WORKING TOGETHER, WORKING BETTER.
As climate change intensifies, impacts will be felt at the community level. Simon Fraser University's unique approach to this is community-centred climate innovation, founded on community partnerships, innovation and a deep commitment to Indigenous knowledges and perspectives.
Through this integrated approach, we can make an impact on the climate crisis. Community-centred climate innovation will take us there.
“It is time that climate is viewed not as an environmental problem, but as a social design challenge. The ways we plan and build our communities, the ways we move people, the ways we consume, and the ways we manage our dwindling natural areas, all either increase or decrease impacts on the climate and inevitably, on our communities.
Addressing community-centred climate innovation in a systemic manner is an opportunity to advance community health, resilience, livability and sustainability over time. I look forward to embedding the United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDGs) into this work. Our goal is to find those innovative solutions that buffer against projected climate impacts and decarbonize, while also advancing equity, biodiversity and other social, environmental and economic objectives.”
What is community-centred climate innovation?
Community-centred climate innovation is a critical research priority at SFU.
Different communities require different climate change mitigation and adaptation technologies and strategies. SFU is working with our local and global partners to co-develop and co-implement policy solutions and climate and cleantech innovations with community at the core. We are committed to a better future and helping our communities achieve Canada's 2050 net-zero emissions targets.
As a priority area listed in our strategic research plan, and an action item in our strategic sustainability and climate action plan, community-centred climate innovation contributes to how we are engaging in global challenges, as part of What's Next: The SFU Strategy.
Supporting SFU's vision for the future
SFU's 2023-2028 Strategic Research Plan
Community-centred climate innovation is one of the priority areas listed in our strategic research plan. Climate change represents one of the greatest challenges of our age. This priority area engages our researchers with all levels of government, industry and community members, to work together and take action on the climate crisis.
Research streams and approaches
Community-centred climate innovation integrates three intersectoral research streams: adaptation, mitigation and sustainability, using three foundational approaches that inform our research: community partnerships, innovation, and valuing of Indigenous knowledges and perspectives.
Stories from our community
Our community of researchers, staff and students from all backgrounds and areas of expertise are contributing to community-centred climate innovation.
SFU partners with the City of Burnaby to advance new Civic Innovation Lab
Through the Civic Innovation Lab, SFU will share its leading-edge research and strengths in innovation and sustainability to advance practical solutions for the city's most pressing urban issues, from diversity and housing to sustainable growth and environmental challenges caused by climate change.
Indigenous wellbeing as a foundation for caring about the places that sustain us
Professor of Indigenous Business Dara Kelly is from the Leq’á:mel First Nation, part of the Stó:lō Coast Salish. Kelly leads research on the concept of Indigenous wellbeing and quality of life, recognizing that human wellbeing is very much interconnected with the wellbeing of the places that sustain us.
Helping build more sustainable and just cities
What are cities' roles in addressing climate justice and sustainability? SFU professor Andréanne Doyon is laying the groundwork for building more sustainable cities and communities—work that is urgently needed to address climate change while creating more just and equitable societies.
Combining passions for sustainability and public policy to tackle climate change
Sustainable energy engineering professor Sami Khan and his research team are developing innovative solutions for challenges faced by alternative energy systems. They are particularly interested in enhancing performance and longevity in carbon dioxide capture and conversion systems—as this may be the key to finding a long-term solution to climate change.
SFU and partners 'greenlight' research to advance Canada's hydrogen strategy
A joint research project supported by Mitacs and the National Science and Engineering Research Council and led by mechatronic systems engineering professor Erik Kjeang is helping scale up the technology needed to lead the transition to a hydrogen economy as part of Canada's Hydrogen Strategy.
SFU, UVic team receives 1 million to study climate solutions for rural remote and Indigenous communities
Together, the partners will determine what policies and innovations in housing practices and technical safety are needed to enable communities outside major urban centres to create low-carbon resilience, reducing both their carbon footprint and their vulnerability to the impacts of climate change
Scholarly Impacts
SFU's Scholarly Impact of the Week celebrates scholarly milestones and research impacts from across the SFU research community. Below are just some examples of impacts that are advancing community-centred climate innovation.
Embedding climate action into everything we do
Alison Shaw, featuring the ACT – Action on Climate Team
Multidisciplinary research advances hydrogen and fuel cell technologies
Erik Kjeang, Faculty of Applied Sciences
Understanding the risks of volcanoes to support climate change adaption
Glyn Williams-Jones, Faculty of Science
Join the Community
With our expertise, strengths, capacity and collaborations, we can help Canada further establish itself as a global leader in climate action and achieve the net-zero emissions goal by 2050.
Are you currently developing co-created, community-based solutions and innovations to address the impacts of climate change? Or are you interested in getting more involved? We would love to hear from you and learn more.