The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change, published in April 2022, warned of a “now or never” moment to limit the mean global temperature rise that threatens the breakdown of our planet’s climate systems with catastrophic consequences for our society.  As nations around the world attempt to realize their pledge to the Paris Agreement to reduce future carbon emissions, the “committed climate warming” will continue to drive severe weather events for decades to come. The impacts of these events are already being felt around the world and these events disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations across the globe, deepening poverty and inequality.

Despite these challenges, we have the capacity to implement sustainable solutions in population hotspots most vulnerable to climate driven disasters. Through collaborative efforts, holistic approaches rooted in the concepts of nature-based design, engineers, urban planners, architects and policy makers are meeting the moment, implementing resilient living solutions, reinventing water management practices and adapting our built environments to minimize damage caused by climate-induced natural disasters. 

The 9th Trottier Symposium on Sustainable Engineering, Energy and Design will explore success stories of sustainable engineering and design while considering the following questions:

•  How can urban planners, architects and engineers incorporate nature-based solutions to build resiliency and sustainability in our communities?
• What climate resilient living solutions have been implemented “on the front lines” of climate
  change and how can these strategies be scaled up more broadly?