“IRIS was conceived to support the full spectrum of sustainability research across the university and to bring academics together to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration,” said Stan Shapson, York’s Vice-President, Research and Innovation. Among its current projects, he added, IRIS is looking to create a new model for international development, by engaging the private sector and civil society organizations (CSOs) in promoting sustainable livelihoods. He noted that two York academics, IRIS Director Prof. David Wheeler and Senior Research Fellow Dr Zoë Wilson, will be heading to Darfur (Sudan) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) in early December to explore opportunities for sustainable local enterprise in the region.  

Shapson added that as part of its focus on urban as well as international sustainability issues IRIS was also supporting domestic initiatives, including the ‘Don Valley West One Tonne Challenge,’ a local example of the Government of Canada’s program aimed at encouraging citizens to reduce their annual greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by one tonne annually as part of meeting Canada’s Kyoto targets. The project was initially championed by John Godfrey, Don Valley West MP and Minister of State for Infrastructure and Communities. Graduate students from York’s Schulich School of Business and Faculty of Environmental Studies created a ‘stakeholder map’ of the Don Valley West riding to help inform future educational and social marketing efforts. Various stakeholders were engaged, including citizens groups, businesses, government agencies and non-profit organizations. The project aims to focus on personal road transportation and home energy use.

Mr. Godfrey was on hand to present a gift of 300 iris bulbs to students from Owen Public School on behalf of IRIS to encourage the next generation to support sustainability.   “Making our communities environmentally, economically, socially and culturally sustainable is the most direct way we have to improve the quality of life of Canadians. My government is committed to do this through the New Deal for Cities and Communities -- and the sustainability research announced today will provide invaluable assistance as we implement the New Deal.  I hope these iris bulbs -- which will bloom and multiply each and every spring -- will remind students that our commitment to sustainability needs to grow and flourish”.

Commenting on the Darfur initiative IRIS Director Prof. David Wheeler said “We have a very pragmatic approach to sustainable development. We know that humanitarian aid is vital; especially in crisis zones such as Darfur. But, historically, humanitarian aid has not led to the building of local economies. We see the need to help build resilient local economies based on locally grounded enterprises -- and not dependent on external sources of investment.” 

As an example, Wheeler noted that York -- along with civil society organizations and businesses -- had formed a coalition for Sustainable Enterprise and Development in Africa (SEDA). The coalition will share its ideas with collaborators in Sudan, Tanzania and South Africa and will help coordinate strategic alliances between Canadian business, CSOs and African institutions.

Wheeler noted that SEDA has received the endorsement of  David Agnew (CEO Unicef Canada), Doug Muzuyka (CEO DuPont Canada) and Patricia Marsden-Dole (former Canadian High Commissioner to Tanzania).

IRIS has also received pledges of support from Shell Canada and PetroCanada of more than $100,000 each to support research relating to business and sustainability. Shell Canada will become the IRIS ‘featured business sponsor’ for 2004/2005 with PetroCanada featured for 2005/2006. In recent months IRIS has won research grants totalling over $200,000 from Environment Canada, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, the International Development Research Centre, the International Finance Corporation (World Bank) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

York University is the leading interdisciplinary teaching and research university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city.  The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 180,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 10 faculties and 21 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries.  This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges.

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For more information, or to arrange an interview, the media should contact:

George McNeillie, Assistant Director, Media Relations, York University, 416-736-2100, x22091 /gmcneil@yorku.ca