University Leadership in the Climate Crisis: Learning from Toronto

Join Insights North East and the Centre for Urban & Regional Development Studies for an evening lecture from Meric Gertler, President Emeritus of the University of Toronto on university leadership in the climate crisis.

The evidence continues to mount that the climate crisis is accelerating. The Financial Times reported recently that last year saw the largest single-year increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration since record keeping began in 1957. As a result, extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and severity, with tragic consequences for many. In the wake of the COP30 meetings in Belém, Brazil, and with the recent collapse of net zero alliances in the financial services sector, it has become clear that multilateral processes for climate action must now be complemented by initiatives led by other institutional actors if we are to make real progress. In the current moment, universities are ideally situated to take on a more prominent role in leading the fight against climate change. Meric will outline the opportunities for action and the possibilities for significant impact by documenting the recent experience of the University of Toronto, which has made the transition from climate laggard to leader in a few short years. He will then draw out some larger insights as we contemplate how to apply the Toronto model in other settings, locally, nationally, and globally.

Following the talk, we will hear from an expert panel reflecting on Meric's key points and sharing their insights.

About Meric Gertler:

Meric S. Gertler served as the 16th President of the University of Toronto from 2013 to 2025. He continues to hold an appointment there as Professor in the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Distinguished Scholar in Residence in the School of Cities, Professor of Geography & Planning, and Goldring Chair in Canadian Studies. Prior to becoming President, he served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science. During his term as President, Professor Gertler championed the university’s role as a city-building institution and leader in sustainability, for which it was recognized as the number one university in the world by QS World University Rankings: Sustainability in both 2024 and 2025. An expert on urban economies, local and national innovation policy, and the role of institutions in economic development, he has advised governments in Canada, the United States and Singapore, as well as the OECD and the European Union. He has authored or edited nine books and over 100 scientific publications. A graduate of McMaster University, the University of California, Berkeley, and Harvard University, he is a Visiting Fellow at St Edmund Hall and Honorary Research Fellow in the Smith School of Enterprise & the Environment and the School of Geography & the Environment at the University of Oxford for the 2025-26 academic year. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, the Academy of Social Sciences (UK), and a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy, President Gertler was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2015.

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