Fighting climate change
Climate change threatens Canada’s future. The time to act is now and universities are leading the charge.
Universities play an instrumental role in Canada’s commitment to be net zero by 2050 and are at the forefront of climate action.
Universities lead cutting-edge climate research, providing evidence-based solutions that inform policy and drive technological advancements. They prepare future generations with the skills and knowledge to find innovative approaches to fight climate change and test new technologies in real time.
As community anchors, universities collaborate locally to build resilience, share resources and offer safe gathering spaces during climate crises such as floods and wildfires. Universities are also actively reducing their own emissions, with several already achieving net zero or carbon neutrality.
Greater investment from public and private sectors is needed for Canada’s universities to tackle the biggest climate change challenges, reduce their own emissions and help Canada successfully reach net zero by 2050.
Canada’s universities have long been leaders in sustainability. Through Action for net zero—an initiative introduced by Canada’s universities in 2023—Universities Canada is working with its members to measure and track the sector’s climate progress, serve as a hub for sharing best practices to accelerate climate action, advocate for the necessary support to meet targets and collaborate on local, national and international levels to maximize impact.
Six action areas:
programs of study
sustainability courses
climate-focused continued education courses
climate researchers
research centres and institutes
campuses as living labs
