2026 EcoFest:
2026 EcoFest:
Freshwater crisis in the midst of AI and technology development
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Freshwater is one of the most essential resources for human life, yet it is becoming increasingly scarce around the world. Despite being one of the goals of SDGs, today, billions of people face challenges related to water availability, quality, and access. On top of the ongoing climate crisis, the growing use of AI, data centres, and tech has demanded an unsustainable use of water, which has placed further pressure on rivers, lakes, and groundwater systems.
So, how do we respond to this crisis? Addressing freshwater challenges requires more than simply conserving water. It demands innovative solutions in water management, improved water cycle management, and more responsible water usage. We need to change the way we perceive and conserve water. The freshwater crisis is more than an environmental issue: it is a social, economic, and global challenge.
How should we respond to this crisis? How do we ensure the sustainability of freshwater for the generations to come? How will we adapt our approach to water usage?
Past Ecofests
Past Ecofests
Future of Climate Action
UTERN encourages all student-led groups across the three campuses to participate in our annual EcoFest. It is an opportunity for student groups to showcase their initiatives, draw attention to issues they are passionate about, and connect with the environmental community at Uoft. We also offer additional funding for EcoFest events.
The theme theme for 2023 is “Capitalism and the Environment”.
Environmental studies and economics are inherently interdisciplinary. Since the environment does not exist in a vacuum, environmental studies entwine with social (e.g., racial, gender-based, and heteronormative), political (e.g., democratic, autocratic, and technocratic), and economic (e.g., capitalist, socialist, and communist) structures. Similarly, economics does not exist in a vacuum. Thus, it influences and is influenced by environmental conditions, social structures, and political frameworks. With capitalism as our current world economic system, many experts and everyday does have had many questions about economics and the environment. What is the best way to take on climate change: adaptation, mitigation, or prevention? And who should be making decisions on systemic and bandage solutions to the climate crisis? The highest polluters? The countries most impacted by climate change? Neither?
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