News

Waterloo researchers are helping shape the next global scientific assessment that will guide world leaders from climate promises to action. These researchers are from the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment and members of the Waterloo Climate Institute: Dr. Sarah Burch, Dr. Vanessa Schweizer and Dr. Andrew Trant. We caught up with them to learn their roles in producing the upcoming Seventh Assessment report, how it relates to their work at Waterloo and what keeps them motivated.

A new policy brief from the Waterloo Climate Institute and the Christmas Tree Lab, led by Prof. Kelsey Leonard, highlights the need for climate resilience measures for Ontario’s Christmas tree industry.  To ensure the industry’s long-term sustainability, the brief proposes five key action areas for all levels of government: upholding cultural heritage, aligning crop insurance policies to tree farming, addressing climate-driven pests and diseases, integrating Christmas tree farms into climate policy, and promoting post-holiday tree recycling. 

Contrary to popular belief, new research finds that the use of artificial intelligence has a minimal effect on global greenhouse gas emissions and may actually benefit the environment and the economy. For their study, researchers from the University of Waterloo – Waterloo Climate Institute member Prof. Juan Moreno-Cruz – and the Georgia Institute of Technology combined data on the U.S. economy with estimates of AI use across industries to determine the environmental fallout if AI use continues its current trajectory.

The Ontario Climate Risk Workshop, held on October 30–31, 2024, brought together a diverse group of voices, including academics, government officials, private sector representatives, Indigenous leaders, NGOs, and community members, to collaborate and identify localized solutions for addressing climate risk.

The Waterloo Climate Institute is pleased to highlight member Prof. Simron Singh’s recent collaboration with the University of Augsburg in establishing a new international research network that aims to develop innovative strategies for climate adaptation.

Can a small island truly achieve sustainability? This is the provocative question that Dr. Simron Singh, professor in the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, explores in his new documentary “Metabolism of Islands”. 

A new technical brief from the Waterloo Climate Institute is urging policymakers to consider the full cycle of material use and associated services delivered by critical infrastructure —the “stock-flow-service” nexus—to ensure long-term sustainability and resilience for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Flooding is already Canada’s most costly natural hazard, and the threat is only growing. Climate change, aging infrastructure and unrestrained development in flood-prone areas have left millions of Canadians vulnerable. 

Marking its final chapter, the global research network TRANSFORM celebrates partnerships, research and a lasting legacy. 

The University of Waterloo’s Climate Institute is offering a new Municipal Climate Adaptation Certificate, designed specifically for municipal staff who are looking to strengthen their climate resilience skills.