Aligning our climate actions: SHCS CAP 2030 committee

With just a few years remaining to achieve the ambitious and critical goals outlined in UBC’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2030, SHCS recently formed a CAP 2030 Steering Committee to help align our ongoing sustainability and climate actions and contribute to the university’s climate and sustainability-related plans.

While SHCS has long been committed to sustainability and climate action, with individual departments taking significant and meaningful steps over the years, this committee presents an opportunity to develop an SHCS-wide climate action framework to even more effectively and proactively work toward the university’s goals—and better determine, measure and communicate the work we’re doing.

“SHCS is leading the charge to reduce emissions at UBC. It is complex, challenging work that requires many partners, but it is also incredibly fulfilling to know we’re making a material improvement.” — Brian Jones, Director, Parking

The committee

Chairs

The committee is chaired by:

• Ricky Biring, Associate Director, Facilities, Facilities and Building Services
• Andrew Parr, Associate Vice-President, SHCS

Members

Committee members include:

• Jennifer Dowdeswell, Associate Director, Operational Learning & Development (VPS)
• Debra Eng, Ancillary Energy Manager, Facilities and Building Services
• Lisa Fisher, Director, Marketing and Communications
• Brian Jones, Director, Parking Services
• David Kiloh, Director, Facilities and Building Services
• Paula McCready, Associate Director, Ancillary Procurement, Purchasing
• Colin Moore, Director, Food Services
• Lakshmi Sangaranarayanan, Director, Student Residence
• David Speight, Executive Chef and Culinary Director, Food Services
• Johanna Webber, Associate Director, Building Services, Facilities and Building Services

Our climate action framework

By assessing current work across SHCS and identifying future opportunities, the committee landed on five different, yet interrelated, themes.

• Buildings and embodied carbon: reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout the entire lifecycle of our buildings.
• Sustainable transportation and fleet: increasing and promoting sustainable transportation opportunities to, from and on campus—and developing a low-emissions vehicle fleet.
• Food systems: enhancing the sustainable, local and low-emissions food system at UBC.
• Waste, circularity and procurement: refine how we measure and report on waste, expand the circular economy on campus and redefine our sustainable procurement strategy.
• Engagement and capacity building: Increase awareness and education, plus promote individual and collective action.

Next steps

The committee has established guiding principles for their efforts and identified many specific actions SHCS will work on—across each of the five areas.

Earlier this spring the committee met with colleagues on UBC Campus + Community Planning’s Sustainability and Engineering team to review our plans and gather their feedback.

Going forward, the committee will meet twice a year to check in on progress and is using its newly established Teams site to share information and collaborate between meetings.

Some of the specific projects being worked on this year include:

• Our annual Mindful Move Out campaign—happening on both campuses this month.
• The completion of Brock Commons South, the latest student residence to be built to LEED Gold standards.
• An audit of waste and an assessment of diversion rates at Marine Drive residence, along with other operational and renovation waste streams, to provide insights on how to improve our overall rates.
• Educating our dining hall patrons about how plant-based eating can reduce their carbon footprint.
• The creation of a communication plan to share information with student residents about climate action in SHCS, and to educate them on how they can contribute.
• The return of our annual Mindful Market, where we re-sell items donated by the previous year’s residents during move out—to enhance the on-campus circular economy.
• The opening of the hydrogen production and fuelling facility at UBC’s Renewable Energy Hub on Thunderbird Boulevard.

How you can help

No matter your role in SHCS, you are also a significant part of helping UBC reach its climate action and sustainability goals and helping us all achieve a more livable and sustainable future—whether through individual actions or contributing to workplace changes, projects and initiatives.

Here are some ways you can contribute to climate action and sustainability—at UBC and beyond.

• Take some time to learn about campus sustainability and climate action, including green buildings, energy management, operations, purchasing, transportation and more. Vancouver | Okanagan
• Find out ways to take action on climate change. Vancouver | Okanagan
• Check out UBC Sustainability’s Mindful Consumption Guide.
• Explore UBC Sustainability’s Campus Guides.

Debra’s energy saving tips

Check out these great energy saving tips, for work and home, from Debra Eng, Ancillary Energy Manager, SHCS and A&R.

Learn more

• Bookstore: Commitment to sustainability
• Child Care: Pedagogical commitments and collective values and ethics
• C&A Vancouver: Sustainability
• C&A Okanagan: Environmental policy
• Parking: Hydrogen cars and solar parkades