The University of Ottawa Partners with Jarislowsky Foundation to Found the Clean Economy, Innovation Research Chair at the Faculty of Social Sciences

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Green wall in Faculty of Social Sciences Building
Climate change and environmental degradation are the biggest long-term existential threats that we face. Mitigating their worst effects demands that we find ways to grow our economy while reducing the emissions that cause global warming. This will require that we accelerate innovation to produce cleaner products and climate-friendly policies to ensure a low-carbon future. To meet this challenge, the University of Ottawa and the Jarislowsky Foundation are joining forces to endow a $4-million Chair to generate solutions for green economic growth. The Jarislowsky Foundation is generously investing $2-million in this Chair with uOttawa matching these funds to achieve its full potential.

The Chair will support research that will identify fiscal policies to reinforce climate-friendly behaviour, including targeted tax incentives to encourage the development of clean energy sectors, nimble regulatory design, public investments that lead to decarbonization, border carbon tariffs and green procurement and infrastructure. 

“We’re very excited to launch this new research chair. This will strengthen uOttawa’s ability to influence economic policies that deliver real-world solutions to the challenge of transitioning to a low-carbon economy,” says uOttawa president Jacques Frémont. “We thank the Jarislowsky Foundation for its foresight and dedication to these profoundly important goals.” The Chair will be based at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Beyond applied research, the chair will play an important convening role and work to bring governments, industry, non-governmental organizations and the public to form a broad coalition of support for clean innovation.

“We need creative, practical ideas to propel clean innovation forward and ensure the Canadian economy prospers,” says Stephen Jarislowsky. 

“That transformation requires collaboration among the best minds at universities, in government, and in business, and I believe supporting the University of Ottawa’s leadership on climate economics can bring these partnerships about.” 

The chairholder will train and mentor students in the public engagement skills necessary to influence climate economics and will bring international experts in clean innovation together through networks, conferences, and workshops.

“The Chair will anchor the critical mass of experts we are assembling to chart Canada’s competitive way forward as we move towards our 2050 net-zero energy goal,” says Frémont.       

Canada and the world are at a turning point in confronting climate change and seizing the opportunities that the movement toward net-zero goals offers. The new chair will provide vision and leadership at a critical time.

About the Jarislowsky Foundation:
Stephen Jarislowsky, one of Canada’s leading philanthropists and business titans, set up the Foundation based on excellence and ethics to advance education, medicine, and the arts. He has endowed 42 chairs at Canadian universities. 


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