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老司机直播's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education hosts first-ever climate summit, embarks on action plan

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The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education鈥檚 first Climate Action Summit saw participants contribute more than 100 ideas on how the school could help address the global climate crisis (photo courtesy of Perry King)

On a busy, cold morning back in January, the community at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) came together in the fight against climate change.

With over 100 people in attendance, OISE鈥檚 first Climate Action Summit saw participants contribute 100-plus ideas on how to address the climate crisis. The summit, which took place at the OISE Library, brought in a number of speakers, including John Robinson, the University of Toronto鈥檚 presidential advisor on the environment, climate change and sustainability, and Grade 6 students from the Jackman Lab school.

For Hilary Inwood, a lecturer in the department of curriculum, teaching and learning, the institute demonstrated a strong sense of community at the summit.

鈥淢any of us who work at OISE see OISE as a leader in lots of different contexts,鈥 says Inwood, who teaches in the master of teaching program at OISE and leads its Environmental & Sustainability Education (ESE) Initiative. 鈥淲e see its potential to really influence other places,鈥

Inwood says she was particularly excited because OISE is among the first Canadian faculties of education to host a climate action summit.

鈥淲e wanted to send the message that we each need to be doing something 鈥 that we鈥檙e all complicit, we鈥檙e all responsible for the climate crisis,鈥 she says. 鈥淏y having a summit at OISE, we can act now.鈥

Participants gather at the Climate Action Summit, which was held back in January before the global outbreak of COVID-19 (photo by Hilary Inwood)

As a result of the summit, OISE established a new Climate Action Advisory Committee and has begun assembling a Climate Action Plan for the institute. Addressing environmental and sustainable education issues within OISE was an important theme that emerged from its academic plan, says Glen Jones, OISE鈥檚 dean.

He says the committee was a 鈥渘atural next step鈥 from the productive summit.

鈥淲ith the leadership of our faculty and students, OISE hosted a very productive and engaging Climate Action Summit early in the year, and the notion of developing a strategic climate action plan emerged as a key priority from those conversations,鈥 Jones says.

鈥淢y hope is that the plan will have both short-term and longer-term action items that will guide our community over the coming years, as well as clear goals so that we will be able to monitor our progress.鈥

The plan, to be unveiled later this school year, builds on the research and practice already being done at OISE to address the climate crisis, including OISE鈥檚鈥 , the Jackman Institute for Child Study鈥檚鈥疦atural Curiosity Project and the鈥痮ngoing collaboration with the Toronto District School Board鈥檚 sustainability office.

Alysse Kennedy, a doctoral candidate in ESE and a member of the committee, says the action plan is practical and easily implementable.

鈥淗aving a plan is one thing, but actually being able to make it accessible and doable is another,鈥 says Kennedy, who is a graduate assistant and research assistant for the ESE and the TDSB's EcoSchools initiative. 鈥淚 think we have a really good team assembled on this committee, which is spearheaded by Hilary and supported by the dean. It鈥檚 a great mix of different interests, different talents, different strengths. I think it鈥檚 going to be really effective.鈥

David Montemurro, associate professor, teaching stream in the department of curriculum, teaching and learning, says the plan will help people focus on a co-ordinated, systemic approach 鈥渨here they can lean in, lend their energies and kind of feel like they're contributing in a significant way.鈥 

Details of the plan are to be revealed in late fall, but Inwood says the committee has already undertaken an inventory of OISE鈥檚 courses and research related to sustainability. The committee is working with an intern based at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy to research and review the recommendations from the summit 鈥 and more graduate assistants will come into the fold this fall.

Inwood praised the dean, who will step down in June 2021, for his support by establishing a committee and dedicating the necessary resources.

鈥淚t shows a high level of dedication on his part, especially now as he鈥檚 in his last year,鈥 says Inwood. 鈥淎 lot of deans would step back a bit. I don't think he鈥檚 going to do that, especially on this file.

鈥淗e's really dedicated to getting some things in place before he leaves and that's fantastic.鈥 

The committee wants to implement plans and action that can be embraced and supported by future leadership.

COVID-19 is another factor to consider, says Montemurro, noting the pandemic has already resulted in fewer faculty and staff to commuting to work and less energy to heat and cool the building. The challenge, he adds, will be taking advantage of this opportunity.

鈥淢aybe there鈥檚 a moment for us to realize that a big contributor to CO2 is faculty travel to conferences,鈥 says Montemurro. 鈥淸But] we recognize we don't have to do that anymore because, clearly, we鈥檙e not 鈥 so how can we use some opportunities that arise from COVID to consider building a better kind of new normal?鈥

Jones says the committee is making great progress, but there's much work ahead. He also praised the leadership of Inwood. 

 鈥淚 am extremely pleased that Dr. Inwood has agreed to play a key role in leading us forward,鈥 he says, 鈥渁nd I know that she is benefiting from background work that is being conducted by some wonderful students and support staff.鈥
 

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