UBC Sustainability

🔉Just launched! Listen to the new limited-series podcast from UBC Centre for Climate Justice and BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, exploring how BC tenants navigate the intersecting challenges of the ongoing housing crisis and the uneven impacts of climate change: https://bit.ly/3MbUMPm

Join for the second session in “Stories of Partnership” dedicated to highlighting collaborations that embody reciprocity. Presented by the Community Engagement Network.

Tuesday, June 25, 10-11:30am
GF2 Reach Room, 312 Main St.

RSVP https://communityengagement.ubc.ca/events/2024-june-cen-session/

2024 Sustainability Coordinator BioBlitz

Current UBC Sustainability Coordinators, or staff and faculty interested in the program, are invited to join and document as many species as possible while exploring local biodiversity and contributing to a global purpose.

Thursday, June 20
12-1.30pm
UBC Farm

Sign up today at https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aY336ulBQfmsIYe

Join renowned Filipino environmental lawyer and storyteller Tony Oposa for 'Gathering Good Stories - The Power to Set Hearts on Fire' to hear and share good stories of progress towards a more sustainable world.

June 21, 1-3pm
UBC Farm Yurt

RSVP today at https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6YHgmLoWhg7ljJI?Q_CHL=qr

📣 Up to $1,500 for community-university initiatives!

UBC's Partnership Recognition and Exploration Fund supports community partners in building reciprocal relationships with UBC students, faculty, and staff.

Apply today at https://communityengagement.ubc.ca/news/apply-for-the-2024-partnership-recognition-and-exploration-fund/

How are UBC faculty innovating in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary education so that students are best prepared to tackle complex sustainability challenges in their careers?

Find out at 'Interdisciplinary Sustainability Education at UBC' – part of the CTLT Spring Institute.

June 3, 2024
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Register today at https://events.ctlt.ubc.ca/events/interdisciplinary-sustainability-education-at-ubc/

Moderated by Oliver Lane (Sustainability Hub) with panelists Dr. Robert VanWynsberghe (Faculty of Education), Dr. Gabriel Potvin (Faculty of Applied Science), Dr. Jenny Peterson (Faculty of Arts), and Dr. Denise Gabriel (Faculty of Science).

Join entrepreneurship@UBC, David Capelli and Dr. Shannon Bard on Tuesday, May 28th to learn about the UN’s response to major climate change events!

At COP27 in Egypt, an agreement was reached to create a fund that will help less developed and developing countries offset the losses and damage from natural disasters caused by climate change. Capelli, who was 1 of 15 globally selected to represent the official UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Civil Society groups in the Plenary Room at the first UN Fund for Loss and Damage Board meeting in Abu Dhabi earlier this month, will debrief the weeks-long negotiations, findings, and potential for small-scale ventures to make a positive impact.

When? Tuesday, May 28th @ 11:30am-1:00pm
Where? Graham Lee Innovation Centre @ 6163 University Blvd, Vancouver

What might sea level rise look like at UBC? A new mural in the AMS sustainability corridor offers a glimpse into future possibilities.

Join local artists to celebrate the completion of the mural and to learn how it came to be.

WED MAY 22, 12-3PM
CIRS Policy Labs
2260 West Mall

More info and link to register at https://sustain.ubc.ca/events/sea-level-rise-mural-launch

With light refreshments, screening of El Espíritu de Nuestro Mar / SOS: The Spirit of Our Ocean, and chance to connect with peers from across disciplines.

What might sea level rise look like at UBC? A new mural in the AMS sustainability corridor offers a glimpse into future possibilities.

Join local artists to celebrate the completion of the mural and to learn how it came to be.

WED MAY 22, 12-3PM
CIRS Policy Labs
2260 West Mall

More info and link to register at https://sustain.ubc.ca/events/sea-level-rise-mural-launch

With light refreshments, screening of El Espíritu de Nuestro Mar / SOS: The Spirit of Our Ocean, and chance to connect with peers from across disciplines.

About a quarter of our climate change problem stems from agriculture, says Dr. Navin Ramankutty, Director of UBC’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (UBC Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability). Yet a growing global population with increasing per-capita consumption means we need to produce more food. Dr. Ramankutty researches environmentally friendly ways to do both.

Learn more: https://beyond.ubc.ca/balancing-sustainable-agriculture-with-the-need-to-feed-the-world/

Grocery store food prices have skyrocketed. But what exactly drives the cost of food before it hits the shelves? And what can be done to get less expensive food on our tables, while making the systems involved more sustainable? Dr. Kelleen Wiseman, who teaches food and resource economics at UBC (UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems), and co-authored the 2024 Canada Food Price Report, looks at the supply chain.

Learn more: https://beyond.ubc.ca/how-the-supply-chain-impacts-the-cost-of-food/

Farmers do more than just produce food—they can help nurture local ecosystems. But farming also needs to become more resilient to changing weather patterns and other effects of climate change. Dr. Sean Smukler, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm (UBC Farm - Centre for Sustainable Food Systems), explains how researchers are tackling these challenges.

