The University of Waterloo (UW) and Export Development Canada (EDC) today announced the creation of a new research chair, funded by EDC, to identify financial products and practices that will help companies engage in business practices such as socially responsible investing and integrate social and environmental performance measures into their business activities.
The EDC Chair in Environmental Finance, based in the University’s Centre for Environment and Business, will also help businesses identify new ways to commercialize "green" technologies and services as well as explore carbon financing and clean energy funds.
“There has been an explosion of 'green' in the marketplace. The EDC Chair will build on that demand and identify tools companies can use to address environmental issues such as climate change and environmental sustainability in emerging markets, while expanding their own business opportunities,” said Deep Saini, Dean of the Faculty of Environment.
“This initiative strengthens EDC’s commitment to facilitating environmental leadership by Canadian firms,” said Eric Siegel, EDC President and CEO. “We are proud to be associated with the University of Waterloo in meeting a growing need of Canadian companies to integrate environmental and business issues.” EDC is a leader among the world’s Export Credit Agencies in assessing the environmental impacts of its business and in its Corporate Social Responsibility policies.
The EDC Chair will be reserved for an expert who has made a strong contribution to studies in environment, business and finance. The University will also hire an additional professor in a related field, to further expand its Centre for Environment and Business.
“The EDC Chair in Environmental Finance expands our university’s contribution to one of today’s most pressing issues,” said David Johnston, President of the University of Waterloo. “This contribution by EDC will expand UW’s Centre for Environment and Business, which is educating the next generation of corporate leaders who can ensure a more sustainable environment for the future.”
The funding of this Chair is part of EDC’s longstanding commitment to promoting a trade culture in Canada in partnership with Canada’s universities. Since 2001, EDC’s Education and Youth Employment (EYE) program has invested millions of dollars in scholarships, event sponsorships, and course development to help tomorrow’s business leaders discover the global opportunities available to them.
The University of Waterloo has been ranked Canada’s most innovative university for more than 15 years and is the largest co-op university in the world. Based in the Faculty of Environment at Waterloo, the Centre for Environment and Business is home to Canada’s only undergraduate program to integrate environmental and business knowledge with 20 months of co-op work experience.
EDC is Canada’s export credit agency, offering innovative commercial solutions to help Canadian exporters and investors expand their international business. EDC’s knowledge and partnerships are used by nearly 7,000 Canadian companies and their global customers in up to 200 markets worldwide each year. EDC is financially self-sustaining, is a recognized leader in financial reporting and economic analysis, and has been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for seven consecutive years.
