geography & Planning
Michael Widener
Chair & Professor, Geography & Planning
Ayako Ariga
Project Manager
CECCS Research Subcommittee
The Research Subcommittee, a part of the President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (CECCS), supports and unites sustainability researchers into a community of practice and enhances relevant research initiatives. The members also foster the continued development of Campus as a Living Lab projects.