Mediaplanet sat down with the Honourable Steven Guilbeault and the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson to learn about some of the most pressing environmental challenges we face today and how they're working with all stakeholders to drive our transition to a sustainable, just, and secure Canada for future generations.
How is the government leveraging nature-based solutions such as natural carbon sinks to address climate change? Additionally, how does the government plan to protect and restore natural ecosystems in Canada by supporting conservation efforts?
The year 2023 marks another big step forward, heralded by the global biodiversity conference, COP15, hosted in Montreal this past December. Coming out of COP15, Canada and the world are working toward conserving 30 per cent of lands and waters by 2030, as agreed upon in the historic Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss are intrinsically connected and we must tackle them together. Since 2015, Canada has committed over $120 billion and introduced over 100 measures to support climate and environmental action, and nature-based climate solutions are an important part of our plan. Wetlands, forests and grasslands work to store carbon, filter our water, handle coastal storm surges, deter flooding, shade our communities, and more. Nature is one of our greatest allies in the fight against climate change, helping protect communities against its impacts. Knowing nature is one of our greatest allies, we are continuing our work on conservation alongside the public and private sector to reach 30 per cent — the minimum required to effectively halt and reserve biodiversity loss.
That’s why we’re finalizing Canada’s first National Adaptation Strategy, supported by the Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan, to help build healthy communities and strong economies for generations to come. We are embracing the power of nature to reduce the effects of, and adapt to climate change, all while supporting biodiversity, by investing more than $5 billion over 10 years (2021–2031) in the Natural Climate Solutions Fund.
The Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund initiative is to reduce Canada’s net GHG emissions using natural climate solutions, while providing benefits for biodiversity and human well-being. NSCSF activities during 2021-22 to 2030-31 will seek to reduce 2-4 megatons of GHGs per year from 2030 to 2050 and onwards. Ecosystems will continue to sequester carbon for many years after the initial investment ends. When we protect and invest in nature, we can allow it to protect us.
How can clean energy assist Canada in accomplishing its critical mineral strategy, and in what ways will it strengthen Canada's supply chain?
We are proud that nearly 83 per cent of electricity produced in Canada comes from low- or non-emission sources, and we have committed to an ambitious plan to reduce emissions by 40 per cent by 2030 as outlined in the Emissions Reduction Plan. We are committed to achieving a net-zero electricity system by 2035, and have charted an ambitious path to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. To achieve these goals, in part, the federal government is investing in clean energy production and technologies through programs such as the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program, which provides up to $1.564 billion over eight years for renewable energy and electrical grid modernization projects.
In order to secure and create jobs, to grow the industries, and to lead the world with the resources and technologies it will need for generations to come, I launched the Regional Energy and Resources Tables in June 2022. The Regional Tables are part of a collaborative initiative with the provinces and territories designed to identify, prioritize and pursue opportunities for job creation, economic growth for a low-carbon future, and investment in renewable energy technology and infrastructure. To date, the tables for British Columbia, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador were set up during Phase 1 of the rollout. New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon were set up with Phase 2, and Ontario with Phase 3. We look forward to working with all jurisdictions in the future.
Many of the provinces and territories that have since joined the tables have expressed significant interest in the exploration and development of critical mineral opportunities. Through the Regional Tables, the federal government will be able to work with provincial and territorial jurisdictions to align funding and resources needed to develop these and ensure that this is done in a manner that takes advantage of Canada’s abundant clean energy infrastructure.
As we move forward towards a clean future, we are committed to working with provinces and territories, industry and Indigenous partners to develop the Critical Minerals Strategy in a sustainable way across Canada.
The Honourable Steven Guilbeault Minister of Environment and Climate Change
The Honourable Jonathan WIlkinson Minister of Natural Resources
Mediaplanet sat down with the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau to learn about some of the most pressing environmental challenges we face today and how she's working with all stakeholders to drive our transition to a sustainable, just, and secure Canada for future generations.
