Taking action on the climate crisis

Jordan Lin (BASc ’22) is a rising star in the global effort to tackle climate change.  

A recent graduate of Waterloo’s mechanical engineering program, Lin uses systems thinking to understand and solve complex problems while rallying communities to take action and collaborate. Among other achievements, he’s co-founded a national non-profit and been named to the Top 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leaders in Canada.

Lin enrolled in engineering to build a technical skillset and problem-solving mindset, which would enable him to work in different fields. His focus on sustainability was reinforced during a co-op term in Tanzania, where he designed and implemented solar solutions with a non-profit R&D institute.  

“This was an opportunity to see the impacts of climate change firsthand and contribute to on-the-ground solutions,” he said. “I wasn’t just writing reports; I was installing solar systems on roofs to power clean cooking technology.”

That co-op term came on the heels of another pivotal experience on Waterloo’s main campus. Lin had noticed that student clubs, university offices, and faculty groups were all addressing sustainability-related topics but sometimes struggled with attendance or duplicated effort. He co-founded a network to bring those groups together to collaborate—known as Impact Alliance—organizing a conference that drew more than 150 participants including leaders from the University and government.

“The experience taught me that leadership extends beyond generating ideas,” he said. “It requires fostering an environment where groups are empowered, and ideas can flourish.”

Building on his student experience, Lin co-founded Reimagine17, a national non-profit dedicated to youth advocacy by leveraging the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In three years, the team raised $150,000 and provided 24 youth with paid opportunities to learn about and contribute to sustainability across Canada.

“I am proud of our legacy which I believe is still felt to this day,” he said. “I’m very grateful to see that Impact Alliance continues to make a positive impact at the University of Waterloo.”

Today, Lin works as a sustainability consultant for the engineering firm Arup, developing roadmaps for the infrastructure and building sector to implement sustainable technology and business practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He noted that post-secondary institutions play an important role in bringing innovative technologies to market.  

“Our institutions provide incredible research, development, and demonstration grounds for these new technologies and methods,” he said. “That's really important in order to translate those findings and pilot those new processes, because this allows innovations to realize greater adoption.”

Lin’s exceptional leadership in sustainability earned him a place in the tenth cohort of the prestigious Schwarzman Scholars program. Lin is one of 150 Scholars from 38 countries who will join the cohort this year, and the first Waterloo graduate to participate in the program.  

“I'm incredibly grateful and energized by this opportunity,” he said. “In these past three years after my undergraduate degree, I've only become more motivated to address the challenges of transitioning to a clean economy. I want to foster partnerships that lower the cost of sustainable solutions, ensure a just transition, and integrate sustainability principles in our communities. That’s my vision, and I'm also coming with an open mind to learn, connect, and adapt.”

This article was edited for length using generative AI.