OISE's Sustainability & Climate Action Plan
OISE's Sustainability & Climate Action Plan signals a new level of commitment to amplify the Institute's influence in teaching, research and advocacy to address the climate crisis by embedding Sustainability and Climate Action into our curriculum and teaching, research, governance, and facilities and services. As one of the largest and most research-intensive faculties of education in North America, and as an integral part of the University of Toronto, OISE is well-positioned to support and mobilize the education sector in this critical mission. This Plan aims to align with the shifts towards sustainability taking place across the university while simultaneously recognizing the responsibility of each division to activate their expertise and networks to accelerate this transition.
OISE's Climate Action Advisory Group provides feedback to the Dean on sustainability and climate action in the Institute.
OISE issued a Climate Emergency Declaration on Earth Day in April 2021 that was signed by over 350+ members of our community.
Recent Updates
- Check out the most recent developments in the Sustainability & Climate Action Plan
- We've finished the third year of implementing OISE's plan - how has this helped to 'change the climate' at OISE? Read the Report on the Plan for an assessment on its progress.
Action Plan Strands and Progress
Vision
Prioritize Sustainability & Climate Action by ensuring Institute supports and practices are in place to embed these into OISE’s governance structure and institutional culture.
Actions and Strategies
1: Prioritize Sustainability & Climate Action at OISE
- Make a declaration of climate emergency at OISE that aligns with those of federal and municipal governments and universities in Canada (completed ✔)
- Establish OISE as a ‘Living Lab for Education into Sustainability & Climate Action’ in alignment with other Living Labs across the university (in progress)
- Embed Sustainability & Climate Action into the governance structure and institutional culture of OISE (in progress)
2: Establish a Dean’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability & Climate Action
- Ensure representation from OISE’s academic departments and main business units on a Dean’s Advisory Committee to inform the implementation of the Sustainability & Climate Action Plan (completed ✔)
- Hold regular meetings of the Dean’s Advisory Committee to provide feedback to the Dean on how best to prioritize Sustainability & Climate Action at OISE (completed ✔)
3: Embed Sustainability & Climate Action into OISE roles and responsibilities
- Consult with the OISE community as to where and how Sustainability & Climate Action is best embedded into staff, faculty and students’ roles and responsibilities (in progress)
- Formalize and enact roles and responsibilities in relation to Sustainability & Climate Action (in progress)
4: Advocate for Sustainability & Climate Action policies
- Support the development and deepening of sustainability policies at the University of Toronto (in progress)
- Engage with with key educational partners and advocate for the development of sustainability policies in their jurisdiction (e.g. Ontario school boards, the Ontario Ministry of Education and other provincial & federal ministries, the Ontario College of Teachers, the Ontario Association of Deans of Education, the Association of Canadian Deans of Education, etc.) (in progress)
5: Initiate an OISE fund for Sustainability & Climate Action
- Set up an OISE fund dedicated to supporting Sustainability & Climate Action initiatives for students, staff and faculty in the Institute (completed ✔)
- Establish terms of reference for allocating funds to support Sustainability & Climate Action initiatives (completed ✔)
- Identify and secure sources of funding for this fund (completed ✔)
6: Create a new community hub for Sustainability & Climate Action at OISE
- Investigate the pathway to establishing a new community hub to prioritize and embed Sustainability & Climate Action in OISE’s governance, facilities & services, curriculum & teaching, research, and community engagement & outreach (in progress)
- Establish terms of reference, financial supports, and space for the community hub (in progress)
VisionMinimize the environmental footprint and support the health and wellbeing of OISE’s community by bringing the lenses of Sustainability & Climate Action to the forefront of the building’s operations and procurement practices. Actions and Strategies1: Develop campus partnerships to support Sustainability & Climate Action at OISE
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2: Establish baseline data and targets to minimize OISE’s environmental footprint
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3: Develop resources to support sustainable procurement practices at OISE
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4: Develop supports for sustainable transportation
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5: Amplify a culture of conservation at OISE
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6: Improve OISE spaces to support well-being
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VisionBroaden and deepen curricular and co-curricular learning centred on Sustainability & Climate Action at OISE to enhance education’s critical role in creating a more just, equitable and sustainable future. Actions and Strategies1: Develop Community-Engaged Learning opportunities related to Sustainability & Climate Action for OISE students
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2: Support curricular innovation towards sustainability
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3: Expand professional learning opportunities for students
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4: Strengthen staff and faculty capacity in relation to Sustainability and Climate Action
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VisionEnrich OISE’s capacity for and mobilization of educational research related to Sustainability & Climate Action while raising awareness about the sustainable management of research projects. Actions and Strategies1: Provide supports for OISE research in Sustainability & Climate Action
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2: Support knowledge mobilization of OISE research in Sustainability & Climate Action
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3: Take action to address the environmental impacts of educational research at OISE
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4: Expand OISE’s capacity for educational research related to Sustainability & Climate Action
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VisionEngage the OISE community and its partners in the collaborative development of Sustainability & Climate Action praxis to share through local and global outreach. Actions and Strategies1: Improve communications about Sustainability & Climate Action across OISE
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2: Deepen connections between OISE priorities and Sustainability & Climate Action
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3: Embed opportunities for community engagement in Sustainability & Climate Action across OISE
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4: Strengthen outreach related to Sustainability & Climate Action within and beyond the OISE community
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