Student Life

Universities and Climate Change

Universities and Climate Change
As the world grapples with devastating fires, floods, and droughts brought on by climate change, Canadian universities are leading a young generation of activists and entrepreneurs to find a solution. While many choose to deny climate science outright, young Canadian minds are ensuring that they have a viable future on our planet by holding the guilty accountable. Follow along as we list the ways Canadian universities are changing the carbon game and starting a climate revolution. 

1. Banning Plastic Bottles
Many institutions view this initiative as the first step. McGill University earned a gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education by doing just that. Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Calgary and the University of British Columbia have also all pledged to follow suit and install dozens of new water bottle refilling stations to further reduce their carbon footprint.  

2. Courses in Sustainability
Not only are Canadian universities taking concrete steps to offset their emissions, but a large number of them also offer sustainability courses at the undergraduate level. The University of Toronto, for example, offers many courses that blend geography, technology and entrepreneurship with environmental sustainability. Their objective is to not only impact climate change in real-time but also instill a level of consciousness and responsibility among future generations.

3. Carbon Neutrality
The newest trend among Canada’s largest universities is to reach carbon neutrality before the year 2050. In order to achieve this, universities are offsetting their emissions by establishing waste management systems and committing to green purchasing policies. Some universities like McGill are even going a step further by calculating and offsetting the greenhouse gas produced by indirect emissions, like commuting to and from campuses. 

4. Acknowledgment of Indigenous Heritage 
The University of British Columbia, McGill, and countless others have pledged to uphold and respect the land claims of the Indigenous groups. Their commitment: “to live and act today as if we are only borrowing the world from future generations.” By including everyone in the conversation of climate change, Canadian universities are taking a unique equitable approach to sustainability.

5. Student Funded Initiatives
The passion and commitment from young university students is so strong that dozens of climate protests are held on Canadian campuses each year. Furthermore, McGill University offers a unique jointly funded program where students contribute 55 cents per credit to sustainability efforts. The University also matches the donation dollar for dollar. 


Despite tireless efforts from universities across the country, Canada continues to be one of the largest polluters in the world per capita. While we contribute more than our fair share of carbon dioxide, Canada has the resources to survive the worst effects of climate change. That is why our commitment to sustainability must be understood as an effort to save humanity, not just our neighbours. 