Improv meets climate action... 🌿🎭 IRES grad student Anaïs Pronovost-Morgan brought eco-improv to the UBC community! With 10+ years in theatre and now pursuing her second master's, Anaïs blends head, heart and hands to spark fresh perspectives on environmental challenges:

"Armed conflict pushes humanity even closer to the precipice of climate catastrophe and is an idiotic way to spend our shrinking carbon budget" - Dr. David Boyd, featured in the Extinction Rebellion Read more: xrpdx.org/war-genocide...

War/Genocide Is Hell on the Climate

War is hell on the climate, thanks to the fossil fuel that powers most military activities.

xrpdx.org

Public perception of different energy sources should be an input into any democratic energy decision. This study reveals that India’s public views nuclear energy as very risky, but this perception varies by region and is shaped by social, political, and developmental values doi.org/10.1088/1748...

IRES alum Bassam Javed explains why low speed vehicles (like electric carts) are becoming more common for industries such as aviation: www.cbc.ca/news/climate...

Electric golf carts are another EV option hitting the streets | CBC Climate Change News

In this issue of our environmental newsletter, we find how people are using EVs with four wheels that seat multiple people and start at around $10,000; get an aerial view of methane-emitting lines cri...

cbc.ca

“Decision support” is a growing academic and professional field, said Simone Philpot, who led the UBC-NRC-Clear Seas research project team as a post-doctoral fellow at IRES. www.theenergymix.com/new-decision...

New Decision Framework Helps Chart the Course to Zero-Impact Shipping

The complex goal of getting the marine shipping industry down to zero environmental impacts by 2050 means weighing trade-offs for each situation rather than reaching for a single fix, and a new…

theenergymix.com

We are just before a new era of cases that use the new human rights approach to address the triple planetary challenge. The SDGs are based on a rock solid foundation of international human rights law says Prof David Boyd ( @ires.ubc.ca) @cisdl.bsky.social #SDLaw26

A few suggestions from Jiaying Zhao and Liz Dunn's new book on how to save the planet and make yourself happier at the same time! www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sex-...

7 Ways to Make Yourself Happy While Saving the Planet

Climate change can trigger lots of negative emotions. But a new book suggests ways to make ourselves happier while saving the planet. Here are seven of them.

psychologytoday.com

A more legitimate approach to compensating harms requires moving beyond improved methods toward rethinking the rules that frame the overall decision-making process. From IRES's Terre Satterfield & Robin Gregory, and U of Oregon's Paul Slovic: policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/06/eval...

Decisions on major projects often ignore cultural and social losses

Major-project reviews often overlook cultural and social losses, treating deep community harms as trade-offs.

policyoptions.irpp.org

The newly released draft strategy on environmental racism and justice fails to identify any practical actions, says IRES prof David Boyd. Unless strengthened substantially, it won't ensure that all Canadians can enjoy their right to a healthy environment. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/03/n...

Liberals had two years to deliver environmental racism strategy and failed: Elizabeth May

As the federal government backs a new pipeline to BC's coast, the Green Party leader is accusing it of slacking on promised environmental racism legislation.

nationalobserver.com

John Driscoll and Edward Gregr, adjunct professors at IRES, on seaweed farming: this form of aquaculture has a lot of benefits but needs new regulations to manage potential environmental threats. thetyee.ca/News/2026/06...

Seaweed Farming is Growing in BC. Mind the Risks | The Tyee

This form of aquaculture has a lot of benefits but needs new regulations to manage potential environmental threats.

thetyee.ca

The PNW faces immediate climate risks: sea level rise, extreme weather, infrastructure vulnerability. Resilience has become an operational necessity. IRES prof Amanda Giang will speak on a panel exploring what workforce skills are needed to execute resilience strategies at scale. luma.com/ej1efx9q

Climate Adaptation: Preparing Vancouver’s Workforce for Coastal Reality · Luma

The Pacific Northwest faces immediate climate risks: sea level rise, extreme weather, infrastructure vulnerability. Resilience has become an operational…

buff.ly

Shake up the Estab, led by IRES PhD Student Manvi Bhalla, is hosting an event where you'll learn about environmental racism and how it impacts your community. And, you’ll be given the opportunity to directly help shape Canadian policy on environmental racism and justice! TinyURL.com/SUTE-PNW-Event

Policy & Penmanship: Write to your Government Officials for Environmental Justice · Luma

Join us for an evening of nourishing food, free prizes, environmental policy action and a chance to connect and be in community with one another! The federal…

tinyurl.com

Consultations on a draft Environmental Justice Strategy are now open. www.canada.ca/en/environme... @manvi.bsky.social explains why everyone should participate:

UBC IRES@ires.ubc.ca · 3mo ago

Canada has finally acknowledged environmental injustice. Now the real work begins. With consultations on the horizon, public participation will be key to turning recognition into action. @manvi.bsky.social explains what’s at stake in her new op-ed: www.hilltimes.com/2026/05/06/c...

WorkSafeBC hasn't updated its extreme heat protections since 2005, and it’s not clear to employers when they're required to start adopting cooling measures—said Susanna Klassen and Anelyse Weiler. Read their op-ed in the Vancouver Sun:

Opinion: Why doesn't B.C. have a trigger temperature to protect workers from extreme heat?

Opinion: Workers are feeling the heat, but WorkSafeBC hasn't updated its extreme heat protections since 2005.

vancouversun.com

A research report for a RES course last spring has flourished into a national campaign calling for lint traps on washers! Rockstar students Sam Blackwell, Chloë Chang, Kevin Landrini, and Clare Price, alongside Dr. Kai Chan, have been busy building support: ires.ubc.ca/qa-microfibr...

