Climate Action

The province of Ontario became the first jurisdiction in North America to completely phase out coal-fired electricity generation. Over the past decade, wind, solar, bioenergy, hydro, refurbished nuclear and natural gas-fired resources have replaced Ontario's coal fleet.  

Lakehead University is a Broader Public Sector (BPS) organization subject to regulatory reporting related to greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental responsibilities.  This includes regulatory reporting under Ontario Regulation 507/18 and the Electricity Act, 1998, which requires Lakehead University to:

1. Report annually to the Ministry of Energy, on their energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and publish the reports on their websites;
2. Develop a five-year conservation and demand management plan and publish the plan on their websites. Plans must be updated every five years.

Compliance with these regulations is part of a broader effort to promote transparency and accountability in environmental performance.  

The annual amount of energy used and the greenhouse gases emitted by Lakehead University’s Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses are publicly available for download through the Government of Ontario website.

Lakehead University tracks its total energy use across both of its campuses in Thunder Bay and Orillia. The type of energy used is determined by the province of Ontario's electricity supply mix.  As power is generated, electricity is transmitted and distributed to local/regional utilities that distribute the power to our campuses. Lakehead is able to track its energy use by the system-wide electricity supply mix to better understand its carbon footprint.   

Lakehead University is dedicated to providing local education programs and campaigns focused on climate change risks, impacts, mitigation and adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.  

Our approach to local education encompasses a range of activities including:

• Webinars, panels discussions and community events held throughout the year
• Integration of climate and environmental courses within various faculties
• Community collaboration
• Events and initiatives organized by the Lakehead University Sustainability Stewardship Council (LUSSC).  

Lakehead University is also a member of the Lake Superior Living Labs Network (LSLLN) which in partnership with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Lake Superior College, Algoma University, and a number of non-profit organizations, businesses, First Nations and tribal governments across the region, and serves as a platform to connect academics and community groups to develop new partnerships and collaborative initiatives across the Lake Superior watershed. This group is committed to connecting events, actions, and stories to inspire climate engagement in the region. 

Dr. Ellen Field, assistant professor in the Faculty of Education is leading a two-year project to support and accelerate the integration of climate change education in teacher education programs across Canada. The project will help faculties of education establish new policy and improve their course and extracurricular programming in climate change education through accelerator seed grant funding. This is a critical step in ensuring the central role of all levels of education in addressing the climate crisis.  More information about the project can be found here.

These initiatives are designed to raise awareness, educate the community, and promote informed actions to address the challenges associated with climate change.  Our commitment extends to enhancing climate literacy and fostering a sense of shared responsibility for mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change.

Climate Action is intricately woven into the fabric of Lakehead University's Sustainability Plan which spans Academics, Operations, Engagement, Planning and Administration. This plan serves as the foundation for the Sustainability Stewardship Council and its Climate Action Working Group, composed of university stakeholders, local government representatives, and community organization leaders.  

As part of a collective commitment to addressing climate change, Lakehead University is among 15 Canadian universities pledging to help address climate change through the “Investing to Address Climate Change: A Charter for Canadian Universities”. This charter calls for universities to steward long-term investments and efforts that act proactively and constructively to address the challenges posed by climate change. 

Lakehead University has collaboratively worked with the City of Thunder Bay and the City of Orillia to develop the Net-Zero Strategy (NZS) and Orilia’s Climate Action Plan which is a community-wide energy use and greenhouse gas emission inventory and action plan for the cities of Thunder Bay and Orillia.

In support of our climate action goals, Lakehead University proclaimed the 2021/22 academic year as the Year of Climate Action (YOCA).  During the year, the university engaged in various activities and initiatives aimed at advancing the goals of Lakehead’s Sustainability Plan, particularly those aligned with climate action.  Building on the efforts of YOCA, Lakehead University continues to participate in various climate action activities including:

• Community Engagement: Involving local communities in climate action efforts through workshops and education programs

• Advocacy: Advocating for policies that support climate resilience and sustainability at the local, national and global levels

• Partnership Building: Strengthening collaborations with businesses, non-government organizations and community groups to enhance collective efforts in combating climate change

• Setting New Goals and Establishing New Practices: Implement and promote sustainable practices in Lakehead’s everyday operations including reducing waste, conserving energy and supporting renewable energy projects.