Within the context of sustainable development, what are some of the biggest challenges faced by Canada’s agriculture sector?
Canadian farmers are on the front lines of climate change and when extreme weather strikes — such as droughts and flooding — it hits their bottom lines directly. There are more extreme weather events associated with climate change and that is having a significant impact on agricultural production. However, the impacts are playing out differently all across Canada. For example, in 2022 the high winds from Hurricane Fiona caused severe damage to farms, infrastructure, livestock, and crops right across Atlantic Canada. While in 2021, the devastating floods in British Columbia wiped out more than 1,000 farms and 2.5 million livestock.
In an effort to address some of the challenges resulting from climate change and to minimize its impact on the sector, farmers have already demonstrated leadership by adopting climate-smart farming practices and beneficial management practices such as techniques like no-till, low-till, cover cropping, rotational grazing, and agroforestry.
Adopting these types of climate-smart practices is essential to improving the sector’s resilience, so that farmers can quickly get back to doing what they do best: producing high-quality food for Canadians. We also need to ensure that our efforts to reduce emissions do not undermine the competitiveness of farmers, especially at a time when food insecurity has reached unprecedented levels worldwide, the supply chain is increasingly strained, and labour challenges negatively affect agricultural and processing operations.
Given the large variations across regions and farm types across Canada, tailor-made approaches are required for them to be as effective as possible, and Agriculture and AgriFood Canada is committed to continuing to work in partnership with the sector to support the important work already underway.
Why is it important for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) to work with sector leaders towards improving outcomes for a sustainable future?
Collaboration is vital to ensuring that Canada can both fight climate change and grow the economy. Canadian farmers have long been responsible stewards of the land. Let’s work together to ensure prosperity, and build upon work already underway in the agriculture sector and beyond.
For example, AAFC is sitting down with farmers across the country to shape Canada's first-ever Sustainable Agriculture Strategy, a roadmap to help farmers adapt to current climate impacts and build resilience to a changing climate. Feedback received through the consultation process will directly shape the Strategy and support the work of the advisory committee, co-chaired by AAFC and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. This committee will meet regularly and is comprised of industry experts, including producer associations, Environment and Climate Change Canada and representatives from non-governmental organizations.
The Sustainable Agriculture Strategy will help set a shared direction for collective action to improve environmental performance in the sector over the longterm, supporting farmer livelihoods and the long-term business vitality of the sector.
The Canadian Advantage: Translating Energy Leadership into a Clean Energy Future
Clean energy is the path forward for a clean, sustainable transition, and Canada has the opportunity to lead at the forefront. Our nation has long been a global leader in energy technologies, and we are well positioned to lead the green energy transition, but we can’t afford to slow progress now.
Last year, G7 energy ministers highlighted two important goals: accelerate compliance with Paris climate goals and enhance energy security through greater reliance on low-carbon sources. Without significant reduction in emissions in the coming decade, global surface temps are expected to exceed the 1.5° C threshold set in the Paris climate agreement. The need for clean energy from renewable resources is clear and we must act now if we want to see Canada play an impactful role in building a sustainable future for generations to come.
“In Canada, we’re fortunate to have an abundance of renewable resources, but we still have a long way to go if we’re going to hit our targets,” says Michelle Chislett, Executive Vice President, Onshore Renewables at Northland Power. “We must drive this transition forward responsibly and collaboratively and be thoughtful in how we consider balancing short-term demand with long-term vision.”
Building on a Canadian legacy of energy leadership and innovation Northland Power, headquartered in Toronto, is a Canadian power producer that has, since 1987, been innovating at the forefront of the renewable energy sector, developing projects both domestically and abroad that support global decarbonization efforts. Experts at Northland see a clear path to Canadian ascendancy in renewable technologies, just as the country was previously ascendant in the domains of fossil fuels and nuclear energy.
