Highlights from our Fourth Annual Climate Positive Energy Research Day

To open the day, CPE’s Executive Director Shatha Qaqish-Clavering shared key milestones and success from CPE over the past four years. With more than 500 student members (post-doctoral fellows, graduate, and undergraduate) representing 48 different departments across the 3 campuses, CPE’s reach is vast. Shatha also shared select highlights of CPE’s work in community engagement on climate action and energy transition industry initiatives, and shed light on new initiatives on the horizon. We look forward to supporting the next generation of climate leaders through exciting new opportunities to be announced.

Adding to opening remarks, Professor David Sinton, Academic Director at CPE and Interim Director of the Lawson Climate Institute, announced that the CPE Institutional Strategic Initiative be integrated into the Lawson Climate Institute. The new Lawson Climate Institute will build on U of T’s global reputation for sustainability and environmental stewardship. Building on the success of CPE, the new institute will combine and catalyze U of T’s  multidisciplinary strengths in engineering, science, finance, law, economics, business, and agriculture, as well as foster collaboration with governments, the private sector and public-sector institutions, in translating solutions-oriented research into real-world sustainable technologies and equitable, practical climate policies. We look forward to sharing more ways on how our partners and members can engage with the new unified institute that addresses the full spectrum of climate challenges, sustainability solutions, sustainable finance and policy innovation.

Following opening remarks from the CPE team, The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, delivered remarks as both a U of T alumna and climate leader. Following her remarks, Minister Dabrusin met with CPE research students who shared how they are tackling all aspects of the climate challenge through multidisciplinary approaches.

Andrei Swidinsky (University of Toronto) and Phil De Luna (Carbontech Entrepreneur) participated in a discussion moderated by Professor Sinton on carbon management and opportunities for this industry across Canada.

Andrew Steck (University of Toronto), Harneet Panesar (Hatch), Patrick Lo (Microsoft) and Robyn Gray (Sussex Strategy) shared key insights on the energy transition, and the role that AI that can play in the grid of the future.

Keiko Yoshioka (University of Toronto) and Nicole De Long (Vineland Research and Innovation Centre) shared insights on the future of sustainable food production and agriculture solutions for the health of both people and planet. The discussion was moderated by Shatha Qaqish-Clavering.

Throughout the day, seven CPE researchers from across campuses and disciplines shared 5-minute pitches to a panel of judges, who then had the challenging task of selecting the top three pitches for their potential to accelerate a just transition towards a net-zero future.