{"id":92085,"date":"2024-05-13T16:49:47","date_gmt":"2024-05-13T20:49:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/?post_type=cu_story&p=92085"},"modified":"2025-09-30T10:17:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T14:17:10","slug":"carleton-challenge-conference-climate-crisis","status":"publish","type":"cu_story","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/story\/carleton-challenge-conference-climate-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Challenging the Climate Crisis: Carleton Conference Returns to Address the World’s Most Pressing Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Challenging the Climate Crisis: Carleton Conference Returns to Address the World's Most Pressing Issues\n <\/h1>\n \n <\/header>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/path>\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

\u201cHow we, as humans, reduce our undeniable contributions to climate change and how we adapt to the forces we\u2019ve already unleashed is perhaps the greatest challenge we\u2019ll face in our lifetimes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These words from Carleton University\u2019s Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Jerry Tomberlin<\/a> underscored the importance of and set the tone for the second annual Carleton Challenge Conference<\/a>, a day-long gathering designed to bring together business, government, academic and community leaders who are driving innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Carleton University’s Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Jerry Tomberlin addresses the audience<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe science on this matter is clear and has been for many years,\u201d he says. \u201cWe need to act fast in order to slow down and eventually reverse the devastating effects of climate change on our environment, our economy, our homes and our health before it’s too late.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tomberlin explains that the ambitious topic was chosen not just for its immediacy and relevance, but because \u201ccreating a sustainable environment is central to who we are and what we do at Carleton.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cCarleton researchers are working at the very forefront of climate innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As Canada continues to work towards its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, Canadians across the country are now more than ever experiencing the effects of climate change firsthand: deadly heatwaves, smoke-choked skies due to wildfires, flash flooding, tornado warnings and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But while the challenge itself may be daunting to consider, the road to a prosperous and sustainable future is clear. What\u2019s needed now more than ever are leaders with the drive to take these crucial steps towards transformative change by implementing climate solutions, strategies and policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a day packed with panel discussions, speeches and networking opportunities in Carleton\u2019s Richcraft Hall, an impressive roster of invited speakers \u2013 including several Carleton researchers \u2013 shared their experiences and insights around some of the biggest questions posed by climate change: How do we build a greener economy? What makes a city climate resilient? When it comes to environmental policy, where should Canada go next?<\/p>\n\n\n

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Acting on the Challenge of Climate Change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The conference kicked off with an opening keynote from James Meadowcroft<\/a>, Academic Director of Efficiency Canada, and Chancellor\u2019s Professor in Carleton\u2019s School of Public Policy and Administration<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe problem is complex, but it\u2019s also really simple,\u201d says Meadowcroft. \u201cOften we don\u2019t say the simple things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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James Meadowcroft delivers a keynote speech at the Carleton Challenge Conference.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of Meadowcroft\u2019s key insights is we need to move away from talking about climate change as a short-term pollution control problem, where reducing our emissions over time by a certain percentage will solve everything. This approach, he argues, misunderstands and grossly underestimates the seriousness of the crisis at hand.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cWhat we actually need to do to prevent continuous climate warming is to stop putting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere all together and find ways to draw down any gases we can\u2019t \u2013 whatever goes up, we\u2019ve got to take down somehow,\u201d he explains. \u201cThis is what we mean by net zero.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Complicating this goal is the reality that the three largest sources of emissions are our fossil-fuel dependent energy sector, animal-based agriculture and the use of nitrogen fertilizer on crops and building materials \u2013 particularly steel and concrete \u2013 that release greenhouse gases when produced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that to stop climate change and arrive at net zero, we need to radically transform our major systems of production and consumption: how we move people and goods, how we grow food, how we build our cities, how we make electricity, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cWe need to be driven by the long-term, not the short-term. To achieve a sustainable future, we need more money, resources and policies put towards building new systems, rather than trying to fix old ones \u2013 otherwise we\u2019re just wasting time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

\"4<\/figure>\n\n\n

Panelists Share Expertise and New Perspectives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A series of panels throughout the day shared an immense depth of knowledge with the audience, discussing new ways of approaching climate change solutions and the need to take action now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julius Lindsay<\/a>, Director of Sustainable Communities at the David Suzuki Foundation, noted the importance of reframing how we view nature \u2013 as a key stakeholder instead of a side character.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s about prioritizing that as a part of the way we think about the world, the way we work through the world,\u201d said Lindsay, explaining the importance of considering nature \u201cas a full member of our society that has a seat at the decision-making table.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Drawing from her experience in the industry, Carla Smith<\/a>, Executive Vice President and Chief People, Strategy and Climate Officer at Intact Insurance, stressed the importance of investing in adaptation and resilience. To encourage that investment, she called for improving the public\u2019s understanding of climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cPeople can\u2019t care about what they don\u2019t understand, and it can be a very technical subject,\u201d she says, underscoring the need to demystify the issue to cultivate enthusiastic support for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is a really important part of motivating society towards what needs to happen in order to adapt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graeme Reed<\/a>, Strategic Advisor at the Assembly of First Nations, noted the importance of broadening the conversation and viewing climate change response as a spectrum. He explains how identifying the true cause of the problem goes beyond measuring emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe root cause is an imbalanced relationship with the land around us,\u201d says Reed, noting the importance of exploring the multiple and intersecting solutions needed to help communities.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cHow do all of these problems actually originate from that imbalance and that preoccupation with extraction,\u201d says Reed. \u201cThat preoccupation with: How can we take, take, take from the natural world and expect it not to respond?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

\"Five<\/figure>\n\n\n

The Greatest Challenge of Our Lifetimes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEveryone is affected by climate change,\u201d says Elizabeth Beardsley<\/a>, at her afternoon keynote address on \u201cLeadership in the Face of Climate Change\u201d given to a sold-out room of conference attendees.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cLeaders in every industry must do what they can to position their organizations for the future and help support this transition to a more sustainable world,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

With over 25 years of experience working on environmental and climate issues both as an engineer and a lawyer, Beardsley is the Senior Policy Counsel at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) \u2013 the global environmental non-profit best known for LEED, the world\u2019s most widely used green building rating program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Elizabeth Beardsley delivers a keynote speech at the Carleton Challenge Conference<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Her advice to leaders? Normalize decarbonization until it feels more natural to do things that reduce emissions than to cling to the status quo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhenever a new project or policy is in development, the question should always be asked: Is this an opportunity to reduce emissions? Is this an opportunity to increase climate resilience?\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This approach is necessary, Beardsley explains, if we want to accelerate climate action across the board to more effectively address the crisis in front of us.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cAs leaders at this moment in time, our task right now is to grow momentum.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

\"Two<\/figure>\n\n\n

–
\nMore Stories<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cHow we, as humans, reduce our undeniable contributions to climate change and how we adapt to the forces we\u2019ve already unleashed is perhaps the greatest challenge we\u2019ll face in our lifetimes.\u201d These words from Carleton University\u2019s Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Jerry Tomberlin underscored the importance of and set the tone for the second annual Carleton […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":410,"featured_media":92089,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_story_type":[28,31],"cu_story_tag":[1932],"class_list":["post-92085","cu_story","type-cu_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","cu_story_type-community-partnerships","cu_story_type-sustainability","cu_story_tag-challenge"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":"blueprint"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/92085","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/cu_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/410"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/92085\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97881,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/92085\/revisions\/97881"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/92089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92085"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_story_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_type?post=92085"},{"taxonomy":"cu_story_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_tag?post=92085"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}