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
Transforming Climate Action: Where the atmosphere and ocean meet
Dal researchers are putting unprecedented focus on how carbon is cycling in and out of the ocean, the world’s most important climate sink, allowing Canada to take the lead in ensuring global climate targets are on track with our environmental reality.
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'Soil is everything': Inside one Dal prof's work to understand how dirt can help humanity
Dr. Heung is transforming data into knowledge that will help a farmer or a forester or even a higher-level policy maker in terms of defining their carbon policy and climate change mitigation strategies.
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Dalhousie receives historic $154‑million investment to study the ocean’s pivotal role in climate change
The Dal-led research program receiving the funding, titled Transforming Climate Action: Addressing the Missing Ocean, is set to bring an ocean-first approach to climate science, innovation and solutions. It unites more than 170 researchers across Dalhousie and its partner institutions Université du Québec à Rimouski, Université Laval and Memorial University of Newfoundland.
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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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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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Exceptional student experience
Change is in your hands
Complex issues like water and energy security, climate change and environmental degradation touch virtually every person. 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.
Dal PhD student wins global research competition
Joseph Bedard, a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry, won top prize in the 2023 Falling Walls Lab Pitches competition in Berlin, Germany for his presentation “Breaking the Wall of Alternative Plastics.” His approach takes the most abundant resource in the air, nitrogen, and uses it as a building block for synthetic plastics.
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Civic university with global impact
Engage meaningfully with issues
Since 2010, the College of Sustainability has hosted a weekly ESS (Environment, Sustainability and Society) Lecture Series that is open to the public on topics related to environmental sustainability, social justice, and the impacts of climate crisis.
Watch Carbon Markets, Carbon Finance and Net Zero Targets and others on Vimeo
Can democracies get a grip on climate change? Takeaways from this year's Stanfield Conversation
While all three panelists expressed optimism that democracies can rise the challenge, the night's wide-ranging discussion made it clear that it won't be easy. It will require a lot more effort from politicans and citizens alike.
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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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Bolstered by $397M research program, Dalhousie continues push for international ocean observation at COP28
A delegation from Dalhousie will participate in the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) to elevate the role of the ocean in the fight against climate change.
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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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