Learn more: https://beyond.ubc.ca/farming-our-way-to-a-future-more-resilient-to-climate-change/

Applying research to the real world is a crucial step that can lead to meaningful change—or reveal roadblocks that need to be addressed. John Madden, who is the Director of Sustainability and Engineering at UBC (UBC Campus and Community Planning), explains how using the UBC Vancouver and Okanagan campuses as “living labs” helps people far beyond the university succeed in making our food systems more sustainable.

Learn more: https://beyond.ubc.ca/testing-new-ways-to-reduce-the-environmental-impacts-of-food/

Revitalizing Indigenous food systems can help diversify and localize food systems in ways that could buffer against food insecurity in a changing climate.

Learn what you can do with UBC’s Dr. Jennifer Grenz (UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems & UBC Faculty of Forestry): https://beyond.ubc.ca/how-indigenous-food-sovereignty-can-improve-food-security/

According to the United Nations, the world will need to produce 70 per cent more food to feed a population of 10 billion by 2050. But a huge portion of the food we produce never reaches consumers. The culprit? Food waste. Dr. Anubhav Pratap-Singh (UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems) explains how new technologies can help to reduce food waste.

Learn more: https://beyond.ubc.ca/how-technology-can-help-reduce-food-waste/

UBC Vancouver Faculty – Apply for funding of up to $20,000 over two years to develop new curriculum or significantly enhance existing curriculum and contribute to advancing sustainability and wellbeing education at UBC.

One key eligibility element is that you must apply with at least one other faculty member from a different Faculty, Department or discipline. Both of you must be in ongoing roles at UBC.

Find out more and apply by May 13 at sustain.ubc.ca/fellows.

The Climate Hub is undergoing restructuring and inviting YOU to be part of the decision-making process!

Please take this governance survey by March 24 to share your voice, ideas and opinions and for a chance to win a $25 Massy Book gift card.

https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cAR4Gk8c1GrzmPc

As the climate changes, how can we ensure our food security? Dr. Rickey Yada, Dean of the UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems (UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems), explains how we can build resilience into our food systems through agriculture, new ways of processing and preserving food and by reducing food waste.

Learn more: https://beyond.ubc.ca/building-sustainable-food-systems/

What can we do to help make our food systems more sustainable? UBC researchers explore how to feed the world without harming the planet. Together, we can make our food systems more sustainable.

Learn more: https://beyond.ubc.ca/building-sustainable-food-systems/

This winter we embarked on an exploratory photography project asking UBC community members to consider biodiversity, resilient communities, circular economy, and climate through their lenses of photography. 📸️🌻

Join the Sustainability Photo Pop-Up Exhibition on Thursday, March 21, from 2 to 3:30 pm, at the CIRS building’s atrium to enjoy and celebrate the thought-provoking imagery while engaging in the authors’ reflective statements! 🖼️ 💫

This is a free in-person event with light refreshments provided. ☕️
No registration needed.

*Presented in partnership by the UBC Sustainability Hub, Campus + Community Planning (), School for Architecture + Landscape Architecture (), and Emeritus College Photo Group ( ).

Meet our panelists!

A Dialogue on Circular Food Systems: A conversation exploring innovative and collaborative means of creating equitable and sustainable approaches to processes involved in food production, consumption, and disposal.

🗓️ March 22nd, 2-3:30 pm
📍 CIRS BC Hydro Theatre + Orchard Garden

✨ Guiding question: How might we create equitable and sustainable approaches to producing, distributing, and consuming food while minimizing waste and overcoming barriers to implementing a circular economy?

🌱 A panel of experts discussing sustainable & equitable approaches to circular food systems! The event will delve into topics involving solutions for resilient food systems, adapting farming practices to evolving climate conditions, opportunities for promoting biodiversity within innovative food systems, and more. Attendees will have the chance to participate in an open dialogue conversation with featured experts to collaborate and apply their knowledge from the discussion topics.

🍕 Complementary food and refreshments will be provided! All UBC students, staff, and faculty are welcome.

We look forward to welcoming you! RSVP using the link in the bio!

*This event is hosted by the UBC Sustainability Ambassadors.

Join the Centre for Climate Justice for a dialogue between Dr. Jeannette Armstrong and Dr. Christine Winter to discuss how Indigenous knowledge shapes climate justice. This dialogue will begin with short presentations from both Armstrong and Winter, followed by a discussion moderated by Naomi Klein.

📆 Date: Monday 25 March 2024
⏰ Time: 2:00 - 3:30 PM
📍 Location: Jack Poole Hall, UBC Alumni Centre

RSVP at https://climatejustice.ubc.ca/events/event/shaping-climate-justice-through-indigenous-knowledge/