Environments and Sustainability

Environments and Sustainability Research

Working in a variety of environments, from the natural and near-pristine to environments heavily impacted by humans, Laurier researchers focus on evaluating and mitigating human impacts on these environments and on ways to live more sustainably.

Laurier researchers have worked for decades in Canada’s North, with a particular focus in the Northwest Territories (NWT), where we maintain a longstanding partnership with the Government of the NWT and a Yellowknife research office.

The Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems and the FLEdGE (Food: Locally Embedded, Globally Engaged) partnership examine how local and international food systems can become more sustainable from social, environmental, economic and health points of view.

The Viessmann Centre for Engagement and Research in Sustainability (VERiS) conducts research on community engagement and sustainability, while the Co-operators Centre for Business and Sustainability brings a sustainability lens to the business world.


For the Media

Speak to our environmental and sustainability experts:

Current Research Strengths

Cultures of Sustainability

Cultures of sustainability are characterized by shared values, norms, language and practices focused on making individual and societal choices that foster social, economic and environmental sustainability.

Decision-Making for Sustainability

Decision-making for sustainability encompasses those business and economic decisions that promote sustainability, innovation and creativity.

Environmental Sustainability

Environmental sustainability refers to strategies and activities that minimize adverse environmental impacts, enhance and protect the natural environment.

Sustainable Food Systems

A sustainable food system delivers food security and nutrition for all without compromising the economic, social and environmental bases to generate food security and nutrition for future generations.

Emerging Research Strengths

Environmental Humanities

This interdisciplinary area of research draws on the many environmental sub-disciplines that have emerged in the humanities over the past several decades, in particular eco-criticism and the environment in literature and film, and Indigenous climate philosophy.

Sustainable Chemistry

Sustainable chemistry is a scientific approach that considers the entire lifecycle of chemical products during the design and manufacturing processes. It seeks to use natural resources more efficiently while developing products that protect the environment and human health.

Sustainability Justice

The negative impacts of global climate change and other environmental degradation are not equally distributed among countries, regions and populations. Sustainability justice is built on the knowledge that, often, the most vulnerable members of society are the ones experiencing the worst impacts.

Supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals


good health and well-being clean water and sanitation affordable and clean energy sustainable cities and communities responsible consumption and production climate action life below water life on land