In recent years, lots of interesting articles have been written on climate change and climate action. Here are a few of the Sustainability Office’s favorites, including some articles written by professors and staff at UBC. Check back regularly for updates to this page. This is where we will post the climate action plan, and emissions reductions strategies.

Sustainability Office Reports

• UBC Leadership and the Climate Agenda- Discussion Paper. A discussion paper written by the Sustainability Office and the Technical Advisory Committee that outlines some of UBC’s early thoughts on climate action.
• UBC Sustainablity Report, 2006-2007. A report on UBC’s sustainability strategy that tracks progress, challenges, and successes.

Newspaper Articles and Press Releases

• How To Save The World. A feature article in the Ubyssey newspaper discussing the role of universities in bringing about a sustainable Canada.
• BC University Presidents Sign Climate Action Statement. Press release announcing the signing on the University and College President’s Climate Change Statement of Action for Canada.

Academic Reports on Climate Change

• Climate Change 2007. The most authoritative report on climate change published to date. After six years of work, the report’s 450 lead authors, 800 contributing authors and 2,500 expert reviewers from 130 countries stated collectively for the first time that human activity is unequivocally causing global climate change.
• Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change. 700 page report commissioned by the UK government that outlines the financial implications of our changing climate.

Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions Reports

• Climate Change Adaptation - Planning for BC. This paper summarizes the key principles of adaptation to climate change and explores the challenges for BC in the context of nine top-of-mind issues (e.g. biodiversity, water supply, crop adaptation). It also proposes ways to adopt “smart adaptation” strategies—policy responses to climate change that cut across all major government functions, such as infrastructure, energy, water, economic development, resource management and agriculture.
• Infrastructure and Communities: The Path to Sustainable Communities. This paper explores how BC communities can produce less carbon while adapting to climate change impacts. Extensive infrastructure and institutional changes are essential. Recommendations include better intergovernmental coordination, specific targets for carbon reduction, more stringent energy-zoning and building material requirements, and expansion of public transit and incentives for walking and cycling.
• An Integrated Approach to Transportation Policy in BC: Assessing Greenhouse Gas Reductions Opportunities in Freight Transportation. Transportation services are central to the movement of goods and people in modern economies and their provision involves tradeoffs between economic benefits, health effects, and social and environmental impacts. This paper examines the challenges of managing greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector in BC, with a specific focus on freight movement.