Across our campus, throughout Canada and around the world, students, faculty members and researchers are engaging in conversations and taking part in action to address climate change. On Sept. 27, Canadians are joining others participating in a Global Climate Strike to focus attention on the climate crisis.

On the McMaster campus, there is ongoing action to understand, address and combat climate change:

• The McMaster Centre for Climate Change studies the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, water resources, human health and society to improve our understanding of physical, biological and chemical processes and advance the predictive capabilities of Earth System models.
• McMaster offers students the opportunity to earn an interdisciplinary minor in sustainability
• The Sustainable Future Program is open to all McMaster students and includes a suite of five academic courses to help understand and combat climate change.
• McMaster is a global leader in inter-disciplinary research activities in a wide variety of areas. Environment and Energy and Equitable and Sustainable communities are identified university research  priorities.
• McMaster is host to the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health.
• The university measures and reports on its sustainability activities and results each year.

In advance of the climate strike on Sept. 27, the university is clear in its support for the rights of the campus community to express their views as it encourages the community to engage in activities related to tackling climate change.

In Hamilton, a public event is scheduled for Gore Park from 12:00 – 3:00 pm.

The university also has a responsibility to ensure that academic and research activities continue as scheduled. McMaster will remain open on Sept. 27th  with classes and labs taking place as scheduled and assignments and tests happening as planned. Faculty members and instructors are encouraged to be flexible in accommodating students wishing to participate in events on the 27th.

Students seeking accommodation to miss classes, labs and other academic assignments can learn more about university policies here.

You can complete the student absence form to indicate you will be missing class.  The absence form recognizes student’s needs on occasion to seek relief from Academic responsibilities for personal reasons.

Faculty and instructors  considering any alternative arrangements or any changes to their class schedules are asked to communicate directly with their students.