Skip to main content Apply Library A-Z Find a person Maps
Brightspace Email University
of Victoria Apply Library A-Z Find a person Maps Sign in Online tools Sign out University of Victoria

Inspired by place, powered by people, committed to planet

UVic excels in climate action, sustainable cities and community development. Our commitment to climate research spans 30+ years, and with a growing number of partnerships, UVic is among the top 10 universities globally for making an impact. View our 2023 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.​

Colour composite of sustainable goals 1989: IESVic formed 1990: Ocean climate monitoring 2001: First sustainable action plan 2008: Start of PICS 2010: Carbon-neutral campus 2012: A sustainable MBA 2022: 1st in Canada for climate action 2023: CFREF awarded 3

decades of ocean climate monitoring

15

years of energy transition projects

12

centres focused on climate change

How we are making an impact

A wide view of a coral reef.

New research shows higher impact of marine heatwaves on corals

New research from UVic Professor of Ocean Ecology and Global Change Julia Baum and team reveals that the impacts of climate change-induced marine heatwaves on corals and biodiversity are even more severe than initially anticipated. 

Learn more A man deploys sea tech off of a boat into the ocean as part of Ocean Networks Canada's deployment of instruments used for ocean monitoring. Observatory logs record high ocean temperatures at two sites Engineering doctoral student Parinaz Moazzezi. Engineering a greener tomorrow Bull kelp floating along BC's central coast. Protecting our kelp forests Glacial resonance art by Paul Walde. The art of climate change UVic members of international initiative to develop energy retrofit analysis methods. ReBuild for a clean energy future ONC artist-in-residence Neil Griffin A cyclist riding on the outskirts of a treelined UVic campus quad. Urban tree solutions for tempering climate extremes Underwater basalt field located in Endeavour area, 2011. Earthquake risk minimal when storing carbon under the ocean

Our 2023 SDG rankings

The 2023 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings rated UVic:

Sustainable cities and communities Climate action Life below water Partnerships for the goals

Collaborating across disciplines

The interdisciplinary expertise within UVic research centres, institutes and entities is making a positive impact across the region and around the globe. 

Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) A collage of a woman in a bright orange hard hat and matching jacket, freighter in the ocean, mountain landscape, urban trees and a cyclist riding a mountain bike.

PICS is a multi-university institute—including UVic, SFU, UBC and UNBC—that co-develops and co-delivers climate solutions research and programming with diverse partners across BC and beyond.

Explore PICS International Training Centre for Authorities & Leaders (CIFAL) A group of seven people outside holding SDG cards.

CIFAL Victoria provides United Nations-accredited training programs that build regional and global capacity and leadership to advance the UN's SDGs. 

Explore CIFAL Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) Two people converse with each other in front of several screens.

ONC’s world-leading ocean observatories bring data to the surface, accelerating scientific discovery and delivering solutions that support ocean-and-planet sustainability for future generations.

Explore ONC Institute for Integrated Energy Systems (IESVic) A member of Institute for Integrated Energy Systems gives a lecture in a classroom with a large screen to his left.

By leveraging expertise from across campus, the people of IESVic create pathways to sustainable energy for communities here and around the world.

Explore IESVic Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium (PCIC) A broken up portion of highway due to flooding in southwestern BC November 2021.

Multidisciplinary climate researchers and stakeholders collaborate to produce practical knowledge on the physical impacts of climate variability and change, as well as tools for long-term planning.

Explore PCIC Centre for Social & Sustainable Innovation (CSSI) Team members of the Centre for Social & Sustainable Innovation stand outside.

Through regenerative sustainability research, teaching and industry collaboration, CSSI at the Gustavson School of Business inspires and enables businesses to transform economies, strengthen communities and revitalize ecosystems.

Explore CSSI