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
Canada’s environment minister names expert group on net-zero emissions
Feb 26, 2021
The federal environment minister has named a group of experts who will advise him on the best way Canada can get its carbon pollution to net zero by 2050.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced 14 members of a new Net-Zero Advisory Body on Thursday, fulfilling a Liberal Party pledge to appoint a group of independent “scientists, economists, and experts” to guide Canada towards achieving its emissions reductions targets.
The group's members represent a range of expertise. They include Assembly of First Nations Yukon Regional Chief Kluane Adamek, climate scientist and University of British Columbia professor Simon Donner, and Kim Thomassin, executive vice-president of Canada’s second-largest pension fund, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Read more.
Embodied carbon pilot helps building industry address climate change
Jan 26, 2021
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the built environment are a significant contributor to climate change. As policies to reduce operational energy consumption and related GHG emissions from buildings start to take effect, the embodied emissions associated with building material choices are becoming proportionally more significant.
But in order to reduce embodied carbon in future buildings, policy-makers must first understand the materials-related emissions of current buildings. To meet this need, the UBC Sustainability Initiative’s Urban Innovation Research group is conducting a multi-year pilot focused on improving the practice of life cycle assessments (LCAs) used to estimate the embodied carbon emissions of buildings throughout their life cycle. Read more.
What is UBC currently doing to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions?
Feb 21, 2020
