Sustainability Scholars Program

As civil society organizations (ENGOs more specifically) are beginning to reckon with past mistakes and strive for equity and inclusivity, they need tools to create meaningful and lasting organizational change. For several years, Sierra Club BC (SCBC) has been working to decolonize the organization's efforts; this project is among those that are the direct result of this initiative. 

The purpose of 'Implementing a Pathway Together' is to identify and create innovative approaches to intercultural climate engagement by centering Indigenous and diverse lenses. This includes generating reflection, analysis, tools and practices, enabling ENGOs, educational institutions, and other NGOs more generally, to engage with and learn from diverse communities on the climate crisis. The project builds on collaboration with the UBC Sustainability Scholars program on A Pathway Together (2020 - 2021). The scholar will work with SCBC to develop a "process guide" exploring questions of authentic relationships, intercultural collaborations that are respectful of protocol, and how we might centre the SĆȺ ~work with the lands and waters in good ways. 

Developing climate solutions that work for everyone requires increased capacities to learn from and work with diverse knowledge systems and tell different kinds of stories about the climate crisis. Implementing a pathway together, for ENGOs and other climate-engaged organizations to work with Indigenous and other historically marginalized communities is imperative to forward their climate action goals on a foundation of social and environmental justice.
 

Partner: Sierra Club of British Columbia Foundation
Funder: UBC
Keywords:  leadership & behaviour change, social sustainability, decolonization

This project investigates different ownership models for renewable energy projects with Indigenous involvement in Canada. The ownership models are presented through case studies of past and current projects with the majority of cases being for remote renewable energy projects. The report presents and explains the different models and their uses and explores common themes important to the success of projects in partnership with a First Nation or Indigenous community.

Partner: Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation
Keywords: leadership & behaviour change, social sustainability, sustainable development & green economy

This project aims to investigate entry pathways of pharmaceuticals into Metro Vancouver wastewater to identify opportunities for source control interventions. A major component was understanding the current operation of the drug take-back program in BC. Recommended interventions included improvements in the drug take-back program promotion and operation and alternative strategies for the monitoring and risk assessment of chemicals. 

Partner: Metro Vancouver
Keywords: waste management & recycling, water, pollution
 

This project explores best practices for policy and regulatory approaches for reducing embodied emissions in new construction and how these practices may be incorporated into a framework such as the BC Energy Step Code. The research identifies opportunities for local government and industry to reduce embodied emissions in new construction and makes recommendations to support the District of North Vancouver’s interest in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector.

Partner: District of North Vancouver
Keywords: green buildings, embodied emissions

Energy conservation plays a key role in reducing climate change. Unfortunately, energy conservation is a boring topic for most people. Smart speaker technologies have components that can make energy conservation more exciting. This project aims to explore critical design features of smart speaker applications that can be leveraged to increase engagement and promote behavioral change towards energy conservation.

Partner: BC Hydro
Keywords: leadership & behaviour change, sustainable development & green economy, water

Demolitions of homes built after 1970 are expected to increase in Metro Vancouver. This study aims to advance zero waste strategies in Metro Vancouver by examining the recycling and reuse potential of materials found in single-family homes built after 1970. The study focuses mostly on the diversion potential of wood materials because they make up the highest share of the regional construction and demolition waste stream by weight.

Partner: Metro Vancouver
Keywords: sustainable development & green economy, waste management & recycling

Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) is a form of alternate fuel which is manufactured from Residual Waste and can be used by industries as a replacement for fossil fuel. This report aims to provide the City of Vancouver a better understanding of RDF products currently being produced around the world and identify key potential RDF consumer markets within British Columbia. The outcome of this project highlights exploratory options for reaching Vancouver's Zero Waste goals.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: climate mitigation, green economy, zero waste, sustainable development & green economy, waste management & recycling, Waste to Energy 

This is a framework for how to measure social capital, with a focus on community mobilization for climate action. Both an analysis spreadsheet with current data trends in the Vancouver context, as well as a report covering a literature review, the framework with a metric on how to generate indicators, an analysis of how social capital impacts community mobilization, and recommendations are offered.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: climate action, climate mitigation, equity, diversity, inclusion, leadership & behaviour change, social sustainability, social capital, community mobilization, trends in data

This project aims to assess the potential to reduce the embodied carbon emissions of low-rise residential construction using materials and products available to the Vancouver market. It provides a building supply inventory and information about local suppliers that can be used by local builders, developers, and designers to specify low carbon products. The results include recommendations for improving the embodied carbon footprint of low-rise residential buildings.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: climate mitigation, green infrastructure, low carbon buildings, green buildings, supply chain management & green procurement