Current undergraduate students

Wednesday, October 2, 2024 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EDT (GMT -04:00)

Student Pitch Competition – Design a Community Cooling Space

UWaterloo students are invited to design a modular outdoor community cooling space with a sustainable cooling system that will provide relief from extreme heat. This project is in collaboration with Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) which serves the regions of Oxford County, Elgin County, and the City of St. Thomas. Teams will be required to use the design criteria provided below. The winning design will have the opportunity to be part of the ongoing partnership between SWPH and Climate Institute in increasing climate and health resilience.

As the cost of flood damage rises, property insurance becomes more costly for Canadians. Currently, over 10% of Canadians cannot get flood insurance. Research suggests that sharing data on flood-risk management between insurers and local governments could lead to more affordable insurance. A Climate Institute member calls attention to the benefits of sharing data and highlights that ignoring this gap will worsen the situation following one of the worst years for insured losses in Canadian history.  

Monday, September 16, 2024 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm EDT (GMT -04:00)

Charting a Course in the Sea of Climate Misinformation

Join the University of Waterloo and the Waterloo Climate Institute for a conversation on how we find trusted information on climate action in a sea of misinformation. We’ll discuss ways to overcome the confusing and overwhelming options for climate action and build trust in climate science so that we can build resilient communities and live better together. 

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm EDT (GMT -04:00)

How to be a Climate Optimist: A talk by Chris Turner

Join the Climate Institute and the Faculty of Environment for an evening with Chris Turner, the award-winning author of How to Be a Climate Optimist. Turner will share insights from his groundbreaking book, which offers a refreshing and optimistic perspective on the climate crisis. 

A School of Public Health Sciences research team, co-directed by Drs. Craig Janes and Warren Dodd, is to receive more than $1.5 million through the federal government’s New Frontiers in Research Fund, which supports interdisciplinary and transformative research led by Canadians working with international partners. 

“Nature-based solutions, like increasing vegetation and tree canopies, are crucial in urban settings for cooling,” Crank explains. “It's essential to tailor these solutions to local climates, as what's effective in one region may not work in another. Additionally, engineered shade structures, such as bus stop shelters and fabric shade sails, also play a significant role in mitigating heat impacts.”

Three reports share a snapshot of climate action and opinion at the global, national and local level. The People's Climate Vote 2024, shares insight into global opinions on climate action, while the Pembina Institute's report 'All Together Now' details climate action in Canada, and the GHG Inventory for Waterloo Region shows reductions across GHG contribuint categories.