We are in the climate emergency together.
The climate emergency is here, and UBC is committed to bringing our community together to confront this crisis. We are mobilizing around the community’s urgent demand for climate justice and acting upon UBC’s Climate Emergency Declaration and Task Force Report.
Most importantly, we must recognize that tackling the climate emergency as a university is not one unit’s responsibility but requires collective responsibility and combined effort from the UBC community as a whole.
The Sustainability Hub is responsible for convening and coordinating people across UBC to make progress on the CETF report’s recommendations.
Want to stay connected to everything happening at UBC related to climate action?
First Progress Report on the Climate Emergency at UBC
The first progress review on the climate emergency at UBC since the Board of Governors and Senates unanimously endorsed in principle the Climate Emergency Task Force (CETF) report in early 2021. The Sustainability Hub is responsible for convening and coordinating people across UBC to make progress on the report’s recommendations.
UBC’s 9 Strategic Priorities
The Climate Emergency Task Force (CETF) report was formed in 2020 based on community input and engagement with over 3,900 students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members. The 9 strategic priorities in the CETF report collectively highlight UBC’s mutually reinforcing roles as a leader, enabler, and partner in addressing the climate crisis.
Operationalize UBC’s commitments to climate justice: Support climate leadership and initiatives led by Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour
Demonstrate institutional leadership on climate justice
Establish mechanisms and processes that ensure Indigenous perspectives, communities, and worldviews shape the development and implementation of climate related initiatives and policies
Expand, strengthen and coordinate climate research at UBC
Foster a culture of engagement and advocacy on climate action
Support community wellbeing in the face of the climate crisis
Expand climate education opportunities and resources for the UBC community and broader public
Develop new and strengthen existing partnerships to tackle the climate emergency
Accelerate emissions reductions at UBCV and UBCO in response to the Climate Emergency: Climate Action Plan 2030
Events & Stories
UBC students pitch climate action ideas to City of Vancouver
Climate action is now the focus of a new area of study at UBC, where several courses are now being offered to study the impact of climate change. “More climate education is a big message we’re hearing at UBC and universities around the world,’ said Linda Nowlan, UBC’s Sustainability Hub’s senior director.
No #ClimateJustice Without #HumanRights
Egyptian civil society and activists have launched the slogans “No #ClimateJustice Without #HumanRights” and “No climate justice without open civic space” ahead of this year’s UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP27). Learn more by reading this and other articles as part of the blog series ‘COP27 What’s at Stake?’ presented by the Sustainability Hub.
UBC students, staff, and faculty in the news for COP27
With the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP27) underway, want to know more about UBC students, staff, and faculty perspectives on the conference? See below local, national, and international coverage of COP27 featuring the UBC community.
Take Action
Centering Justice in Climate Emergency Response, A Toolkit for Organizations and Institutions
This toolkit by UBC student Jenalee Kluttz, UC3 Climate Justice Fellow, will be useful to a broad range of institutions and organizations as they work to advance their own efforts towards equitable and just responses to the climate emergency.
Fill out the UBC Vancouver Transportation Survey by Nov. 27
How can UBC improve your experience getting to, from and around campus? Tell Campus & Community Planning through this short 10-minute survey. Your feedback will guide transportation planning and infrastructure decisions to better support the development of more sustainable and equitable transportation systems.
