McMaster University plans for action against climate change in publicly shared strategies, engages in important climate research in partnership with community and government and offers climate action education to its students, ensuring the participation of all who want to learn and address climate change.

2022-2026 Sustainability Strategy

The Sustainability Strategy (published in 2022) provides an overview of all the actions necessary to ensure our campus and community are helping us measure and reduce both our greenhouse gas emissions and the impacts they have on our environment and our health.

Net Zero Carbon Roadmap

Our Net Zero Carbon Roadmap (established in 2021) provides an inventory of existing emissions, our reduction goals and priority actions to ensure we are reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions from all campus activities.

Campus Plan

Our Campus Plan (which will be published sometime during the Fall) provides an overview of the design characteristics for our Main Campus in Hamilton, taking into account sustainability and climate action as one of the key principles. One of the purposes of the campus plan (a long-term vision for the campus) is to support the University’s response to the climate and biodiversity emergency, and the delivery of our Sustainability Strategy and Net Zero Carbon Roadmap.

Sustainable Building Policy

In 2005, McMaster became the first university in Ontario to develop and implement a Sustainable Building Policy. This policy provides guidance on developing new and undertaking major renovations of occupied facilities to meet or exceed the Silver Level Rating of the LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System.

Centre for Climate Change

The McMaster Centre for Climate Change studies the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, water resources, human health and society to improve our understanding of physical, biological and chemical processes and advance the predictive capabilities of Earth System models. It engages in community educational outreach and partners with government, non-profits and other organizations.

Government Collaboration on Carbon Emission Reduction Technology

McMaster’s nuclear experts were invited to the Government of Canada’s House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Science and Research to discuss small modular reactor (SMR) research and development in Canada. The experts spoke with government leaders about the university’s role in SMR research and the role they can play in reducing carbon emissions nationally.

Institute for Energy Studies Advising Local Government

McMaster University Institute for Energy Studies (MIES), in collaboration with the Integrated Community Energy and Harvesting systems’ (ICE-Harvest) Energy Research Cooperative, has provided advice to Ontario’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities, recommending it adopt Energy Harvesting Infrastructure as a cornerstone of its clean energy investment strategy. This is one example of how McMaster researchers collaborate with local government to plan for a healthier climate.

Sustainable Future Program

The Sustainable Future Program is open to all McMaster students and includes a suite of five academic courses to help understand and combat climate change.

Minor in Sustainability

McMaster offers students the opportunity to earn an interdisciplinary minor in sustainability. By offering courses and credits focused on climate change action from a variety of disciplines, McMaster helps to foster curiosity, knowledge and leadership in sustainability across academic boundaries.