“Canada has incredible renewable potential,” says Northland Power Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Hydrogen, Wendy Franks.
offtake market means Canadian clean energy is also supporting global corporations like Amazon and Google in reaching their net zero targets. Newer technology like hydrogen electrolysis, grid-connected battery storage and pumped hydro have been critical in overcoming one of the great challenges in the green energy transition: intermittency. As wind and solar have become more efficient and more affordable, the big question has remained, how do we keep the lights on when the wind isn’t blowing, and the sun isn’t shining? Today’s technology makes this an engineering opportunity, not a game stopper.
Northland’s new 250MW Oneida Energy Storage Project, being built in partnership with Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation, NRStor Inc, and Aecon Group Inc. is set to more than double Ontario’s grid storage capacity, allowing renewable energy to be saved and used at any time.
“Oneida will deliver critical capacity to Ontario’s energy grid,” says Chislett. “This project helps to provide stability to the grid by storing excess energy during times of over-supply and then generating energy during times of scarcity. Oneida is also an incredible example of governments working together — federal, provincial, and Indigenous — alongside industry leaders in the development of renewable energy infrastructure. It shows that we can help to build a stronger economy and support a sustainable future when we work together in collaboration.”
Green energy investment can pay dividends
A strong commitment to renewable energy is a climate necessity, yes, but it is also an unprecedented opportunity for economic growth.
Canada has incredible renewable potential.
“We have world-class wind resources on both our East and West coasts with favourable conditions for large-scale offshore wind facilities that, coupled with green hydrogen production, could help address energy security concerns and solve global energy dependencies while boosting job creation and local Canadian economies.”
Companies like Northland have built out wind and solar projects across the country to support local grids. In Alberta, where Northland have recently acquired a 1.6 GW portfolio of solar capacity, the strong
“Renewable projects drive job creation and increased investment in local communities that leads to sustainable economic growth and prosperity in rural areas. Clean energy sector jobs are estimated to account for more than 639,200 jobs in Canada by 2030.” says Franks. “Canada’s renewable potential is also an incredible export opportunity, particularly to Europe, if we act quickly enough.”
Realizing this opportunity, however, will require all sectors — in communities both big and small — working together. “Everyone has a role to play — it’s not just on the shoulders of big companies,” says Chislett. “The energy transition requires partnership, collaboration, and investment at all levels if we’re going to realize our clean energy future.”
To read the full interview, visit innovatingcanada.ca
The Importance of Getting Your ESG House in Order
Reporting on non-financial information like environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics is nothing new. Organizations globally have been voluntarily disclosing on sustainability performance for over two decades. What’s new is a pending shift from voluntary to mandatory disclosure, as regulators and standard setters like the Canadian Securities Administrators, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the European Union work to finalize ESG reporting requirements. “It’s an important shift because it aims to increase consistency, comparability and accountability in the reporting,” says Nura Taef, Partner and Co-Leader for Climate & Sustainability Reporting with Deloitte Canada
While most public companies in Canada report on ESG in some way today, doing so largely remains voluntary. Even if it isn’t mandatory for your business or sector, there are compelling reasons to report on it now and to do it right. “The way we make decisions — how we want to buy, who we want to buy from, and who we want to sell to — has changed, so the standards aren’t changing to lead the way, they’re changing to catch up,” says Chris Wood, Partner and Co-Leader for Climate & Sustainability Reporting with Deloitte Canada. It’s worth keeping in mind as well that reporting requirements could be far-reaching once finalized. Some, like the European Sustainability Reporting Standards could apply even to private companies with operations in Europe.
do business if we’re going to meet emission reduction targets. That’s likely to impact profitability and valuations, which affects reporting for things like goodwill today,” says Taef. With more stakeholders relying on ESG reporting to make decisions, there’s also increased risk associated with it. “If we’re ultimately going to evaluate ESG impacts in the same way that we do financial ones, then you’d expect we’re going to want the same level of confidence around the reporting. I think that’s one of the reasons we’re seeing finance organizations play an increasing role in ESG reporting,” says Wood.
