Accelerating the transition to a just, resilient, low-carbon future

The University of Waterloo Climate Institute brings together scientists and students to elevate and enhance the impact and excellence of innovative interdisciplinary research and education that empowers business, government and civil society to respond effectively to the climate crisis.

University of Waterloo’s unique combination of strengths and depth of expertise allows us to deal head-on with the complexity and interconnectedness of social, political and technological dimensions of the climate crisis.

Our expertise and focus

Our three core areas of research and innovation are developed through lenses of equity, justice, governance, and innovation to create truly impactful solutions for this existential global challenge. 

News

The University of Waterloo has achieved its first Gold rating in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS). This milestone reflects Waterloo's commitment to environmental innovation and sustainable practices. The university has made significant strides in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water intensity, and continues to invest in sustainability initiatives, including energy efficiency and curriculum integration.

The Waterloo Climate Institute's Associate Directors, Monica Emelko, Juan Moreno-Cruz, and Francis Poulin, have significantly advanced the institute's mission over three years. They guided strategic initiatives in deep decarbonization, climate resilience, and climate science innovation. Juan led events on climate hope and geoengineering, and developed the climate change game, Illuminate. Monica enhanced climate risks and resilience research, securing major grants. Francis connected Mathematics research with climate action and contributed to a new graduate diploma. Their efforts fostered interdisciplinary collaboration, secured funding, and strengthened the institute's impact on climate challenges.

In honor of Black History Month, the University of Waterloo celebrates Black researchers making significant contributions across various fields. Despite being underrepresented, scholars like Dr. Trevor Charles, Dr. Tizazu Mekonnen, Dr. Naila Keleta-Mae, Dr. Yverick Pascal Rangom, and Dr. Leah Jones-Crank are driving innovation and fostering inclusion, impacting areas from microbial research to sustainable polymers and race studies.

Events