UCalgary-hosted conference on sustainability will call for collective action across generations

As the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline approaches and momentum for sustainable action continues to build, the University of Calgary is preparing to host Together | Ensemble 2025, Canada's national conference on sustainability and the SDGs. The two-day conference will take place from May 26 to 27. 

With global inequalities deepening, Together | Ensemble 2025 is mobilizing Canadians to drive urgent progress on the SDGs. From ensuring healthy lives and advancing gender equality, to protecting water security and ensuring decent work for all, the conference calls for bold, collective action to build a future where no one is left behind. 

The Together | Ensemble initiative traces its roots back to Alberta, where the seed of SDSN Canada was planted in 2016. Since then, it has grown into a national platform for collaboration on sustainability, becoming a story of local beginnings sparking national change. 

Dr. Christine Daly, PhD’23 (Environmental Design), co-chair of Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Canada and associate director of UCalgary’s Office of Institutional Commitments, says it’s critical to include the perspectives and efforts of youth and Indigenous Knowledge with sustainable development. 

Indigenous knowledge, youth leadership and bold collaboration 

The themes of this year’s conference are broad and urgent, ranging from planetary health and water innovation, to Indigenous and youth leadership for future generations.  

“We can support Mother Nature to regenerate herself and provide for our communities by thinking about our finite resources and our responsibility to share them with future generations,” says Daly. 

The conference follows an all-of-society approach, calling Canadians across generations, sectors and knowledge systems to work together for a sustainable future. 

Together | Ensemble 2025 features a lineup of leading voices in sustainability. Keynotes and panels will cover child health in Canada, sustainable development across seven generations, inclusive governance, science diplomacy, water innovation and digital cooperation.  

“Every positive action we take to care for the Earth comes back to support our communities,” Daly adds.  

She explains that sustainable development connects the health of the environment, communities and the economy. It’s woven into daily life — from the air we breathe to the glacier-fed rivers that nourish ecosystems and farms - to the natural resources that shape livelihoods across Canada.  

Failing to invest in a sustainable planet, she warns, will have lasting consequences for present and future generations. 

Shaping a sustainable future at this year’s conference  

This year’s conference theme, Collective Action for a Sustainable Future: Collaboration Across Generations, Sectors and Knowledge Systems, reflects the youth-led vision of the organizing committee. 

Hosted in a hybrid format with sessions in French and English, the conference welcomes participants from all walks of life: students, scholars, Indigenous communities, government and industry leaders, and civil society organizations.  

Indigenous knowledge plays a vital role in shaping the event, with guidance from an Elders’ Circle for Sustainability ensuring the inclusion of Indigenous languages, ceremony and other pathways for sustainability throughout the programming.  

“It’s the best of both worlds, combining sustainability science and Indigenous knowledge,” says Daly.  

Participants will engage in keynote talks, panels and workshops exploring:  

• Indigenous and Western pathways for sustainability  
• Youth leadership in climate action and SDG work  
• The 2025 UN SDGs under review: health and wellbeing, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, life below water and partnerships for the goals  
• The UN Pact for the Future 

Notable scholars participating include Dr. Nicole Redvers, DPhil, ND, MPH, member of Deninu K’ue First Nation and Western Chair in Indigenous Planetary Health at Western University, who will deliver the opening keynote, and host the Dene Ch’anié (‘the path we walk’): Indigenous Perspectives on Planetary Health keynote. 

The conference will also feature a session on Inclusive Governance and Ambitious Futures with Dr. Aleem Bharwani, Founding Director, UCalgary Pluralism Initiative, and Michael Youash, Senior Manager, Global Analysis, Global Centre for Pluralism. 

Additionally, Dr. Deborah McGregor, Canadian Excellence Research Chair in Indigenous Planetary Well-being at UCalgary, will present on Indigenous women’s leadership in sustainable water stewardship. 

To remove financial barriers, organizers are offering tiered pricing and a food donation registration option. Youth facing financial challenges can donate non-perishable food items to UCalgary’s Office of Institutional Commitments, which will later go to the Campus Food Bank in exchange for free admission.  

“Even a small registration fee can be a barrier,” says Daly. “This way, no one has to miss out on networking, job opportunities, or sharing their hopes and aspirations.” 

Registration is open on a first-come, first-served basis. 

“There’s something powerful about the possibilities for this conference,” Daly says. “By bringing Canadians together across generations, sectors and knowledge systems, we can build momentum for a more sustainable present and future.”