What’s that Smell? As Weather Warms, So Does a Perennial East Van Debate
March 30, 2021: Dr. Amanda Giang explains to The Tyee that smell is incredibly personal and can impact well-being. Her comments add to the perennial concerns raised by residents of Vancouver’s Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood.
New position paper outlines the importance of using psychology to combat climate change
A group of Canadian environmental psychologists including Dr. Jiaying Zhao who study climate change and human behaviour have collaborated to write a position paper for the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). The position paper draws on psychological science to inform how Canada needs to respond to its changing climate.
The human right that benefits nature
March 16, 2021: In a new BBC article, Dr. David Boyd said that recognising the human right to a healthy environment should be thought of as catalyst for better actions rather than a cure-all.
Why community-run food hubs could be the key to better food security
March 2, 2021: Consolidation and trade deals have encouraged companies to centralize processing capacity where labour is cheap — and B.C. has lost dozens of processors in recent decades as a result, said Dr. Hannah Wittman.
New UN Environment Programme synthesis provides blueprint to urgently solve planetary emergencies
Dr. Kai Chan helped lead a new report to assess the links between multiple environmental and development challenges, and explain how advances in science and bold policymaking can open a pathway towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 while bending the curve on biodiversity loss.
One BC Community’s fight to tackle industrial pollution
March 1st, 2021: IRES’s Dr. Amanda Giang gave comments to the National Observer on the multigenerational health risks of lead contamination, currently being experienced by the city of Trail, B.C.
How Nova Scotia coastal communities are planning for climate change
Feb 10, 2021: CBC featured research from David Righter’s IRES Master’s thesis, showing that 75% of coastal communities in Nova Scotia are implementing climate change plans ordered by the province.
Dr. Jiaying Zhao on behavioural sustainability
Feb 10, 2021: In a podcast episode, Dr. Zhao discussed the necessity of putting psychology to use in sustainability; if we know how people come to their decisions, we can design policies that help them make good decisions on their own.
Farm protests highlight complex India trade outlook
Feb 5, 2021: Dr. Shashidharan Enarth commented on the complex relationship between B.C.’s Indian diaspora and its home country amidst the recent #FarmersProtest.
Spooked by COVID-19, B.C. government invests in food processing, supply chain
Feb 3, 2021: Dr. Hannah Wittman said in an interview with National Observer that free trade deals like NAFTA have consistently made it more difficult for smaller, regional food processing facilities to compete with imported foods.