Where to go from here
The way we make decisions — how we want to buy, who we want to buy from, who we want to sell to — has changed, so the standards aren’t changing to lead the way, they’re changing to catch up.
In addition to the new reporting requirements under development, regulators are also increasingly focused on the financial impacts of these non-financial measures. “We need to change the way that we
Managing a change of this magnitude isn’t without its challenges and in some cases, companies are reluctant to make changes given that many of the requirements haven’t yet been finalized. “What I usually suggest to clients is that we have a good enough sense of where things are going to land in the near-term, and that in the long-term it’s going to continue to evolve, so waiting won’t really help,” says Taef. While even those companies that are farthest ahead will need to adapt, many are still figuring out where to start, how to get organized and where relevant and reliable data is likely to come from. As a large scale transformation, the most important thing is to figure out who’s in the driver’s seat, what the aspiration is (for instance, strategy vs. compliance), and who needs to be involved to bring it to life. “I think the clients we see as being farthest ahead are those for which pretty much every function in the organization — from dayto-day operations to finance to investor relations to technology, are already at the table.”
Green energy is just one of the sectors of the economy growing to meet the demands of climate change. Jobs in the clean energy sector will grow by 3.4 per cent annually over the next decade — nearly four times faster than the Canadian average for other sectors, according to Clean Energy Canada.
As for Construction Superintendent Joel Stacy, seeing the results of his work is what matters. Stacy works for Solvest Inc., a company that specializes in installing solar panels in northern communities, focusing on the Yukon. As part of their work, they’ve put in place over 600 panels leading to over 12,000 kilowatts of clean energy.
“Seeing a design on paper, and then turning it into a solar system that produces usable electricity for hundreds of households in the Yukon is very satisfying,” said Stacy in an interview with Let’s Talk Science.
The green way forward
But Stacy is just one of many professionals who found their place in the new green economy. Every type of skill and passion is needed for Canada’s future. It's not just scientists; it could also be a small business owner making sustainable decisions, or even a farmer redefining their relationship with agriculture.
Devon Hardy, a program director at Creative Green Tools Canada, holds a job made possible by the emerging green economy. Her non-profit works with companies across the arts and entertainment industries to minimize their environmental impact.
“I love my job because it combines two things I care most about: art and caring for the planet,” said Hardy in an interview with Let’s Talk Science. “I believe that artists and creators have a unique ability to use their platforms to make positive change.”
Seizing the opportunity
With the green economy growing faster and faster every day, students have many new and exciting opportunities that weren’t present even five years ago.
But how can youth dream of these opportunities if they’ve never heard of them?
That’s where the Let’s Talk Careers Competition comes in. This event, made possible by ChatterHigh, Let’s Talk Science, Skills Canada and Engineers Canada, gamifies career exploration! Participants complete a 10-minute daily quiz exposing them to emerging opportunities, with many requiring STEM skills.
“Personally, when I went to school I didn’t have the opportunity to explore all this kind of stuff and I think it’s awesome because every time students were on ChatterHigh, I got a new question from them,” said Mr. Dzuba, a teacher at St. Theodore School in Saskatchewan.
In 2021-22, students collectively answered over 1 million career questions in 80 days. And the best part? The competition is returning soon, and a prize pot of $65,000 is available for participants.
Finding their place Canada’s green economy gives every young person the place to make an impact while pursuing their passions. As Stacey puts it, that means thinking outside the box regarding education.
“Don't think that you need to follow a university path after high school just because you feel it is expected,” said Stacy. “Do what motivates you! Make sure you explore your options.”
And with the green economy growing faster every day,
and more
The Energy Efficiency Movement Is Leading the Way to a Greener World
While there has been a lot of discussion about steps that households can take to reduce their energy bills, the significant potential for energy efficiency and cost improvements in industry has received less attention. With new energy security challenges and growing pressure to rein in carbon emissions, this under-exploited opportunity of industrial energy efficiency is taking on increased urgency.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) regards energy efficiency improvements as essential to a sustainable future. The agency estimates that globally adopted energy efficiency measures could reduce energy use by seven per cent by 2030 while still enabling the economy to grow by 40 per cent. These measures can have an almost immediate impact using existing, readily available technology, such as variable speed drives paired with high-efficiency electric motors.
