Join us in creating sustainable change
Throughout the month of April we are highlighting how our diverse community of changemakers are working together to create a better future by addressing complex challenges — challenges that matter most, like sustainability one of our core values.
Join us to celebrate Earth Week (April 18 - April 24) and Earth Day (April 22).
You can also join the York conversation by using the hashtag #YUEarthWeek and the larger conversation by using the hashtag #EarthDay.
York University has been ranked highly by the Times Higher Education (THE) Global Impact Ranking including 27th globally for SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals and 24th for SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
A University-wide Challenge to achieve the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals
York students, faculty and staff have undertaken a university-wide challenge to elevate York’s contributions to the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
York University’s ecological footprint data shows world’s footprint has tripled
York University’s Ecological Footprint Initiative (EFI) produces the world-renowned National Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts. These accounts measure the capacity of lands and water to provide humanity with food and renewable materials, space for settlements and infrastructure, and the sequestration of carbon emissions.
Eco-modulation: What is it, does it work, and how can it apply to packaging waste?
Eco-modulation is a term that is gaining significant traction in recent legislative discussions surrounding extended producer responsibility. Calvin Lakhan, PhD and Co-Investigator, Waste Wiki Project, discusses how this applies to packaging waste.
How the war in Ukraine will shape Canada’s energy policy — and climate change
Major wars are often watershed moments in history. Their outcomes define governance structures, politics and policy directions for decades, even centuries, to come. Professor Mark Winfield explores the certain effects the war in Ukraine will have on the national, regional and global scales.
Research finds children and youth among the most vulnerable Canadians to climate change
What factors contribute to the vulnerability of Canadian children and youth to climate change? How can education and other factors enhance and promote their adaptive capacity? To what extent is Canada’s education system enhancing students’ climate knowledge and constructive climate change engagement?
Integrating UN Sustainable Development Goals in university curriculum, research, and partnerships
How have universities integrated the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and what lessons might be learned and applied therein? This is the key question that Nicole Arsenault, MES alumnus and Program Director of York’s Office of Sustainability, sought to address in her MES Paper on The Role of Universities Towards a Sustainable Future: Integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (2021).
Research finds children and youth Exploring and recreating ecologies that take shape between plants and people
What factors contribute to the vulnerability of Canadian children and At the ArtworxTO Hub West, 250 the East Mall, Etobicoke, a display is growing, quite literally, that looks to educate visitors on the relationship between the migrations of people and plants to the Toronto area. The installation is primarily sound-based and draws on award winning artist and PhD candidate Alexandra Gelis’ research on plants and seeds that have been brought to Toronto by immigrants.
Earth Week Community Profiles
Dr. Calvin Lakhan, co-director of the Waste Wiki Project shares how small acts can make a big difference. Read more.
For Joel Famadico Jr., studying at the Las Nubes eco campus in Costa Rica, inspired a love of storytelling and filmmaking. Read Joel's story.
Ishika Tiwari, a work study student talks about what she's learned while working with York U Sustainability. Read her story.
Jason Robinson was involved in many extracurricular activities while at York. These opportunities have helped Jason in his career. Read Jason's story.
Earth Week Celebrations
The York community is invited to participate in Tree Planting events at both the Keele Campus and Glendon Campus to get outdoors and to connect with nature. This has both physical and mental well-being benefits and is a perfect event to de-stress. This event will help create a greener campus, restoring ecosystems to help mitigate climate change.
Celebrate Earth Day with York U – hosted by the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change
Join us on Thursday, April 21 for a special evening event in honour of Earth Day 2022 and learn how York U’s Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change (EUC) is making positive change for people & the planet.
Scholar’s Hub @ Home | Rough Seas: Working conditions in the fishing industry and the impact on sustainability
Hosted by YorkU Alumni
Peter Vandergeest, Professor Emeritus& Senior Scholar, Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change
Do Canadians have a role or obligation to act with respect to working conditions for the seafarers who catch the seafood we consume?