UBC leads as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers in 2022
UBC is recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers in 2022. This award recognizes employers that lead the nation in creating a culture of environmental awareness, developing exceptional sustainability initiatives, and are attracting employees because of their environmental leadership. Visit the Focus on People website to see why UBC was selected for this award.
Installing antimicrobial copper patches on high-touch surfaces in Applied Science buildings
The UBC Faculty of Applied Science has recently installed more than 400 copper patches in high-touch surfaces across nine department buildings. Funded through the Copper and Health program by Teck Resources, the project aims to use antimicrobial properties of copper to maintain a sanitized environment that reduces the spread of infection. The patches, self-sanitizing adhesive […]
Changing our systems to ensure a sustainable world
Change in existing social systems is the only way to ensure long term sustainability and address climate change. Efforts such as composting, carbon pricing and electric vehicle usage, although praiseworthy, simply aren’t enough to combat climate change in the long run. This is reflected in the alarming fact that the US and Canada has reached […]
UBC bolstering Wellbeing in a challenging year
Since launching the Wellbeing Strategic Framework in 2019, UBC’s shared vision of being a health and wellbeing-promoting university is more important than ever in the face of complex societal challenges, including the global pandemic, climate emergency, colonization, and systemic racism. In a year made more complex by the COVID-19 pandemic, groups and community members across […]
Hold that flight: medical student’s residency interviews equal 1/3 of a Canadian’s annual carbon budget
Like thousands of other medical students in Canada, Dr. Kevin Liang had no idea he would be asked to take more than 10 flights during his last year for in-person residency interviews. “After learning this, I knew I had to quantify the climate impact from thousands of students travelling for CaRMS (the Canadian Resident Matching […]
UBC breaks ground on $23-million renewable energy hub
A new $23-million renewable energy hub will transform an entire city block at the University of British Columbia into a smart energy district, including the province’s first-ever hydrogen refuelling station for light and heavy-duty vehicles. It will also include the addition of a solar array, as well as intelligent charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. “This […]
Universities taking action to address the climate emergency
A recent groundswell of student climate activism prompted the University of British Columbia to join organizations around the world in declaring a global climate emergency and committing to full divestment of investments from the fossil fuel industry. As part of the declaration, and after expansive consultation, in January 2021 UBC’s Climate Emergency Task Force released […]
UBC leads as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers in 2021
For the tenth consecutive year, UBC is recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers in 2021. This special award recognizes Canadian employers that lead the nation in creating a culture of environmental awareness, developing exceptional sustainability initiatives, and – because of their environmental leadership – are attracting employees. Please visit the Focus on People website to […]
Fighting climate change: Moving from ideas to actions
In the decade that Dr. Janis Sarra has spent at the intersection of business law and climate change impacts, there is reason to be optimistic – at least in Canada. “There was a lot of misinformation about the impacts of climate change,” reflects Dr. Sarra, who was the Presidential Distinguished Professor at the University of […]
UBC 2030 competition attracts bold new student ideas
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, there is reason for continued hope. Among them the ideas and energy of young people who have been leading climate action movements. A competition organized by the UBC Sustainability Initiative drew more than 40 inspiring visions and solutions from students and student groups, centred on the theme: “What will sustainability at […]