Toronto, May 11, 2017 – Canada’s 150th celebration is a fitting backdrop for discussing pathways towards low-carbon and climate-resilient communities in Ontario over the next century and beyond. The Ontario Climate Symposium entitled “Just Transformations – The Next 150,” is the premier forum for such discussions. Featuring more than 70 leading thinkers, change-makers and disruptors of the status quo, the Ontario Climate Symposium taking place at York University May 11 and 12 will help develop positive narratives and visions of a just future over the next 150 years that cross boundaries between natural science, social science, law, humanities and the arts.
Delivered in plenaries, keynote addresses, panel discussions and break-out working groups, topics include the state of Ontario’s climate change policies, climate law and justice, Indigenous perspectives, land use planning, addressing the challenges of low-income communities, greenspace protection and the future of our water resources. See here for a detailed program of activities over the two-day conference.
Special guests at this year’s OCC Symposium include Dianne Saxe, Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner, Kyle Powys-Whyte of Michigan State University and David Miller, former Toronto Mayor and currently the President and CEO of the World Wildlife Federation (WWF). See Keynote and Plenary Panels.
“This is a special year for Canada,” Chandra Sharma, Director, Watershed Strategies, Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) said, “so it makes it even more relevant for us to be talking about climate change here and around the world. This year’s Ontario Climate Symposium at York University brings some of the brightest minds together under one roof to share their insights and ideas and to encourage us to take action now to achieve the future we desire.”
“York University is proud to host the 2017 OCC Climate Change Symposium,” said Noel Sturgeon, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University. “There is no better time than right now to gather, discuss, enlighten, promote and influence strategies to deal with climate change. Right now we can make the necessary course corrections to benefit us for years to come. This Symposium helps move us all forward.”
For more information on the 2017 OCC Symposium at York University May 11 – 12, visit www.climateconnections.ca/symposium
Media Contacts:
Elizabeth Oakley, Toronto and Region Conservation (416) 274-2036, eoakley@trca.on.ca
Janice Walls, Media Relations York University, (416) 455-4710, wallsj@yorku.ca
