A new climate action plan at the University of British Columbia aims to accelerate emissions reductions and achieve net-zero emissions by 2035—15 years ahead of the previous target date.
At its Vancouver campus, UBC will expand its district heating system, make campus buildings more efficient, improve waste management and promote sustainable modes of transportation, among other measures.
The university’s Climate Action Plan 2030 (CAP 2030) builds on the success of two previous climate action plans. It also incorporates principles recently outlined in UBC’s 2019 declaration on the climate emergency and its climate emergency task force report.
“We have made significant progress on reducing greenhouse gases generated through campus operations, but there’s still more work to do given the urgency of our climate crisis,” says UBC President and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Santa J. Ono. “CAP2030 builds an accelerated roadmap for further emissions reductions – allowing UBC to contribute further to the goal of capping global warming at 1.5 C, which was set in the Paris Agreement.”
UBC has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by about 30 per cent since 2007. The new plan aims to get to net zero faster through a combination of measures.
The Bio-energy Research and Demonstration Facility, which burns clean wood waste from outside sources to heat buildings across the campus, is undergoing a $27.4 million expansion that when complete will allow it to heat more buildings. This will further reduce reliance on non-renewable energy sources. Ultimately, the plant is projected to help reduce total emissions by up to 60 per cent compared to 2007 levels.
Within the next decade, 100 per cent of the district energy used to heat campus buildings is projected to come from such low-carbon sources.
A climate-friendly plan
New buildings will use low- environmental-impact materials and operated sustainably to produce zero emissions, while existing buildings will be retrofitted to use less fossil fuels.
UBC will also develop a comprehensive electric vehicle charging strategy for its campus fleet, and any new vehicles added to the fleet will be zero-emission whenever possible. To reduce emissions generated through commuting to campus, commuters will be offered incentives to use sustainable modes of transportation. Cyclists will also benefit from improved bike storage and bike lanes and expanded bike sharing programs.
Other measures listed in the plan include reducing business air travel and improving food and waste management.
