“McGill University“ is the recipient of a 2026 AASHE Campus Sustainability Achievement Award. This webinar is part of the 2026 Awards showcase highlighting all four winners in this category.

In 2024, McGill University released its first climate risk assessment, identifying the risks posed by a changing climate to its campus infrastructure, operations, and community. By providing a comprehensive understanding of the University’s vulnerability to climate change, the risk assessment established a foundation for effective risk management and adaptation strategies at McGill.

This initiative, one of the first of its kind in Canada, exemplifies a collaborative, replicable, and whole-systems approach. It was co-led by the Office of Sustainability and Internal Audit, and supported by a cross-functional committee of administrative units in partnership with a local consulting firm. This governance structure was intentionally designed to break down institutional silos and embed climate adaptation into existing risk management processes.

As a result, the university set a target to address 100% of its critical climate risks by 2030, establishing climate resilience as a strategic institutional commitment. A Climate Adaptation & Resilience working group of faculty, staff, and students subsequently identified key adaptation actions to incorporate into the McGill Climate & Sustainability Strategy 2025–2030. These actions range from raising awareness about extreme weather events to updated design standards.

Adaptation actions have begun to be implemented, including offering eco-anxiety workshops and designating libraries as cooling centres during heatwaves. To accelerate regional adaptation efforts, McGill partnered with eight Quebec universities to share its approach and co-develop a common methodology for climate risk assessments.

This initiative illustrates how key partnerships and broad collaboration can embed sustainability into institutional culture while driving meaningful impact on and beyond campus.

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Presenters

Divya Sharma, Climate & Biodiversity Officer, McGill University Divya supports McGill on its path to carbon neutrality by 2040 through various climate action projects on campus, including producing the University’s annual greenhouse gas inventory. She also coordinates the implementation of McGill’s biodiversity plan and climate adaptation actions to help McGill become a nature-positive university and increase its climate resilience.

Krista Houser, Associate Director (Strategy & Governance), Sustainability, McGill University Krista leads McGill’s sustainability strategy and governance portfolio, including development and implementation of the University’s Climate & Sustainability Strategy and institutional sustainability monitoring and reporting. Her portfolio supports McGill’s long-term commitments on carbon neutrality, climate resilience, and biodiversity, as well as efforts to embed sustainability in teaching and learning.