Editor's Note: Student Voices for Sustainability

Welcome to the inaugural issue of our Sustainable Development Goals at University of Toronto (SDGs@UofT) Newsletter. This publication aims to create a dedicated space for critical reflection, interdisciplinary dialogue, and community engagement across the tri-campus network. Each month, we will explore a set of SDGs through scholarly insight, real-world case studies, and student contributions that illuminate how global development priorities manifest in diverse local and international contexts. 

We begin the year with SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, two goals that are particularly resonant in January as the global community marks the International Day of Education (January 24) and the International Day of Clean Energy (January 26). These observances call attention to the foundational nature of learning and sustainable energy systems in advancing equity, resilience, and long-term development. 

Although SDG 4 and SDG 7 operate within distinct policy domains, their interdependence is increasingly evident. Education expands human capacity, fosters innovation, and equips individuals to navigate complex environmental and technological challenges. Clean energy, in turn, underpins the functioning of schools, research institutions, digital learning systems, and the broader social infrastructure upon which education relies. Together, these goals form a mutually reinforcing framework that shapes the conditions under which communities grow, adapt, and thrive. 

In this issue, we highlight several initiatives that exemplify this intersection in practice including Mukuru Clean Stoves in Kenya, Barefoot College in India, and Canada’s first carbon-neutral secondary school in Ontario. Each case demonstrates how accessible education and sustainable energy solutions can jointly support community wellbeing, empower marginalized groups, and catalyze meaningful structural change. 

We are also pleased to spotlight research and analytical work from University of Toronto students whose scholarship engages directly with the themes of SDG 4 and SDG 7. Their contributions reflect the depth of inquiry, methodological diversity, and commitment to equity that define our academic community. 

As we launch this newsletter, we invite readers to engage critically with the ideas presented, contribute their own perspectives in future issues, and consider how the SDGs can serve as guiding principles for scholarship, policy development, and community action. We look forward to building a collaborative platform that reflects the depth, diversity, and expertise of our tri-campus community.