The Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (CECCS) is pleased to present our 2023 highlights. Explore further details on our work and progress over the last year in our full Annual Report.
President's Message
In the 2023 CECCS Annual Report highlights, you will see how a dedicated community of students, scholars, academic leaders, staff, and partners are introducing sustainability into more areas of our teaching, research, operations and engagement than ever before. There is much to celebrate in its contents, and to challenge us to advance even further on our commitment to sustainability in the years to come.
On behalf of the University of Toronto, congratulations to the CECCS Co-Chairs, Subcommittee Chairs, Secretariat, and all members for their achievements over the last year.
University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) Valley Land Trail. Photo by Matthew Dochstader/Paradox Images.
2023 At a Glance
#1 for Sustainability: QS World University Rankings 2024
This year, the University of Toronto was named #1 in the world for Sustainability according to the second annual ranking on this topic by the QS World University Rankings.
The rankings recognize outstanding achievement in social and environmental sustainability according to a range of operational, reputational and academic measures and offer insights into the exceptional work happening across the higher education sector on sustainability. Please visit the QS website for more information.
Sustainability in Numbers
Over the past twelve months, the Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (CECCS) made strong progress on many of our priorities in undergraduate learning, embedding sustainability into and across institutional systems, and our goal of building a community of sustainability champions and change agents. We added new programs, initiatives and partners, and made tangible progress on deepening our impact and reach within and beyond the university. Below are a few highlights of the many sustainability advances being made at the University of Toronto (U of T).
Student Grantees and CECCS Co-Chair at Adams Sustainability Celebration. Photo by Tory Grewar.
Adams Sustainability
Adams Sustainability initiatives celebrate and enable sustainability activities made possible through the generous support of sustainability champion and CECCS patron Wendy Adams.
Adams Sustainability Celebration
The Adams Sustainability Celebration is a months-long event that culminates in a prize ceremony in the spring. In 2022-2023, the celebration once again served as a focal point for the University of Toronto (U of T) community to celebrate successes, inspire new activities, build relationships, and collaboratively deepen campus engagement around sustainability.
We hosted four signature events and supported an additional six student-led events. We also attracted more participants than ever and distributed a total of $66,700 in staff, student, and faculty grants and prizes. Among these, the Adams Sustainability Innovation Prize is the crown jewel. The prize recognizes promising and innovative sustainability enterprise ideas led by current or former U of T students.
This year, Priya Patel, Annabeth Lin and Mark Spahl won the top Innovation Prize of $10,000 for their startup Mission E. Mission E is a farmer-first cloud software (SaaS) platform that recommends optimal fertilizer application at the field level. This software promises to help farmers save money on excess fertilizers, reduce nitrous oxide emissions, and help meet national emission reductions targets. More details of this year’s celebration events and other excellent prize winners can be found on our website page 2023 Adams Sustainability Celebration.
Adams Internship Program
This year the CECCS piloted a new full-time summer internship program with public and non-profit partner organizations tackling sustainability challenges in the region and internationally. These internships provide U of T students with meaningful work experience that prepares them for careers in sustainability, while supporting our community partners to achieve their goals in sustainability and accelerated climate action. In 2023, we supported the following host organizations and internship experiences:
- Unity Health, Achieving Net Zero Healthcare
- Toronto Environmental Alliance, Towards Zero-Waste Circular Reusable Alternatives
- Toronto Community Benefits Network, Developing Neighbourhood Strategies for Inclusive Development and Environmental Sustainability
- City of Toronto: TransformTO Net Zero Strategy
- City of Toronto: Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure
- Higher Education Climate Network of Networks in collaboration with University of Cambridge
The internship at TCBN was an immensely valuable opportunity that provided me with practical experience, skill development, and a deeper understanding of sustainability challenges in real-world contexts. It allowed me to build a professional network and contributed significantly to my professional growth.
Tisya Raina 2023 Toronto Community Benefit Network (TCBN) Intern
The opportunity for TCBN to participate in this initiative was exceptional. Tisya’s support with community engagement and policy analysis activities has directly contributed to our work in advancing our organizational goals in ensuring inclusive approaches to the development of large infrastructure, energy and housing projects in Toronto.
Kumsa Baker 2023 Toronto Community Benefit Network (TCBN) Intern Host
Indigenous Agriculture & Plant Knowledge Keeper Isaac Crosby with Students at the UTSC Campus Farm. Photo by Kristy Bard.
Teaching and Learning
Highlights from the subcommittee this year include: a new set of principles for sustainability pedagogy and governance in development, and the successful delivery of the Agent of Change workshop to students nearing the end of their time at the University of Toronto (U of T).
Emerging Principles for Sustainability Teaching
A set of working principles emerged from the collective expertise and experience of sustainability teachers at the U of T and a review of the literature in this field. A group of students in ENV461 completed a Campus as Living Lab project this fall to inform the further development of these principles. The findings from this project will be reviewed by the Teaching & Learning Subcommittee in the new year.
