John Robinson

John B. Robinson is a Professor at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy and School of the Environment, serving concurrently as Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability. He holds adjunct roles at the University of British Columbia (Honorary Professor, Institute for Resources, Environment & Sustainability) and Copenhagen Business School. His work bridges academia with real-world sustainability challenges, focusing on climate adaptation, participatory futures studies, and urban sustainability.

Robinson's research emphasizes the intersection of societal change, technology, and sustainability. Notable contributions include developing participatory tools like MetroQuest for urban simulation and co-founding the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) at UBC. His career spans leadership roles such as Executive Director of UBC’s Sustainability Initiative and Associate Provost for Sustainability.

Key research areas include scenario analysis, sustainable buildings, and university-led sustainability initiatives. He advocates for deep interdisciplinary collaboration, emphasizing the need for universities to act as 'living labs' for societal transformation. His recent work explores wellbeing in built environments and reconciling academic/operational cultures toward sustainability governance.

Robinson’s academic publications span sustainability science, climate policy, and educational frameworks. He teaches courses like PPG1004H (Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis) and collaborates globally on projects addressing urban resilience and climate action. His work bridges theory and practice, aiming to redefine sustainability as a transformative, contested concept requiring systemic societal shifts.