2023 Institutional Sustainability Report captures the power of research and innovation

At the University of Calgary, our mission is to power positive change for a prosperous, compassionate, sustainable and equitable world. We strive to develop innovative research with the capacity to transform our world for the better.

The 2023 Institutional Sustainability Report provides select highlights demonstrating the diverse ways our campus community collaborates on campus and with the community to co-create pathways toward a safer, more equitable and sustainable future.

Spotlighting research and innovation for sustainability 

• Sustaining the “water towers of the Earth”

Water is essential to sustain all life. Nearly four billion people around the globe depend on high-mountain water for survival. However, the health of mountain water sources, like Canada's Rocky Mountains, is impacted by climate change. Now, more than ever, there is a need to develop holistic approaches to address the interconnected environmental, social and economic issues of mountain-based systems.

In March 2023, UNESCO announced the creation of the UNESCO Chair in Mountain Water Sustainability and named the UCalgary the host institution. The Chair will bridge geographic regions, disciplines, research methods and local water users to better understand changing water resources in high-mountain regions. Co-held by six international world-class water researchers, two of whom are UCalgary faculty members, this chair brings together international research and educational networks to develop timely solutions that implement Western and Indigenous knowledge systems for sustainable water management.

• Advancing the hydrogen economy

As the understanding of climate change and its impacts increases, there is a growing interest across the globe in harnessing hydrogen to produce clean electricity. In recent years, almost all member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), such as Canada, the United States, Australia, Japan and the European Union, have initiated comprehensive hydrogen strategies.

Researchers at the Schulich School of Engineering are paving the way for this transition. They have achieved a significant breakthrough toward creating higher-performance and lower-cost fuel cells to convert hydrogen into electricity, charting the path for the next generation of fuel cells.

UCalgary researchers are unwavering in their commitment to finding new and innovative solutions that address pressing climate concerns and have generated more than 2,300 clean-energy and climate-action research publications.

• Addressing gaps in children’s health care

UCalgary was the first in Canada to declare child health and wellness a research priority. Since then, UCalgary has earned a $125-million grant from the Government of Canada for child health and wellness research, helping us launch the One Child Every Child initiative — a historic investment in child health and well-being. This initiative brings together Indigenous partners, Canada's child-health research institutes, equity-deserving communities, local and national stakeholders, and global collaborators to address the gaps in the health and wellness of children and families.

The One Child Every Child initiative is dedicated to enhancing children's health care across various areas, including investigating precision health and wellness and support with neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions to help them shift from vulnerable to thriving.

• Read the 2023 Institutional Sustainability Report

To learn more about how UCalgary is sparking local and global change, visit the 2023 Institutional Sustainability Report webpage.

Want to play a part in shaping sustainability at UCalgary? Participate in this short survey to help inform the next steps for sustainability and climate change initiatives at UCalgary. Participants that respond by Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. will be able to win one of 10 prize packs, including five $50 gift cards to the UCalgary Bookstore and UCalgary-branded merchandise.