Achieving energy efficiency improvements in this area requires a new level of leadership, collaboration, and cooperation. Technology leader ABB Canada is one company answering the call for action.
The need to act
“When we look at the global challenges that we’re facing as a society, we cannot stay passive. There’s a need to act now,” says Daniel Cotton, Vice President of Motion Business at ABB Canada, an innovative company with a history of excellence stretching back over 100 years.
As industry leaders, we need to be ambassadors for sustainability, climate action, and energy efficiency.
Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, and with more than 100,000 employees worldwide, ABB helps companies in sectors like manufacturing, energy, and transportation automate their business processes, switch from fossil fuels to electric power, and optimize operations through technology.
The company’s long heritage, deep industrial know-how, and global presence give ABB a unique vantage on the opportunities and challenges companies face when it comes to optimizing how energy is used. “As industry leaders, we need to be ambassadors for sustainability, climate action, and energy efficiency,” he says.
Driving change
“There are three important elements to consider,” observes Cotton. “First, how can we enable a low-carbon society? Second, how can we preserve our resources? And third, how can we work together to promote and enable societal progress?”
According to Cotton, enabling a low-carbon society means reducing industry’s carbon footprint or, ideally, reaching net-zero emissions. This can be achieved through the use of more efficient electric motors (which represent 45 per cent of all electricity used in the world), the use of variable speed drives, automation and control of HVAC in buildings, electrifying transport, and other processes. Preserving resources — rather than simply finding new ways to create energy — is also an essential consideration. “The greenest energy is the energy we never use,” notes Cotton. And working together to drive change is the most important ingredient.
Raising awareness and promoting action
ABB is dedicated to raising awareness of how efficiency can contribute to achieving net zero, which is why it launched the Energy Efficiency Movement in 2021, a global forum that brings together like-minded stakeholders to innovate and act for a more energy-efficient world.
ABB has invited all industrial businesses — even its competitors — to join, and in February, the Movement welcomed its 300th member organization, establishing a critical mass of companies committed to the pursuit of carbon-neutral operations.
As well as inspiring others, a key aim is to gather hard evidence in the form of case studies that demonstrate the potential for reducing carbon emissions and cutting business costs. The movement fosters networking, collaboration, and partnership, and activates ABB’s ecosystem and business partners to influence change.
In November, the Energy Efficiency Movement published “The industrial energy efficiency playbook” as a guide for executives concerned with rising energy bills and how to draw down emissions. The playbook presents research results from interviews with energy efficiency subject matter experts, including key Energy Efficiency Movement partners like the IEA, Alfa Laval, DHL Group, and Microsoft, on how to tackle these challenges. It presents 10 actions that companies can take to improve energy efficiency, reduce costs, and lower carbon emissions — right now. “The word ‘now’ is very important,” notes Cotton. “We understand the urgency.”
The action items include auditing operations for energy efficiency, right-sizing industrial assets and processes, bringing connectivity to physical assets, installing high-efficiency motors, using variable speed drives (which can improve the energy efficiency of a motordriven system by up to 30 per cent, yielding immediate cost and emissions benefits), electrifying industrial fleets, using efficient and well-maintained heat exchangers, switching gas boilers to heat pumps, deploying smart building management systems, and moving data to the cloud.
Solving problems
“With recent technology advances in energy efficiency, the improvement potential in industry is significant and readily available,” says Cotton. “So, rather than turning the lights off and halting production to save money, this important new report provides practical steps executives can take to reduce energy use and their bills while maintaining current operations.”
Achieving widespread sustainability in industry requires thought leadership, stakeholder collaboration, and a commitment to action.
