Mobilizing the UBC community
In December 2019, the UBC Board of Governors unanimously endorsed a Declaration on the Climate Emergency, responding to the advocacy of our community members and joining other organizations around the world.
This declaration committed UBC to convene the Climate Emergency Task Force (CETF) to conduct an extensive community consultation process and consolidate input from both in-person and online consultations into a public report defining the pillars of the climate emergency and recommended actions.
Climate Emergency Task Force Report
Download the full report that outlines the engagement process, nine priority areas and 28 recommendations that span community, academic (teaching, learning and research) and operational dimensions of the university.
Download the report (PDF)
Climate Emergency Task Force Interim Report
The interim report was delivered to the UBC Board of Governors in June 2020, shortly after in-person engagement was paused due to interruptions related to COVID-19.
Download the interim report (PDF)
Santa Ono’s video address on UBC’s Climate Emergency Task Force
Process Summary
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December 5, 2019
UBC Declaration on the Climate Emergency
President Ono released the Climate Emergency Statement, which was unanimously endorsed by the Board of Governors.
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February 27, 2020
Engagement Process Begins
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Mid-March, 2020
All in-person engagement closes
Due to COVID-19, all in-person engagement is suspended. The engagement process is extended to enable a transition to virtual community dialogues.
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June 16, 2020
Interim Report Submission to Board of Governors
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July 2020–January 2021
Final Report Writing
Input from all aspects of the engagement process is compiled and reviewed by the task force working groups and task force members in their development of recommendations to the Board of Governors.
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February 2021
Board of Governors Endorses Report
The UBC Board of Governors unanimously passed a motion to endorse in principle the Report and Recommendations of the Climate Emergency Task Force.
Next Steps
The recommendations of the CETF require broad change. The UBC Executive Sustainability Strategy Steering Committee will continue to provide guidance and advice to the institution on administrative priority setting and coordinating resources that support advancing action on the climate emergency.
Climate Action Plan 2030 (CAP 2030) is well underway for both campuses and is identifying emerging directions and supporting actions that the university can take to accelerate emission reductions, including setting more ambitious and aggressive targets and tackling areas of extended emission sources such as commuting, air travel and low carbon food choices on both campuses. Progress on CAP 2030 is being reported to the Board in February, 2021. Download (PDF) the CAP 2030 report.
Administrative and academic leaders on both campuses are being identified to advance the CETF strategic directions and recommendations and to scope and develop implementation plans which in some cases will dovetail with existing workplans, while in others may require the development of new plans.
The UBC Sustainability Initiative, in partnership with the UBCO Provost Office, will play the role of convening and tracking implementation planning of the CETF strategic priorities and recommendations.