Agent of Change Workshop
In March 2023, CECCS held the inaugural Agent of Change for Sustainability Workshop at First Nations House of the U of T’s St. George campus. The workshop was co-developed and delivered with members of the T&L subcommittee and partners from the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, the School of the Environment as well as the Careers Exploration & Education, Health and Wellness and Multi-Faith Centre of Student Life. This workshop explored what lessons young change agents can learn from Anishnaabe teachings, values and experiences as well as how relationships and community are central to collective action. The workshop also provided participants with guidance on self-care and how to craft a career for positive change.
Revitalization of University College. Photo by Matthew Volpe.
Research
The CECCS Research Subcommittee's mandate is to catalyse the research mission of the University of Toronto (U of T) with sustainability in mind. Highlights for 2023 included progress on the 'Integrating Sustainability into Research Project', and publication of two peer-reviewed publications on sustainability governance at universities.
Integrating Sustainability into Research
Development of a new project aimed at integrating sustainability considerations into research was a key focus for the subcommittee this year. Inspired by examples of mainstreaming in sex and gender analysis and responsible innovation into the research enterprise, this project explores what it would mean for research conduct and content to be shaped more meaningfully by sustainability objectives and imperatives.
Roll out of this project in 2023 involved interviews with research administrators, individual academics and subject matter experts with insight into the theories and practices which could support or hinder the process of integration at different levels. The draft conceptual framework and report outline integration opportunities and entry points across a spectrum from cognitive and behavioural integration to systemic transformation.
Two New Publications
Two publications featuring lessons in whole institution governance and ethical leadership were released as a result of CECCS’ work at the U of T.
In “Odd couples: Reconciling academic and operational cultures for whole-institution sustainability governance at universities” multi-year interviews and hierarchical structure analysis of ten global universities provided the basis for a discussion of barriers and pathways to whole institution governance of sustainability. The article is published in the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education.
In the chapter "University Responses to and Obligations for Business Air Travel Emissions", the case of scope 3 emissions from business-related air travel at the University of Toronto is explored in the book Conversations on Ethical Leadership: Lessons Learned from University Governance.
Both pieces were co-authored by a number of students involved in the projects, members of the CECCS team and in the Odd Couples paper, and representatives from international universities.
University of Toronto Mississauga, St. George and Scarborough Campuses. Defy Gravity Image.
Operations
In 2023, the CECCS Operations Subcommittee supported leaders across the university to accelerate and expand sustainability and climate action on all three campuses. Two key achievements included the expansion of University of Toronto (U of T) Climate Positive Commitment, and improved Waste Diversion and Emissions Reductions.
Tri-Campus Climate Positive Commitment
This year brought important milestones in the U of T’s ambitious Climate Positive Plan. On our St. George campus, construction was completed on the geothermal field and classroom below King’s College Circle as part of the Landmark Project. Also, the much-anticipated greenspace at the centre of campus was restored and expanded to include a new indigenous learning and healing garden in front of Hart House.
The year ended with new Climate Positive commitments from Mississauga and Scarborough campus Principals and Vice-Presidents Alexandra Gillespie and Wisdom Tettey, respectively. Together, these bold combined commitments will ensure continued action by the university on necessary international emissions reductions targets, and promise progressive innovation in the face of a changing climate across the full reach of our institutional footprint.
Emissions Reductions and Operational Innovation
Improving waste reduction and diversion is an important, yet often forgotten part of reducing emissions and the environmental impacts related to university activities. Over the last several months, CECCS collaborated with tri-campus sustainability offices, caretaking staff and others on a renewed strategy for waste-related impact reductions across U of T. The working group strategy outlines new measures that account for differences in municipal systems and location while promising to enhance waste diversion through best practice sharing, standardized waste audits, and coordinated performance tracking across all three U of T campuses.
Delegates at the People's Plenary at COP26. Photo by Paul Ellis/Getty
Engagement & Partnerships
Once again in 2023, the CECCS Engagement & Partnerships Subcommittee supported engagements and partnerships on and off campus, in the region and internationally towards enhanced collaboration and sustainability action. Two highlights included Orientation Week events and our collaboration with higher education networks.
Orientation Week
This fall, CECCS worked with Sustainability Office representatives to host Orientation Week events on all three campuses. These events featured the SDG Trivia Game created by John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape & Design students and 2023 Adams Sustainability Grant awardees Dorottya Kiss, Hashem Hashem, Jacob Muller and Orly Sacke. The game was designed as a fun way of learning about the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals while building a colorful tower for the win! CECCS staff and game designers were on hand to challenge students with questions relating to the sustainability at the University of Toronto (U of T).
Higher Education Networks
The U of T plays a leading role in the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3), International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) and World Alliance of Universities (U7+) networks. CECCS also currently co-convenes the Higher Education Network of Networks (NoN) in partnership with Cambridge University.
Together these networks are working to accelerate sustainability and climate action on campus and off. They are improving coordination among networks working globally and establishing new partnerships, including with the United Nations Climate Champions team to harness the unique skills of universities in capacity-building, global and north-south partnerships and knowledge mobilization to move the dial on sub-national contributions to climate. The NoN hosted two roundtables in 2023 including an agenda setting session at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).