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Scholarly Publication: Climate Change and the Canadian Higher Education System: An Institutional Policy Analysis

 

Reference

Henderson, J., Bieler, A., & McKenzie, M. (2017). Climate Change and the Canadian Higher Education System: An Institutional Policy Analysis. Canadian Journal of Higher Education, 47(1), 1 – 26.

Click here to access the paper.

 

Abstract

Climate change is a pressing concern. Higher education can address the challenge, but systematic analyses of climate change in education policy are sparse. This paper addresses this gap in the literature by reporting on how Canadian postsecondary educational institutions have engaged with climate change through policy actions. We used descriptive quantitative methods to analyze climate change-specific policies from a representative sample of 50 institutions across Canada and found that nearly half had some form of climate policy. Existing policies were then qualitatively analyzed. We found that the most common form of response focused on the built campus environment, with underdeveloped secondary responses focused on research, curriculum, community outreach, and governance policies. We consider the motivations for such institutional action and end with implications for policy makers and future research.

 

Résumé

Le changement climatique est une préoccupation urgente. L’enseignement supérieur peut relever ce dé mais les analyses systématiques du changement climatique dans l’éducation sont rares. Ce document aborde cette lacune dans la littérature en signalant comment les établissements d’enseignement postsecondaires canadiens se sont impliqués dans l’analyse du changement climatique grâce à des mesures politiques. Nous avons utilisé des méthodes quantitatives et descriptives pour analyser ces politiques de changement climatique à partir d’un échantillon représentatif de cinquante établissements canadiens et découvert que plus de la moitié possèdent une politique climatique. Nous les avons analysées de manière qualitative et trouvé que la forme de réponse la plus commune était axée sur le milieu bâti du campus avec des réponses secondaires sous-développées axées sur la recherche, le programme, la participation communautaire et la gouvernance. Nous considérons les motivations de ces mesures institutionnelles et nissons par les implications pour les décisionnaires et les recherches futures.

 

Related Resources

Research Brief:
Climate Change and the
Canadian Higher Education System
Infographics:
Climate Change and the
Canadian Higher Education System

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