Tania Amardeil
Daniel Cotton Vice President of Motion Business, ABB Canada
Demystifying Indoor Air: What’s Better for You and the Planet
Because it can’t be seen, it’s sometimes overlooked — but the importance of indoor air quality cannot be overstressed.
Katherine Cappellacci
Air quality greatly impacts a person’s health, both physically and mentally. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can lead to respiratory issues, bad headaches, allergies, and lower productivity levels.
On average, Canadians spend 90 per cent of their time indoors.1 At times, inside air can be even more polluted than its outdoor counterpart because of carbon dioxide levels, chemical pollutants from household cleaning products, poor ventilation of vehicle exhaust, dust, pollen, pet dandruff, and more.
IAQ levels became a popular topic during the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused many to reflect upon how to stay safe and healthy indoors. Driven by panic, it didn’t take long for misconceptions to arise. Many thought that to protect themselves, they needed to make a significant investment in medical-grade filters, which isn’t true. In fact, heavy-duty filters put greater strain on HVAC systems. Not only does this raise utility costs, it also lowers the system’s life expectancy.
Truths that need sharing
“You don’t need the highest-grade filter,” says Doug Waterston, who’s in technical sales at Kilmer Environmental Inc., a distributor of industry-leading HVAC product lines in Ontario for over 35 years. “Switching to the right filter alleviates pressure on HVAC systems. It’s not commonplace knowledge, but those energy savings from the reduced system pressure can pay for the filter investment over 25 months.”
This not only brings down costs, but it also demystifies another rumour — that one cannot invest in improving their indoor air quality and be energy-efficient. In opposition, an air filter such as highquality electrostatic polarized filters, reduces energy consumption by alleviating the strain on your HVAC system, which is much more sustainable.
Another myth is that older buildings have poorer IAQ compared to newly constructed ones. “That isn’t necessarily the case,” says Waterston. “Any building, old or new can have excellent or poor IAQ.
Switching to a Plant-Based Diet Can Reduce Global Warming and More
Canadians can significantly impact the planet’s health and their own wellness by eating plant-based foods.
Michele Sponangle
Canadians are becoming more aware that what they eat can impact the planet. Changing the way we eat to embrace a plantbased diet is a game-changing decision that can put a stop to the environmental devastation caused by animal agriculture.
An estimated 15 to 25 per cent of global warming is attributed to animal agriculture, including the direct emissions and the impacts of deforestation. The industry also causes soil degradation and is extraordinarily wasteful of resources. Faced with a climate emergency, it’s clear a diet heavy in meat, dairy, and eggs is not sustainable.
Aiming for a plant-based, more sustainable world
Eating a plant-based diet not only benefits the environment, it also prevents animal suffering and has ample health benefits, such as lowering the risk of many serious diseases.
Earthsave Canada is leading the way and encouraging people to make mindful choices about what they eat. Its goal is to promote the widespread adoption of plant-based diets. In addition, the organization offers evidence-based education and promotes awareness of the many ways the plant-based lifestyle can lead to a more sustainable world.
In fact, if everyone switched to a plant-based diet right now, the results would be dramatic. It would be equivalent to removing 9 to 16 years of global fossil fuel CO2 emissions by 2050. As well, water usage would drop since raising and feeding farmed animals requires enormous amounts of fresh water. On average, it takes 100 times more water to produce animal protein than plant protein.
What matters is the type of filtration and additional IAQ technologies that are being used in your HVAC system”.
Kilmer Environmental has been working to reduce the misunderstandings surrounding indoor air, especially regarding accessibility, cost, and its relationship to energy efficiency.
A simple enhancement process
In fact, sustainability and IAQ go hand in hand. “You don’t have to choose — you can have both,” says Giancarlo Sessa, Chief Strategy Officer at Blade Air, a Toronto-based manufacturer of Canadianmade indoor air quality technology that meets the highest industry standards, partnered with Kilmer Environmental for distribution. “It’s easier to achieve than some may think. Using Blade’s electrostatic filters, buildings are experiencing the two benefits simultaneously.”