🏢 🚶‍♀️Yunfei Li, an IRES PhD student, explores new ways to engage people on climate change through Urban Future Walks! news.ubc.ca/2026/06/down...

Can a walk through downtown Vancouver change how we think about climate change? - UBC News

UBC researchers are exploring new ways to engage people on climate change through Urban Future Walks, an experience that highlights real-world sustainability solutions in Vancouver through guided, vir...

news.ubc.ca

🙃 Joy is a powerful climate strategy! 🌞 @jiayingzhao.bsky.social and Elizabeth Dunn's new book is out now...check it out: happyclimate.org

Leave the Lights On - Make Climate Action Joyful

What if the most effective ways to fight climate change made you happy? Psychologist Elizabeth Dunn and climate behavior scientist Jiaying Zhao challenge everything we think we know about sustainable ...

happyclimate.org

#UBCOceans announces the laureates of its 2nd cohort Africa-UBC Oceans and Fisheries Visiting Fellows: Dr. Rael Adhiambo (Kenya) - who will be working with @ires.ubc.ca's Leila Harris - and Dr. Ahmad Muhammad Talba (Nigeria) working @zoology.ubc.ca's Chris Wood oceans.ubc.ca/2026/06/15/s...

"You can't be saying these deals are still compatible with net-zero by 2050. They're not. The deal is not compatible with it. Just be honest with Canadians about this." said @simondonner.bsky.social @ubcgeography.bsky.social @ires.ubc.ca www.cbc.ca/news/politic... via @cbcnews.ca

'Be honest with Canadians': Ex-member of top climate body criticizes Alberta pipeline deal | CBC News

A former member of Canada's top climate body said the pipeline deal Canada signed with Alberta is incompatible with Carney government's net-zero target.

cbc.ca

Ottawa calls it co-operation. Climate scientist Dr. Simon Donner calls it math that does not add up. “If this wasn’t going to affect the system outside Alberta, fine. But when you add it all up, the emissions math just doesn’t work.” 🔗 www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/202...

Feds didn't push carbon price backstop in Alberta in show of co-operation: Dabrusin

The government didn’t enforce the federal standard on Alberta’s industrial carbon price as a gesture of co-operation with the province, Federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin said Tuesday.

bnnbloomberg.ca

Today’s solution is for Canada to mandate laundry appliances include a built-in microfiber filter—like a lint trap that captures up to 90% of fibers at the source. Oregon, California, and Ontario have proposed legislation, and it's already law in France www.hilltimes.com/2026/06/04/p... @ires.ubc.ca

IRES students and CoSphere colleagues call for microfibre filter standards and bold biofibre investment, protecting oceans while creating economic opportunity for Canada. www.hilltimes.com/2026/06/04/p... @science.ubc.ca @ubcoceans.bsky.social

Plastic sunset: Canada has a generational chance to protect the oceans while boosting the economy - The Hill Times

Today’s solution is for this country to mandate that laundry appliances include a built-in microfiber filter—like a lint trap for your washer that captures up to 90 per cent of fibers at the source.…

hilltimes.com

Jiaying Zhao and Elizabeth Dunn (@ubcpsych)'s new book earned praise from the New Scientist, which calls it a "counter-intuitive climate book" packed with practical, hopeful ways to help the planet and boost wellbeing. Woohoo! 🎉 www.newscientist.com/article/2528...

The best new popular science books of June 2026

The most exciting popular science reads this month explore everything from symbiosis to hormones, while Alice Roberts takes on an editor-in-chief role in her latest book

newscientist.com

Let's imagine the future of cities together! Join this FREE walking or virtual experience, May 16 - September 7, 2026, organized by one of our PhD students... What you get: 🎟️ Chance to win $100 CAD 💵 $5 gift card for optional focus group ☕ Complimentary treats Reserve now → urbanfuturewalks.com

Ethical data governance that centers farmers’ perspectives is essential for creating a just and sustainable agri-food system. Sarah-Louise Ruder and Hannah Wittman are advancing this work by examining farmers’ views on trust and data sharing across Canada. 🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104076

Facing geopolitical and economic pressures, Dr. Simon Donner warns Canada may be heading “the wrong path in the long term," noting that Canada is concentrating on incremental emission cuts from current activities instead of planning how to replace them 🔗 www.canadianaffairs.news/2026/05/20/c...

Climate scientists reject highest emission, highest warming climate scenario

Researchers say the highest emissions climate scenario used in global climate reports is no longer plausible. But the debate over why it was removed remains hot

canadianaffairs.news

For RES 505, led by Dr. Leila Harris, graduate students produced 3 knowledge mobilization projects that explore how to implement more sustainability and well-being at UBC. For more details about the projects: ires.ubc.ca/courses/cour...

Countries are increasingly worried about becoming dependent on foreign-owned AI systems in the same way many became dependent on foreign energy, manufacturing or supply chains explains Milind Kandlikar in the National Observer Read more: www.nationalobserver.com/2026/05/13/n...

BC's new data centre cluster sparks new discussion of 'sovereign' AI push

Putting a data centre in Canada does not automatically mean Canada controls it. The servers may be inside Canada but the technology, software, customers or parent companies behind the project could…

nationalobserver.com

Congrats to our IRES graduates, Glory Apantaku, Rudri Bhatt, Joanne Fitzgibbons, Samantha Gorle, Annie Lalande, Sveinar Lunde Soldal, Valerie Zimmermann, and Anna Santo! 🎓

Canada has finally acknowledged environmental injustice. Now the real work begins. With consultations on the horizon, public participation will be key to turning recognition into action. @manvi.bsky.social explains what’s at stake in her new op-ed: www.hilltimes.com/2026/05/06/c...