SDG 13: Climate Action
Learn more about UN SDG 13 and take action
Dalhousie University has been involved in promoting sustainability in its operations and curriculum for over 30 years. However, global and local sustainability challenges such as energy security and efficiency remain, and these challenges are compounding.
Dalhousie strives for a culture of sustainability that's reflected in the words we use, the policies we make, and the actions we take. And we're focusing on sustainability goals that achieve the positive ecological, economic, social, and health outcomes we desire.
High-impact research
Dal project awarded millions to help cities fight emissions
Data collected in the first year, currently in the Halifax Regional Municipality, will inform the framework used to gather data from the other municipalities and give researchers the opportunity to more easily estimate the amount of GHG emitted from travel patterns within Canadian municipalities.
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Taking climate action: Submergible buoys, dung beetles, better batteries
When a challenge is as big as climate change there are plenty of ways to investigate it. Dal researchers are learning about ocean dynamics and composition, working to understand the relationship between dung beetles and methane gas, and making breakthroughs in battery science.
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Adjusting the intensity of farming can help address climate change
Derek Lynch, professor of Agronomy and Agroecology, says we have little chance of tackling climate change and reducing biodiversity loss without a redesign of the world’s largest industry: agriculture and food.
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Dal researchers aim to elevate ocean’s role in fight against climate change
Without comprehensive data reporting on the dynamics and composition of the ocean, policymakers will continue to draft targets that only skim the surface. They may also overlook opportunities to harness the ocean’s power to help mitigate climate change or build equitable adaptation policies that protect people from what might be a more rapidly accelerating problem than we thought.
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Exceptional student experience
Change is in your hands
Complex issues like water and energy security, climate change and environmental degradation touch virtually every person, in every profession, in every part of the world. Studying Environment, Sustainability and Society (ESS) at Dalhousie will allow you to explore the links between complex environmental issues and poverty, globalization, consumption and urbanization. You’ll gain skills that will make you a leader and change-maker in your chosen career path.
Environmental Law II ‑ Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Climate Change
This course takes an in-depth interdisciplinary look at one of our greatest global environmental challenges: climate change. Climate change is used as a case study to explore the role of law in addressing such challenges. Current law and policy approaches to climate change are considered at global, regional, national and sub-national levels.
Environmental Science Program Student Society (EPSS)
The Environmental Science Program Student Society (EPSS) works to create networking opportunities for students in Environmental Programs, help students communicate with faculty, and organize fun and informative events promoting sustainability and environmentally-conscious behaviours.
Epic ocean journey offers students a unique window into the climate crisis
Molly Wells, a fourth-year marine biology student at Dal spent about 10 weeks on the open seas with 90 students from 12 countries and 35 fields of study as part of a summer course at sea funded by the Dal-led Ocean Frontier Institute.
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Civic university with global impact
Dal alum recognized for youth leadership on climate action
Jasveen Brar (BSc’17) is the executive director of Youth Climate Lab (YCL), a Canada-based global non-profit organization that equips youth with the skills, financial access and policy knowledge needed to become leaders in the fight against climate change.
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Behind the scenes: How COP27 reached a deal that supports better monitoring of oceans to curb climate crisis
Anya Waite, CEO and Scientific Director, Ocean Frontier Institute; Professor and Associate VP Research, joined representatives from nations around the world at COP27 as they inched toward an agreement on how to observe the changing atmosphere, land and ocean more comprehensively to ensure the world can reach its climate targets.
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Climate change‑combatting innovations from Dal alumni sisters elevated to global stage at COP27
Innovations from sisters Leah (BSc’11, MSc’13, PhD’18) and Sarah Ellis (BSc’17) companies were featured at the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Sublime Systems is commercializing a process for low-carbon cement production. While Via Separations aims to eliminate energy used in industrial processes.
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Dalhousie co‑hosts national trainee program seeking to reduce health sector’s impact on climate change
A new program launched this summer by a collection of national research groups in collaboration with Dalhousie and other Canadian universities offered trainees in health-related professions a window into the substantial impact of modern health care on climate change.
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Foundation for inclusion and distinction
When we plan sustainable events, we put our values into actions
The Sustainable Event Certification is about recognizing our campus community for planning events that reduce our impact on the environment. The program focuses on waste,water and energy reduction as well as inclusivity and accessibility.
A decade of experience working on university climate strategies
On December 11, 2009, Dalhousie signed the University and College’s Climate Change Statement for Canada. Dalhousie's second edition of the University Climate Change Plan focuses on university operational climate objectives. Goals relate to mitigation, adaptation and education outcomes.
Green Labs
Dalhousie has over 1350 laboratory spaces across our four campuses and lab spaces typically are four to five times more energy intensive than classroom space. The Green Labs program goal is to develop standards and inspire the many behavioural changes that are needed throughout the scientific community.
Dalhousie's third STARS gold rating in a row marks a decade of improvement
Dalhousie has once again earned a gold rating from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). A charter participant in STARS, Dalhousie’s first submission ten years ago was given a silver rating — the university has been earning gold since then.
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