My name is Julia Burton, I’m an hba1 student who previously took 2 years of geography and the environment prior to coming to Ivey. Having grown up in BC and later moving to Toronto, the outdoors are an integral part of my life. I’m interested in exploring what a career in sustainable finance means and equally learning about and opening my eyes to other careers within the sustainability world. As my interests and passions in sustainability grow, I’m excited to learn how I can contribute to a more sustainable future. 

What is your personal definition of sustainability? 

My personal definition of sustainability is to not borrow from tomorrow. I think sustainability means keeping the world a place that future generations will want to live in. It also means treating the planet with respect. The resources provided to us from Earth should be borrowed, not taken, and I think it is entirely doable within society to create purposeful change in the way things are done with regards to sustainability. Sustainability to me means using resources sparingly and working hard to reverse the damage that has already been done to the planet. 

What role do you see sustainability playing in your professional career?

I majored in Geography and the Environment prior to Ivey, and the courses allowed me to engage in contemporary learning about the impacts of climate change. I became interested in issues like the change in pattern of tree migration, or the rising of ocean levels impacting urban development. I want to continue this learning all through my professional career. Sustainability based careers are incredible opportunities to work in a field where new research is constantly coming to light. In any position I take on in my career, I want to engage with a sustainability based mindset, to create real tangible change in the outcome of our planet’s future. Often, thinking about climate change is daunting and it's hard to know where exactly to start. I want to work in fields like renewable energy or sustainable finance, where I can learn how to avoid becoming complacent.    

Last summer, I interned at an oil and gas company, and it opened my eyes to the depth of the conflict between certain industries and sustainability. I learned that I want to be on the forefront of resolving this conflict, and how we can move forward creating a more sustainable future in energy. 

What sustainability projects have you been engaged in?

In geography, I spent time engaging in learning about sustainability, where many of my school assignments involved assessing sustainable initiatives. In Environmental Science in particular, we spent time engaging in topics like the contemporary climate emergency, the overfishing of Cod in western Canada, etc. During the course, I wrote a research paper on how increasing temperatures are impacting populations of sea turtles, and the possible future mitigation strategies. It was an eye opening project, as I spent time learning about the depth of the impacts that increasing atmospheric temperatures can have on ecosystems, even if it's 0.01 of an increase.  

Another project I’ve been a part of was during the peak of Covid, I volunteered at a food service non-profit called Toronto Cares, that provided low cost grocery packages for lower income families who had been particularly affected by the shutdown of the economy. It operated off donations of excess food that would have gone to waste. I was in charge of picking up the leftover bread from Eately that would have been thrown out, bringing it to the organization to package it for each family, and delivering any excess to local homeless shelters to prevent any waste.  

Please list any sustainability-related interests you want to explore during the certificate. 

• How to convince large corporations to shift towards a renewable energy future and away from oil and gas energy
• The impacts of climate change on animals and migration patterns around the world - how corporations can play a role in endangered species protection