The world body’s water institute moved into the municipal government’s space on East Beaver Creek Road in April after leaving Hamilton’s McMaster University.
“This agreement marks a significant milestone in our mission to address global water, environmental, and health challenges and share knowledge and experience with the globe,” Prof. Kaveh Madani, the institute’s director, said in a release, adding Richmond Hill’s commitments to sustainability and its skilled workforce made the city an ideal location.
“We believe that community engagement is crucial to our success,” Madani said, “and we look forward to working closely with the city’s staff, residents, and thought leaders to advance both local and global environmental strategies.”
Mayor David West said the signing is another chance for Richmond Hill to reduce its environmental footprint and become a more sustainable and low-carbon city. “It is one thing to talk about making changes and another to actually do it,” he added in the release.
West also spoke recently at UN headquarters in New York after Richmond Hill was named the first FrontRunner City in Canada by the Urban Economy Forum, another UN-affiliated body that promotes sustainable development.
The city has taken other steps to be considered an environmental role model. Last year, Nature Canada recognized Richmond Hill as a “Bird Friendly City,” based on its efforts to restore bird habitat and reduce threats to birds.
The memorandum of understanding was signed on Nov. 9 by UNU Rector and United Nations Under-Secretary-General Tshilidzi Marwala, who said the city and think tank would work together to “address some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.”
