Decarbonization, net-zero emissions and climate solutions: MScSM student awarded Climate Positive Energy Fellowship
Deep Parekh, awarded the 2024 Climate Positive Energy Fellowship, is tackling sustainability at the intersection of climate change, energy transition and sustainable finance. As a Master of Science in Sustainability Management graduate student at the Institute for Management & Innovation at UTM, Deep was selected as the recipient of the Fellowship with Rotman Dobson Business & Climate Project.
“I believe addressing the significant financing gap is essential for achieving net-zero goals in Canada and globally. Solving the capital access issue requires an interdisciplinary approach, [which involves] blending engineering, finance, and other skills. This fellowship offers a unique opportunity to leverage my engineering background while developing the finance expertise needed to scale effective climate solutions.” said Deep who holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Sustainable and Renewable Energy from Carleton University and serves as Vice President of U of T’s The Energy Network (TEN).
“[The] Global Climate Finance Accelerator aims to convene partnerships across various stakeholders to finance the deployment of technically viable climate solutions.” explained Deep. The CPE also strives to support research developing social, scientific, technical, economic, and policy solutions that support Canada and the world in achieving an equitable energy transition toward net zero 2050 goals.
“My main focus is on a pilot project to investigate decarbonization and net zero emissions opportunity at a manufacturing plant by assisting in technical and financial analysis required to implement the climate solutions. Additionally, I am assisting the team with a project [consisting of] building capacity in local communities on carbon sequestration and biodiversity credits.”
“Effective climate finance deployment requires scalable solutions across technical, financial, and policy fields” says Deep, whose future career plans circle this space. “This fellowship not only helps develop those essential skills but also creates pathways for impactful projects for the businesses and communities. It equips graduating students with the expertise needed to scale these solutions, ultimately allowing them to apply skills developed here to hundreds of projects and technical solutions that need to be scaled to achieve our climate goals.” Initiatives like this one are essential to maintain a healthy planet in the years to come.
Deep is a professional engineer with over six years of experience in energy consulting, focusing on strategic energy efficiency and energy transition in North America. With experience spanning engagement, regulatory compliance, and market trend analysis, having supported electric and gas utility clients in strategic planning and advisory services, Deep is uniquely positioned to have an impact.
“I see this fellowship as a valuable opportunity for experiential learning through real-life projects”, he says, “allowing me to build multidisciplinary skills and apply the knowledge gained in the MScSM program on top of my engineering background. This experience will equip me with the expertise needed to effectively scale impactful climate projects, supporting both my academic and professional goals.”