There are many ways to improve air quality, including frequent ventilation, using non-toxic cleaning products, keeping your space well-maintained and free of moisture and mold, and using air filters or air sanitization technologies to reduce containments.
Kilmer Environmental and Blade work together with businesses to select the best possible product based on their needs. Science backed IAQ solutions include UV-C technology, commercial HEPA air purifiers, electrostatic HVAC filters, zero-waste carbon filters, and more. “We have clients who have improved air quality by 2.25 times while also seeing a 75 per cent reduction in energy use, which is a significant improvement for businesses looking to improve their sustainable practices and reduce operating costs.” says Sessa.
Contrary to circulating misconceptions, it’s evident that improving IAQ is all-around beneficial. “IAQ and sustainability are tied together. It makes financial sense and it’s proven to help improve quality of life,” says Waterston. “It’s not a luxury — it’s a necessity.”
Sources Canada, Environment and Climate Change. “Government of Canada.” Canada.ca Government of Canada, 29 Aug. 2022, https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/campaigns/canadian-environmentweek/clean-air-day/indoor-quality.html. Tests & Studies Available Upon Request.
REACTINE® and Tree Canada Collaborate to Help Improve Canadians’ Allergy Symptoms
Did you know that there’s a link between climate change and a longer, worsening allergy season? Higher temperatures are causing plants to grow faster, resulting in greater pollen concentration. As a result, allergy season is 20 days longer than it was in 1990.
“With a longer allergy season, many of my patients are experiencing prolonged allergy symptoms, including nasal congestion, sneezing, and red, itchy eyes,” says Dr. Stephanie Liu, a family physician and Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Alberta.
Medications such as REACTINE® Extra Strength provide fast, effective relief of allergy symptoms like itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, and nasal congestion and last 24 hours. Relief from allergy symptoms feels good, but REACTINE® is on a mission to tackle one of the roots of the issue by contributing to efforts to reduce climate change.
Working together to combat climate change
Excess carbon in the atmosphere increases the greenhouse effect, which warms up the Earth and is a contributing factor of climate change. Trees naturally capture carbon from the air, counteracting this climate change contributor. Reforestation and tree planting thus work against the effects of climate change.
REACTINE® is sponsoring the planting of 10,000 seedlings across Canada as part of Tree Canada’s National Greening Program. The sponsorship also extends to “Treemendous Communities,” one of Tree Canada’s Community Tree Grant programs, to help support a local community organization’s treeplanting project. These initiatives will help the environment while also helping to reduce seasonal allergies for millions of Canadians.
With climate change contributing to a longer allergy season and more Canadians suffering, REACTINE® has partnered with Tree Canada to help effect change.
Tania Amardeil
Doug Waterston Technical Sales, Kilmer Environmental Inc.
Giancarlo Sessa Chief Strategy Officer, Blade Air
How York’s Faculty of EUC Is Shaping a Just and Sustainable Future
York University’s Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change
(EUC)
Tania Amardeil
Aren Sammy Experiential Education Coordinator, Community Partnerships and Employers, York University
Lina Brand Correa Assistant Professor, Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change, & Business and Environment
Diploma Program Coordinator, Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change & Schulich School of Business, York University
Now more than ever, our world needs positive change to create a just and sustainable future. Climate change, extreme meteorological phenomena, biodiversity loss, water shortages, waste management, the omnipresence of microplastics, energy challenges, and sustainable urban development are just some of the issues that we must tackle as individuals, communities, a nation, and worldwide.
York University has long been known as a top-ranked international teaching and research university that prepares its students for longterm career and personal success. Its Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC) is continuing this legacy of excellence, offering academic programs that empower students as changemakers who can help to create the more just and sustainable future we all need through interdisciplinary thinking, experiential learning, and global perspectives.
