How TMU supports the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Mathematics professor Alexey Rubtsov’s (far right) research looks to build inclusivity in AI development. It’s one of many TMU initiatives in support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Toronto Metropolitan University’s commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has never been stronger. From tackling equity in AI-driven banking to promoting children’s rights internationally and in Canadian communities, TMU is building a better future every day.
March is SDG Month Canada, a national collaboration that brings post-secondary institutions together to drive awareness and action on the SDGs.
The United Nations 2030 Agenda (external link, opens in new window) outlines 17 SDGs aimed at ending poverty, protecting the planet, and building a more equitable, resilient and brighter future for all.
“A commitment to contributing to a sustainable and prosperous future for all runs deep at TMU,” says Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, provost and vice-president, academic. “Led by intellectual curiosity and an understanding of our global interconnectedness, TMU is committed to education that transforms lives and builds robust, healthy communities.”
Through leadership in research, innovative curriculum, teaching and strong community engagement, TMU contributes to global efforts to tackle today’s most pressing challenges.
As part of SDG Month, we’re showcasing university initiatives that reflect the research, innovation and creative work that advances social justice, equity, accessibility and the protection of human rights and the environment.
“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.”
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation: Global Salt Initiative
TMU science professor Stephanie Melles was part of an international research effort on salinization, determining the amount and effects of increased salt concentration in freshwater lake ecosystems across North America and Europe.
Findings showed significant salt pollution damage, proving that road salt is a major contributor to freshwater lake salinization. The research shows unsafe levels as determined by government regulators and makes recommendations based on these findings.
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy: Collaborative energy projects with utility companies
TMU engineering professor Bala Venkatesh, founding and academic director of the Centre for Urban Energy, has secured critical funding for three important energy projects.
The Centre for Urban Energy is working with Toronto Hydro and Halton Hills Hydro to research clean energy storage systems. The project explores solutions to the economic and regulatory barriers facing utility companies as they adopt electricity storage technologies, with the aim of making the electric grid more resilient, reliable, cost effective and efficient.
Working with Hydro One and Peak Power, the team has developed aggregate distributed energy resource (DER) models for capacity estimation and short-term forecasting. These DERs include renewables such as solar and wind, with storage and smart loads. These advancements prepare electric utilities for a net-zero energy system future, powered by innumerable DERs.
Another project with Toronto Hydro seeks to (PDF file) improve electricity capacity and affordability, by best using local distributed energy resources such as smart loads.
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities: Inclusive AI and Canada’s financial sector
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is permeating all sectors of industry and life, including the financial sector, so it is critical to mitigate systemic biases in its development.
TMU Mathematics professor Alexey Rubtsov is part of an initiative to help banks, investment firms and other financial institutions safely and ethically use AI and reduce bias in AI-generated decision-making.
Using AI in the financial sector runs the risk of perpetuating systemic bias and creating barriers to access to financial services and products; for example, access to capital. If algorithms aren’t created with equity in mind, they may further disadvantage particular groups. For example, AI algorithms could consider women less qualified for small business loans and create barriers like unfair borrowing terms.
Rubtsov serves on the federal government’s Financial Industry Forum on Artificial Intelligence. His work promotes the idea that AI development must ensure that data sets and algorithms are more inclusive and don’t reinforce biases and discrimination related to gender, race and class.
By developing mathematical models to better support financial firms and engaging in research focused on promoting fairness in AI-generated decisions, we can better foster more inclusive prosperity.
SDG 14 Life Below Water: Global Center for Climate Change and Transboundary Waters (external link, opens in new window)
TMU’s School of Public Policy and Democratic Innovation led by Carolyn Johns, interim director, is an active contributor to the Global Center for Climate Change and Transboundary Waters, which leads research to understand and generate resilience to water crises in transboundary regions.
Leveraging international expertise, climate data and analytics, the study looked at North American water resources to advance climate modeling.
The research centre aims to engage vulnerable communities around the world and address regional needs for water resource management, supporting community and ecosystem sustainability. This is accomplished through the development of digital models capable of predicting climate impacts on the hydrological and ecological systems of transboundary waterways.
Guided by traditional ecological knowledge and Indigenous partners, the centre is cultivating mutually beneficial relationships with Indigenous communities through listening, learning, and giving back. Current Indigenous partners include the Menominee Nation, the Six Nations of the Grand River, and the Red Lake Band of Chippewas.
SDG 16 Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: The Rights for Children and Youth Partnership (external link, opens in new window)
The Rights for Children and Youth Partnership (RCYP) works to protect children and youth rights in Central America and the Caribbean, and their diaspora populations in Canada. Photo credit: Yuri Pastor Sumaran via Pexels
The Rights for Children and Youth Partnership aims to increase knowledge and evidence around the factors that support or hinder the protection of children and youth rights in Central America and the Caribbean, and their diaspora populations in Canada. Collaborators and activities span Canada, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
The seven-year, interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers from universities and governmental, nongovernmental and international organizations is led by Henry Parada, TMU professor cross-appointed to Social Work and Immigration and Settlement Studies.
The project measures political, institutional, economic and social forms of violence and their impacts on the lives of children and youth.
In February, the initiative released the Strengthening Institutional Responses: Criminal Justice, Child Welfare, and Immigration Systems report. The launch brought together academics, legal experts, practitioners, and community leaders to examine the systemic barriers faced by racialized migrant youth in Ontario’s child welfare, criminal justice, and immigration systems. A panel discussion focused on practice and policy gaps, and actionable solutions to enhance institutional responses to improve long-term outcomes for immigrant youth.
Shaping a more sustainable, resilient and prosperous future
In a globalized world, collaborative research is essential to meaningful progress.
Committed to fostering partnerships across diverse communities, social and economic sectors, and government, TMU continues to build connections to advance knowledge and create lasting impact.
Building on the success of our partnerships, TMU will continue to drive sustainable change on climate action, equity and access, and human rights for the betterment of all.
