Leveraging the Okanagan Charter to reflect on the crises of our times
On Dec. 9, 2020, speakers from UBC, the University of Waterloo and McGill gathered virtually for a conversation on the challenges post-secondary institutions face with regards to complex issues around health and wellbeing, including the implications surrounding the global COVID-19 pandemic, the climate emergency, and the renewed urgency to advance Indigenous peoples’ human rights and […]
Championing sustainability at UBC for twenty years
The Sustainability Coordinator Program provides staff, faculty and graduate students with opportunities to promote sustainably at UBC. The program is a great grassroots initiative that empowers its volunteer coordinators as they create sustainability practices tailored to the unique needs of their unit, from laboratories, office spaces, classrooms, and more. Since its origins in 1999, the […]
UBC recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers in 2020
For the ninth consecutive year, UBC is recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers in 2020. Some of the reasons why UBC is being recognized with this award include: UBC boasts a number of green firsts, including being the first Canadian university to adopt a sustainable development policy (and first to sign the International Sustainable […]
Climate emergency engagement: Virtual community dialogues May 21-June 30
As the situation around coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, the climate emergency engagement timeline has been extended to late June to allow for continued and robust engagement. There will be a series of virtual community dialogues, all hosted over Zoom. The climate emergency remains one of the most pressing issues of our time. At this […]
UBC research driving the future of clean transportation
Vehicles produce nearly a quarter of Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, making them the country’s second-largest source of such emissions. The University of British Columbia is leading research efforts to make transportation cleaner, safer and more connected, using its unique campus as a living laboratory (Strategy 3: Thriving Communities). One example is an innovative UBC […]
The flow of water: From the mountains to the campus
Water is a crucial resource at UBC, for basic human needs and to support research and operations. The story of water at UBC’s Vancouver campus is complex, and rests in the hands of dedicated teams from across the VP Finance & Operations portfolio, including Energy & Water Services, Building Operations, Safety & Risk Services, and […]
Initiative encourages UBCO students to give back to the community
At least once a year, UBC Okanagan students join forces to mop floors, bake cookies or muck out horse stalls, among other tasks. The activities are all part of Days of Caring — held in partnership with the United Way — in which students spend their Reading Week volunteering with community organizations. Days of Caring […]
UBC bioenergy facility acts as living lab for climate change leadership
The Bioenergy Research Demonstration Facility (BRDF) on UBC’s Vancouver campus is helping the university hit its aggressive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target: a 67 per cent reduction from 2007 levels by 2020. A first of its kind project in North America, the system transforms clean wood waste from regional wood product manufacturing and municipal plant […]
UBC tops global university impact rankings: Times Higher Education
The University of British Columbia is ranked number one in the world for taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts and ranked one in Canada for making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, according to Times Higher Education (THE). THE University Impact Rankings, in which UBC ranks top three overall amongst 500 […]
UBCO invests $70M in new on-campus student housing
UBC Okanagan’s campus will continue its impressive growth in student residences thanks to a $70-million investment in two new student housing projects. Although the campus currently has space to house 1,680 students – meaning one guaranteed space for every first-year student – the university ultimately endeavours to provide on-campus housing to 25 per cent of […]