Stories

UBC understands that the actions we take today will affect human and environmental wellbeing for generations to come.

The stories below provide a window into the broad range of climate emergency-related activities underway by UBC academic units, operational departments, community initiatives, and student groups. UBC invites you to explore what’s happening, and join us in this vital work.

Featured Stories

Climate Emergency Fund Recipients Share Back

Sustainability Ambassadors Program

Join us in this interview with Jack Suchodolski and Kshamta Hunter to learn more about the Sustainability Ambassador’s Program, how the Climate Emergency Fund (CEF) has helped the program grow, and hear advice from Jack on getting involved in sustainability leadership. 

Climate Justice UBC

Join us in this Q and A with Michelle Xie and Yasmina Seifeddine from CJUBC, as they discuss CJUBC’s demands for UBC to follow up on their fossil fuel divestment commitments, how the Climate Emergency Fund (CEF) has supported CJUBC’s work and values, and the deeper message behind the recent release of the CJUBC CEF Grant Report.  

All Stories

No #ClimateJustice Without #HumanRights

Oct 13, 2022

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 delegation of ten going to COP27

Sep 14, 2022

I am pleased to announce that following the second annual open competition, UBC’s largest ever delegation of students, faculty, and staff will attend the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, this November.

Climate Emergency Fund Recipients Share Back: Public Scholars Initiative

Sep 06, 2022

Public Scholars Initiative (PSI) is an award-winning program at UBC that is recognized for its excellence in supporting and promoting doctoral students in undertaking impactful research for the public good. Learn more from PSI coordinator Serbulent Turan and current scholar Grace Nosek, who has published a hopeful climate fantasy trilogy. They discuss how the CEF has accelerated necessary climate work at UBC and the exciting plans for this new cohort of climate scholars.

Climate Emergency Fund Recipients Share Back: Transdisciplinary Collaborative PhD Pilot for Climate Emergency

Sep 02, 2022

Transdisciplinary Collaborative PhD Pilot for Climate Emergency is a new and innovative graduate research program that tackles the climate emergency with a collaborative and diverse cohort. Dr. Naoko Ellis and Dr. Derek Gladwin are faculty members of the Collaborative PhD for Climate Action that received funding from the Climate Emergency Fund. Join us in this Q and A with the two as they discuss their climate story, why they advocate for transdisciplinary teaching and research, and their hopes for the future of climate research.

Evolving Teaching and Research to Advance Climate Action at UBC

Aug 29, 2022

This month's Edubyte newsletter discusses what actions are happening at UBC to tackle the climate emergency, and how you can also help take action through teaching and research. Dr. Tara Ivanochko, Academic Director, Sustainability Hub and faculty member in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences; and Oliver Lane, Manager Teaching and Learning, Sustainability Hub were guest editors for this edition.

Climate Emergency Fund Recipients Share Back: Centre for Community and Engaged Learning’s Climate Action Mobilizers

Aug 25, 2022

The Social Impact Lab’s Climate Action Mobilizers (CAM) are a group of highly motivated students that engage with communities across Vancouver to tackle social and climate justice issues around the climate emergency. Join us in this Q and A with two CAMs, undergraduate students Minaho Sugimori and Isabella Montecalvo, as we hear from them about the challenges that students may face in climate work, what motivates them to take climate action, and how being a CAM is more than just a job.

Abundance of Light – Reflecting on Power and Climate Change

Jul 26, 2022

The global community is awakening to the reality that has long been expressed by Indigenous leaders: colonialism is harming our planet and exacerbating the effects of climate change. And given the disproportionate effects of climate change on Indigenous Peoples, we need to continually question: whose voices are dominating the agenda and solutions?

How are Universities Participating in the Race to Zero?

Jul 08, 2022

We face a climate crisis of unprecedented scale and deciding on the actions to take is a conversation that includes everybody. In late June, the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) Summit brought together attendees from 13 universities across the US, Canada, and Mexico to reflect and strategize on ways to accelerate climate action on campus, community, and global scales.

Climate Education Grants Announced

May 26, 2022

The Sustainability Hub would like to congratulate the recipients of 2022 Climate Education Grants, supporting faculty members who are looking to enhance their courses with climate change-related content. [...]

C.D. Howe Institute ranks UBC first in both climate change & endowment activities and their governance

May 18, 2022

Independent non-profit research institute The C.D. Howe Institute ranked UBC first in Climate Change and Endowment Activities, tied for top score with McMaster University, with an overall score of 4.2. UBC also placed first in Climate-change Governance practices, scoring 4.9 out of 5.0.   In 2020, UBC joined 16 major Canadian universities to launch Investing to Address […]