Brett Caraway
Media Industries & Sustainability
Institute of Communication, Culture, Information & Technology
Institute for Management & Innovation
University of Toronto
Announcements
I will be giving a public talk on my latest book, A Critical Introduction to the Economics of Sustainability, at The Hub in Santa Barbara on July 8th. Drawing on insights from economics, environmental studies, and public policy, this talk will explore the complex relationship between economic systems and sustainability challenges in the 21st century. Located in the ARTS District, The Hub is part of the Community Environmental Council of Santa Barbara. The CEC is historically one of the most important grassroots environmental organizations in the United States. Today the CEC is known for building political resolve for climate action at local and regional levels, in ways that are measurable, replicable, and scalable. CEC has pioneered environmental solutions on California’s Central Coast for more than 50 years. I am very pleased to have this opportunity to partner with with such an important organization for this book launch. For more information: CLICK HERE
I have joined the Network Canada Board of Directors for the United Nations Global Compact. As a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the vision of the UN Global Compact is to mobilize business to transform sustainability ambition into action at the scale the world demands. With more than 25,000 participants and a presence in over 100 countries through 5 Regional Hubs and more than 70 Country Networks and expansion territories, the UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. The ultimate aim of the UN Global Compact is to mobilize a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders to create the world we want. I look forward to bringing an academic perspective to the board’s work, collaborating with fellow members, and supporting the Network’s efforts to promote the Ten Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals across Canada. For more information on the UNGC Network Canada: CLICK HERE
I am happy to announce the release of my latest book A Critical Introduction to the Economics of Sustainability as part of the Routledge Explorations in Environmental Studies series. The book is organized in two parts. In the first part, I survey the major contributions of a variety of economic schools of thought including classical political economy, neoclassical economics, environmental economics, ecological Marxism, and ecological economics. In the second half of the book, I provide an overview of the historical relationship between energy and wealth, paying particular attention to the Industrial Revolution and the concomitant development of an information economy. Using a series of case studies, I show how the development of a global hydrocarbon economy and communications infrastructure dramatically increased matter/energy flows, exacerbating the tensions between economic growth and a world of finite resources. For more information, including critics’ reviews: CLICK HERE
As of July 2025, I have been appointed as the Acting Director of the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology. ICCIT houses four interdisciplinary undergraduate programs offering a wide array of approaches to the study of communications, media, and technological innovation. I have been with ICCIT since 2012 and I am looking forward to working with my colleagues in this new capacity as we meet the challenges of today’s information and communications technology landscape. In addition to ICCIT Acting Director, I will continue in my role as the Director of the Master of Science in Sustainability Management program in the Institute for Management & Innovation. For more information: CLICK HERE
The Master of Science in Sustainability Management Program is delighted to welcome the Honourable Bob Rae, the Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, as the 2024 Sustainability Leaders’ Series keynote as MScSM celebrates its 10 Year Anniversary. Over the last 10 years MScSM has grown rapidly, surpassing expectations, with a unique blend of core curriculum designed to prepare students for global sustainability challenges, and a broad range of experiential opportunities to acquire concrete experience. Ambassador Rae will join us virtually on November 7th from New York, where he will be discussing “Meeting the Moment: Canada and the Sustainable Development Goals.” For more information and registration: CLICK HERE
I was invited to address the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the House of Commons. This was part of the Committee’s series of meetings on the Use Of Social Media Platforms For Data Harvesting And Unethical Or Illicit Sharing Of Personal Information With Foreign Entities. These meetings came in the wake of the government’s decision to ban TikTok on the mobile devices of public employees and as the Canadian Government undertakes a major revision of its approach to AI and privacy regulation. For more information: CLICK HERE