An all-encompassing call to action
“The Faculty of EUC was created as an all-encompassing call to action to respond to the most pressing challenges the world faces today,” says Aren Sammy, Experiential Education Coordinator at York University. “We focus on people and the planet, and on being changemakers in the field.”
The Faculty offers three undergraduate degrees (BA, BSc, & BES), six undergraduate programs (Cities, Regions, Planning; Ecosystem Management; Environmental Arts and Justice; Environmental Science; Global Geography; and Sustainable Environment Management), two certificate programs (Geomatics and Sustainable Energy), and two graduate programs (Environmental Studies and Geography).
The Faculty of EUC’s goal is to inspire and prepare students for careers and engaged citizenship through experiential education, critical thinking, hands-on-research, and leadership skills. Its research spans the biophysical sciences, social sciences, and the arts, pushing the frontiers of urban, environmental, and geographical knowledge.
Solving complex problems
“The EUC is a multi-disciplinary faculty,” says Lina Brand Correa, Assistant Professor with the Faculty of EUC. “We have people looking at environmental, urban, and social issues from all sorts of different angles and disciplinary backgrounds.” This inter-disciplinary lens is critical to providing the broad approach and diversity necessary to tackle increasingly complex challenges.
Addressing complex issues also involves mobilizing knowledge in a considered way. In YorkU’s case, knowledge mobilization refers to the process in which academic research is translated, synthesized, disseminated, and transferred to the organizations, institutions, people, and communities that would benefit from its understanding, in order to effect positive change in the world. Too often, research is contained in the academic world — but its real value is when it’s accessible, out in the world, making a difference.
In the Faculty of EUC, knowledge mobilization happens through faculty members’ research initiatives and through the steadfast focus on providing enriching experiential education opportunities via action-oriented collaborations with changemakers, communities, and institutions.
Experiential education is really the foundation of preparing students for the real world.
We focus on people and the planet, and on being changemakers in the field.
A holistic approach
“We work closely with students in our research and there’s also a lot of community involvement in our research projects, so it’s a matter of establishing partnerships that are equitable and that benefit communities as well,” says Brand Correa.
Researchers in the Faculty of EUC actively and constantly consider how their work can have an impact in the real world — including in supporting student career success.
For Brand Correa, whose research focuses on the use of energy from a social sciences lens — “exploring issues of why we use energy the way we do” — taking theory into the real world is critical. “In one course, the experiential education component was field work on the Bruce Peninsula,” she says. “We can talk about a complex issue like energy poverty or energy justice as much as we want, but students don’t really understand it until they see it in real life and talk to people who are dealing with it.”
Solving real-world problems
This is why the Faculty of EUC places such a huge emphasis on experiential learning opportunities, which help students to deepen their learning and develop important professional and life skills, such as communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and civic engagement.
“Experiential education is really the foundation of preparing students for the real world,” says Sammy. “Most of our courses have an experiential education opportunity — from guest speakers to real-life case studies to workshops, field trips, research opportunities, work placements, and internships.” The Faculty of EUC also includes several living labs, such as the Ecological Footprint Initiative and the Maloca Community Garden, as well as its Las Nubes EcoCampus in Costa Rica. From the classroom to the workplace to the community, experiential education enhances students’ learning with real-world, hands-on learning opportunities.
Creating positive change
Beyond cultivating the next generation of changemakers through its graduates, YorkU is encouraging and empowering all individuals to take action in righting the future for a more sustainable world. The school’s new Microlecture Series in Sustainable Living offers faculty, staff, students, and members of the public the opportunity to learn about sustainability from six of York’s world-renowned experts.
“You can access the microlectures online for free and you can complete the whole series in less than an hour,” says Brand Correa, “The microlec tures explain some of the main environmental challenges that we’re facing and ask view ers to commit to put their learnings into practice. At the end, you’ll receive a Sustainable Living Ambassador digital badge.”
is inspiring and preparing students for transformative careers and engaged citizenship.
