Climate action champions present themselves with varying levels of exposure ranging from the silent champion to the media mogul. While there are many climate action champions out there, I wanted to profile a champion that fits two guiding parameters. Firstly, I wanted to keep the candidate to be profiled relative to my region resulting in limiting the candidate to a Canadian. Secondly, I wanted to select someone I knew nothing about before this post to expand my exposure to climate leaders, and hopefully yours as well. A Google search quickly led me to a list of 26 Canadian Climate Champions announced ahead of COP26 in UK and Canada Live Event posted by Wallace and Trottier (2021) on the Canada Climate Law Initiative. From the list, I selected Dr. Bruce Lourie as the climate action champion in focus that will be explored. Our journey will take us through some of Bruce’s background and accomplishments that helped lead him to be named on a list of 26 Canadian Climate Champions.
Bruce has both an academic and professional background that lends to his credibility as a reliable source of climate-related information. As an academic, Bruce has achieved a BSc in Geology and carries both a Master’s and a Doctorate in Environmental Studies (Bruce Lourie, n.d.). These degrees do not sit idly on the shelf and collect dust. This is demonstrated by Bruce being a founding member of Summerhill, a prominent organization that helps promote residential, commercial, and community use of energy more efficiently through energy audits, turnkey projects, and rebate applications. Through this, Summerhill helps overcome barriers to efficiency-based projects such as the technical nature of application processes for rebates, financial barriers present due to the cost of efficiency upgrades, and business case generation (Summerhill, 2024). Shortly after leaving Summerhill to further influence climate action, Bruce became President of the Ivey Foundation, a philanthropic organization founded in 1947 focused on improving the well-being of Canadians through grants issued on areas of significance (Ivey Foundation, 2024). Under Bruce’s leadership, the Ivey Foundation (2022) determined that the Economy and Environmental Program was a strategic priority and became their primary focus in 2014. These two professional endeavors account for 29 years of professional experience listed on Bruce’s LinkedIn account (Bruce Lourie, n.d.). Despite his commitment to these organizations for nearly three decades, his influence extends beyond these two positions. Examples of this are other initiatives founded by Bruce such as “ the Clean Economy Fund, the Sustainability Network, and the Canadian Environmental Grantmakers’ Network “ (Keynote Speakers Canada, 2024).
Equally as impressive as his professional career are the awards and honours received along the way. In 2015 Bruce was a recipient of the Bryden Award for Outstanding Achievement, an achievement reserved for the Alumni of York University who have excelled in their field (YorkU Alumni, 2015), for his efforts in the field of Environmental Sciences. In addition to being recognized by his alma mater, he has also been named a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of Canada (Canadian Climate Institute. (n.d.)). To be named a fellow of this society one must be a direct contributor to scientific knowledge in ways such as “… published books, scientific publications, or major mainstream media coverage documenting fieldwork or exploration” (Royal Canadian Geographical Society, (n.d.)). Extending beyond recognition received by networks Bruce has been a part of, he has also co-authored the best-selling book Slow Death by Rubber Duck and its follow-up Toxin/Toxout where Rick Smith, co-author, and Bruce tested products on themselves to quantify the number of harmful chemicals absorbed in order to demonstrate the quantity of chemicals we are unknowingly taking into our bodies through everyday items such as soda, deodorant, printed receipts, and even the cardboard boxes your delivery pizza arrives in (Penguin Random House Canada, n.d.). The efforts made to earn alumni achievements, be welcomed as a fellow within a society, and create best-selling books demonstrate a commitment to creating a social impact in regards to climate action and increased awareness of the physical environment we are a part of that exemplifies characteristics of a climate action champion.
Efforts made by Bruce have extended beyond the geographical borders of Canadian climate action. They have led to regional recognition and even global influence through the reach of works he has published. I feel fortunate to have selected Dr. Bruce Lourie as the climate action champion highlighted in this blog post. Even the small act of researching Bruce has led to my exposure to incredible networks like Summerville and the IVEY Foundation that I did not know existed until now. The consistent efforts made by Bruce to lead climate action through climate action initiative funding opportunities created by the IVEY Foundation, creating a foundation to support commercial and residential climate initiatives from project inception to completion, and the intent to increase the quality of life of people through raising awareness with his books highlight why he made it on the list of 26 Canadian Climate Champions announced ahead of COP26 in UK and Canada Live Event issued by the Canada Climate Law Initiative (Wallace & Trottier, 2021).
References
Bruce Lourie. (n.d.). Home [LinkedIn page]. LinkedIn. Retrieved January 14, 2024, from https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucelourie/
Canadian Climate Institute. (n.d.). Bruce Lourie. https://climateinstitute.ca/people/bruce-lourie/#:~:text=He%20has%20been%20named%20a,in%20his%20career%20in%202015.
Ivey Foundation. (2024, January 14). About. https://www.ivey.org/about-main
Ivey Foundation. (2022, November 29). A Letter to Our Friends and Partners on the Decision to Wind Up the Ivey Foundation and Distribute its Full Endowment by 2027. https://www.ivey.org/documents/WindUp_OpenLetter_Final%20PDF%20(2).pdf
Keynote Speakers Canada. (2024). Bruce Lourie. https://keynotespeakerscanada.ca/speaker/bruce-lourie/?gclid=CjwKCAiAqY6tBhAtEiwAHeRopfrchoJy9_EQo_i20OeEtsQX6gqkkK-k_bjE-9XOg8003Y68kTJB5BoCQysQAvD_BwE
Penguin Random House Canada. (n.d.). Excerpt From Slow Death by Rubber Duck. Penguin Random House Canada. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/169430/slow-death-by-rubber-duck-by-rick-smith-and-bruce-lourie-with-sarah-dopp/9780307374011/excerpt
Royal Canadian Geographical Society. (n.d.). Nominate a Fellow. https://rcgs.org/about/fellows/nominate-a-fellow/#:~:text=Fellows%20are%20individuals%20who%20have,%2C%20zoology%2C%20etc.)
Summerhill. (2024, January, 14). Service Offerings. https://summerhill.com/service-offerings/
Wallace, C., & Trottier, S. (2021, May 4). 26 Canadian Climate Champions announced ahead of COP26 in UK and Canada Live Event. Canada Climate Law Initiative. https://ccli.ubc.ca/26-canadian-climate-champions-announced-ahead-of-cop26-in-uk-and-canada-live-event/
YorkU Alumni. (2015, December 7). 2015 Bryden Alumni Awards – Bruce Lourie, MES ’87 (Outstanding Achievement). [Video]. YouTube.ca. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvDO4jqqHd8 (30-45 s)