Collaborative Centre Programs
TAHSN Climate & Sustainability Community of Practice
The Collaborative Centre serves as secretariat to a Community of Practice across the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) aimed at climate and sustainability action in the health sector.
We convene a leadership table with representatives from all 14 TAHSN hospitals, from the four collaborating health science faculties, and from critical external partners, co-chaired by a TAHSN CEO and a health science faculty Dean. The leadership table oversees the efforts of working groups and pilot initiatives and supports regular reporting to the TAHSN Committee of CEOs.
CASCADES
CASCADES supports pan-Canadian climate action and awareness in healthcare, funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Led by Dr Fiona Miller, Director of the Collaborative Centre, CASCADES is an initiative of four founding partners: the University of Toronto Collaborative Centre for Climate, Health & Sustainable Care; the Healthy Populations Institute at Dalhousie University; the Planetary Healthcare Lab at the University of British Columbia; and the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care. In Quebec, CASCADES is a partner in the Réseau d’action pour la santé durable du Québec. CASCADES strengthens capacity to implement sustainable healthcare practices and policies across Canada through training, pan-Canadian community building, and collaborative resource development.
WHO Collaborating Centres
In its Fourteenth General Programme of Work (2025-2028), the World Health Organization has highlighted the accelerating pace of climate change and environmental degradation as major threats to human health.
A critical strategic objective is to “respond to climate change, an escalating health threat in the 21st century,” and work toward more climate-resilient health and lower-carbon health systems and societies. The 5 WHO Collaborating Centres based at the University of Toronto have come together to explore ways to collaborate across their areas of focus, united by the complex challenges of climate change and environmental degradation that affect all aspects of population health and health system operation. We aim to work closely with and across the UofT WHO Collaborating Centres, engaging in the development of trustworthy evidence and evidence synthesis and informing the development of global norms, standards, and guidance.
Supports & Services
In addition to our programming, we aim to support our members to leverage their expertise and networks to inform practice change and policy development, or to engage in public debate and discussion about the vital challenges and change opportunities facing the health sector and our communities.
We aim to be purposeful in building knowledge exchange and knowledge mobilization partnerships and activities, to promote practice change and policy development locally and globally at the pace and scale required.
Reach out if you’re interested to help out or learn more: climate.health@utoronto.ca
Agenda setting workshops
We collaborate with research teams, health sector partners, and centres of excellence to convene workshops and symposia on critical issues, bringing together local, national, and international experts across academia, health systems, government and community partners to build networks and define research and policy agendas.
These workshops are purpose built: They leverage visiting experts, support research clusters, or respond to community priorities.
Reach out for a conversation if you’d like to explore working with us: climate.health@utoronto.ca