Climate change is impacting Ontario in many ways through prolonged heat waves, torrential rainstorms, windstorms, and droughts. This extreme weather has increased throughout Ontario and because of these impacts, high costs have been incurred and have threatened the health, safety, environment and economy of our communities.

Lakehead University informs and supports local and regional government efforts in local climate change disaster/risk early warning and monitoring.   

Lakehead University collaborates with the City of Thunder Bay and the City of Orillia to facilitate the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies. 

In 2023, Lakehead University researchers studied the carbon storage capacity of freshwater wetlands  to enhance early warning and monitoring systems related to climate risks in the region.  The collaboration with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority aims to integrate nature-based solutions into municipal climate strategies helping local governments address greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

The Thunder Bay Remedial Action Plan (RAP) program is facilitated by Lakehead University under the supervision and guidance of Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. The RAP conducts extensive monitoring, restoration, and planning regarding the health of the north shore of Lake Superior in Thunder Bay.

Through active research, data collection and knowledge sharing Lakehead researchers are informing the government of emerging climate change patterns, vulnerabilities and potential risks and impacts.

Lakehead University is a leader in climate adaptation research through meaningful partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to tackle the challenges posed by climate change.    Lakehead recognizes the critical importance of addressing climate change and its impacts.  By working in partnership with NGOs, we aim to contribute to effective climate adaptation strategies, research and advocacy that extends beyond the classroom and into the heart of communities we serve and those affected by climate change.

Lakehead University regularly collaborates with EcoSuperior, a local NGO, on climate adaptation planning through the EarthCare Climate Adaptation Working Group and on climate adaptation on campus such as rain garden and depave project initiatives.  In 2023, Lakehead University opened its Climate Action Park, a co-designed space that aims to restore aquatic habitat along the shoreline of the McIntyre River, improve stormwater management through Low Impact Development (LID) techniques like a bioretention site and riparian area, raise awareness of the climate crisis, and create a place for connection and learning

Lakehead University is also a community partner of the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA), an organization responsible for managing and protecting the natural resources and environment of the  Lakehead watershed.  Through collaborations with community partners, the LRCA undertakes activities related to conservation, environmental protection, land management, and water resource management.  In 2023, work continued at Fisherman’s West Climate Change Awareness Park, which included restoring wildlife habitat, restoration of the Lake Superior shoreline and development of coastal wetlands. 

The Lake Superior Living Labs Network (LSLLN) is a collaborative platform to increase the impact of sustainability-related teaching, research, and action. Over 40 academic, community, and NGO partners work with LSLLN. The LSLLN promotes climate awareness and action through various initiatives including climate action field schools, workshops, seminars and symposiums.

Lakehead University is dedicated to achieving carbon neutrality and actively collaborates with the City of Thunder Bay on its Net-Zero Strategy and Community Energy and Emissions Plan, with the shared goal of attaining community-wide net-zero emissions by 2050.  Our commitment to this endeavour is multifaceted:

1. Greenhouse Gas Reporting: Annually, greenhouse gas emission inventories are submitted to the Province of Ontario in accordance with Ontario Regulation 507/18  made under the Electricity Act, 1998.
2. Community Engagement: As a member of the Advisory Group for the City of Thunder Bay’s Net-Zero Strategy, Lakehead is actively participating in collaborative efforts aimed at addressing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.  Together with the city, we are working towards ambitious targets.
3. Fossil Fuel Divestment: To align our investments with the sustainability goals, Lakehead University committed to divesting from fossil fuel companies by the end of the University’s current Strategic Plan.  This proactive step positions us as the sixth university in Canada to take this significant action, signalling our dedication to responsible investment action.
4. Sustainability Plan: Lakehead University’s Sustainability Plan outlines specific measures to reduce energy consumption within our campus buildings and support the adoption of renewable energy sources.  These measures are critical to our long-term carbon neutrality objectives.
5. Renewable Energy: Lakehead University is continually exploring various options to incorporate clean energy sources into our operations.  This includes assessing opportunities for on-campus renewable energy generation.  For example, in addition to implementing solar panels at the Lakehead Thunder Bay campus, Lakehead University aims to utilize every opportunity to reduce its energy consumption within current funding/operating budgets.

Lakehead University continues its commitment to carbon neutrality through concrete action aligned with our institutional vision and strategic endeavours. Through these proactive steps, we are actively working to build a sustainable and environmentally responsible future.