Gordon McBean

Professor Emeritus Gordon McBean is director for policy, Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) at Western University’s Department of Geography. Previously, he was assistant deputy minister, Environment Canada (1994–2000), responsible for weather, climate and air quality sciences and service. Since his appointments to ICLR and Western, he has focused on science and policy issues such as climate change, disaster risk reduction and broader environmental issues. He is a Member of the Orders of Canada and Ontario and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. In 2007, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, shared for his contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Bio

Professor Emeritus Gordon McBean, Ph.D., has been at Western University since 2000, in the Department of Geography and as director for policy, Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR). Previously, he was assistant deputy minister, Environment Canada (1994–2000), responsible for weather, climate and air quality sciences and service; professor, atmospheric-oceanic sciences, University of British Columbia (1988–1994); and senior scientist, Environment Canada. Internationally, he was president, International Council for Science (2014–2018); co-chair, Future Earth Governing Council (2016–2018); and chair, Science Committees for Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (2006–2011) and World Climate Research Programme (1988–1994). Since his appointments to ICLR and Western, he has focused on science and policy issues such as climate change, disaster risk reduction and broader environmental issues. He is a Member of the Orders of Canada and Ontario; Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and other societies; and was awarded the 2017 International Meteorological Organization Prize; 2015 University of British Columbia Alumni Award of Distinction; 2015 American Geophysical Union Ambassador Award; 2015 American Meteorological Society Cleveland Abbe Prize; 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, shared for his contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; and 1988 Patterson Medal for distinguished contributions to meteorology in Canada.