Event Recap: Moving Forward Together

Advancing Sustainable Development and Social Justice Goals in Waterloo Region and Beyond 

On October 1, 2025, the Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems (LCSFS), the Centre for Women in Science (WinS), and the Viessmann Centre for Engagement and Research in Sustainability (VERiS) co-hosted Moving Forward Together: Partnerships to Advance Sustainable Development and Social Justice Goals in Waterloo Region and Beyond at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo, Ontario. 

This event marked the three centres’ commitment to localizing sustainable development and social justice initiatives through meaningful campus–community partnerships. The event brought together thought leaders, researchers, students, and community members to spark dialogue on how collaborative approaches can advance climate action, equity, justice, and community wellbeing in the region and beyond. 

Opening Remarks 

The event was hosted by Andrew Spring (LCSFS) and Eden Hennessey (WinS). Each research centre introduced their work and emphasized the interconnectedness of the SDGs. Opening remarks were provided by Jonathan Newman, Vice-President: Research, who highlighted Laurier’s global impact and strengths in areas aligned with the centres’ mandates. 

Darren Thomas, Associate Vice-President of Indigenous Initiatives, offered a welcome, sharing the significance and history of land acknowledgements explaining Haudenosaunee traditions of seeking permission before entering another nation’s territory.  He highlighted the need for Canadians to reflect on their history and positionality and emphasized the importance of setting intentions grounded in good-mindedness and love. Darren emphasized the importance of considering how today’s decisions shape the lives of future generations and spoke about the gift of human consciousness as a guide for ethical action.

Speaker Presentations 

Three distinguished speakers shared insights on climate justice, equity, and sustainable development: 

• Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, founder of Indigenous Climate Action, discussed the realities of Indigenous communities striving for climate justice. She highlighted the legacies of dispossession, the essential role of free, prior, and informed consent, and the need to recognize Indigenous rights and knowledge in decision-making. Eriel emphasized that climate change has disproportionately affected Indigenous communities, who have been advocating for stronger language and processes within the SDGs to address historical inequities and violence. She concluded by calling for the return of lands to Indigenous peoples and the implementation of Indigenous rights to achieve true climate justice.
   
• Encieh Erfani, researcher at the Perimeter Institute and International Science Council (ISC) fellow, spoke on the International Decade of the Sciences for Sustainable Development. She demonstrated how the basic sciences contribute to education, gender equality, clean energy, and sustainable cities, while also raising concerns about the loss of dark and quiet skies due to urbanization and satellite emissions. She encouraged policymakers to consider the protection of the night sky as a future global sustainability goal and emphasized the importance of scientific collaboration across borders. 
  
  
• Julian Agyeman, Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University, explored the concept of “just sustainabilities”, stressing that equitable and inclusive urban planning requires explicit, intentional action. He highlighted how inequality drives climate change and proposed a framework for achieving sustainability that includes improving quality of life, meeting the needs of present and future generations,  and operating within ecosystem limits. He shared global examples from local food action plans to culturally inclusive urban design that demonstrate how municipal initiatives can advance racial equity, food justice, and community wellbeing. 

Panel Discussion and Closing 

During the Q&A period, speakers addressed questions about maintaining hope in the face of overlapping global crises. Eriel emphasized the importance of young people taking responsibility for their future and learning from past mistakes. Julian shared his experience of being encouraged to release his capabilities and teach others to do the same, while Encieh highlighted the need to listen to nature and release collective human potential. 

The event concluded with an invitation for participants to share feedback and continue the conversation about how the three centres can support community-driven, collaborative responses to the challenges ahead. 

You can contribute to the survey here: https://wlu.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0pnNKNJygQzXohM?Q_CHL=qr 

Watch the full recording on Youtube.