Accelerating Climate Change Education for the Next Generation of Professionals

The Waterloo Climate Institute has been awarded a grant from Natural Resources Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Program to accelerate the integration of climate change adaptation (CCA) knowledge and skills into professional degree programs in Canada, specifically Accounting, Architecture, Planning, and Engineering (Civil, Environmental and Systems Design).

The project focuses on integrating climate change adaptation in the curriculum through three inter-related objectives:  

  1. Needs Assessment: Complete and compile a national, holistic review of CCA needs in professional degree programs in Canada. 
  2. Curriculum Revisions: Design and integrate new CCA curriculum into UWaterloo professional programs, including experiential activities that support cross-professional learning, and in alignment with professional associations’ evolving competency development.   
  3. Communities of Practice: Establish a new national forum to support the integration of CCA curriculum into professional programs in other post-secondary institutions through capacity building and information sharing. 
Circle Infographic of the project objectives as components

Climate Institute Project Team

  • Sarah Burch (PI) 

  • Michele Martin 

  • Simon Glauser 

  • Juan Moreno-Cruz 

  • Elanor Waslander 

  • Darren Wynes 

  • Jerika Sanderson 

Other UWaterloo Collaborators 

  • Lisa Aultman-Hall  

  • Matt Borland  

  • Bruce MacVicar  

  • Jane Mah-Hutton  

  • Mark Seasons 

  • Blake Philips  

  • Maya Przybylski  

  • Adam Vitalis  

  • Scott Walbridge 

  • John Zelek 

External Partners 

  • Engineers Canada 

  • Canadian Institute of Planners 

  • Canadian Architectural Certification Board 

  • Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada 

  • Current projects

Project Timeline

April 1, 2024 to December 31, 2026