Tonnes of Risk: Drs. Naia Ormaza Zulueta and David Boyd on the rise of illegal pesticide exports in Spain
In El Salto Extremadura, Drs. Naia Ormaza Zulueta and David Boyd called out Spain's double standard of exporting thousands of tonnes of pesticides banned in the EU to the Global South.
PICS highlights Charlotte Milne for her work advocating for Semá:th First Nation flood rights through mapping
Further, Charlotte is reviewing First Nation flood mapping engagement efforts from across Canada to create a framework that outlines the variety of ways that Nations can engage in (or lead) different stages of flood mapping, across different types of maps.
From the Strait of Hormuz to African Markets: How the Persian Gulf Region Conflict Could Deepen Food Insecurity
IRES student Momodou Barry explores how conflict in the Persian Gulf region could deepen food insecurity across Africa by disrupting energy markets, fertilizer supply chains, and global shipping routes. Global food systems are interconnected, and shocks in one region can quickly influence food prices elsewhere.
Leaving the Playbook on the Sidelines: Sveinar Soldal on Sustainable Sports and the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Despite lofty promises, the upcoming World Cup is set to become the most emission-intensive sporting event in history.
Creating Communities to Help Interdisciplinary Scientists Thrive
Dr. Navin Ramankutty explains that as more researchers connect across disciplinaries, science will be better able to pursue solutions that address complex, urgent problems to secure livelihoods, food security and to safeguard our planet’s environmental health. Picture credits: Attendees socialize during an event at the 5th Open Science Meeting for the Global Land Programme (GLP) in Oaxaca, Mexico, in 2024. Credit: Ximena Fargas
A Reminder About The Food We Eat: “Every Seed We Place In The Earth Is An Act Of Trust”
🍎🍗How can we reconcile our love of food with the reality that many are sourced in ways that are warming our planet? Research by Juan Diego Martinez and Navin Ramankutty explains how agricultural policies can make peace with the climate through different declarations. Photo via Bakd&Raw by Karolin Baitinger
Encouragement boosts people’s likelihood to take climate action
☺️🌍 The fight against climate change is often framed as a sacrifice, Jade Radke's study finds presenting environmental action in a proactive light makes people more likely to act. "Clear, actionable alternatives make it easier for people to engage," Radke explains. Bicycle rush hour in Copenhagen, Denmark. Image by Mikael Colville-Andersen via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 ).
Dropping EV mandate for emissions standard ‘a mistake’ in Carney’s auto strategy: Climate scientist
🚗⚡Simon Donner shares his viewpoint about Mark Carney's new automotive plan, which he believes is 'hamstrung by the fact that we work with the North American automakers who are influenced by the U.S. government - and who are frankly behind on electric vehicles.' Photo by Michael Fousert via Unsplash
Silvopasture Gains Momentum in the Amazon, but Can It Shrink Beef’s Footprint?
“Farmers may seem like the main decisionmakers, but actually macro-scale factors like policies and market conditions are what drive adoption" explains Tatiana Chamorro-Vargas who is featured in the Good Men Project for her research on silvopastoral systems, which combine trees and pasture.
Your dinner may be heating up the planet: study shows that almost half the world’s population needs to change their diet.
🌍🍔 IRES student Dr. Juan Diego Martinez's study shows that food systems account for more than a third of global greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity and encourages people to "vote with their forks."
EV Policy and Practice in Canada | Jan 28, 2026, 3:30-5pm
Join moderator Milind Kandlikar (Professor, School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and IRES) and panelists Megan Lohmann (CEO at Community Energy Association) and Werner Antweiler (Associate Professor in the Sauder School of Business) as they discuss EV Policy and Practice in Canada. The panel will explore how the uptake of EVs in Canada is impacted by policy controls and other considerations, as well as explore the position of the industry at a national scale.
Why most Americans misjudge which personal decisions contribute most to climate change
🌍 While most Americans misjudge which personal decisions contribute to climate change, Dr. Jiaying Zhao explains how more readily available information can help people more accurately estimate which actions are most effective. Photo credit: David Preston via unsplash
March 19, 2026: IRES Faculty Seminar with Dr. David McMillon
This talk will discuss a framework for systemic discrimination that has applications ranging from reparations and the racial wealth gap, health disparities, and environmental racism.
March 5, 2026: IRES Professional Development Seminar with Helen Brown
The session will adapt to the questions and interests of the group but might include an intro to services and resources available at UBC Library and tips for managing the research process.
January 29, 2026: IRES Faculty Seminar with Dr. Aisling Rayne
This talk explores the multiple meanings and effects of new nonhuman neighbours, and how to support more inclusive and transparent environmental decision-making
March 12, 2026: IRES Faculty Seminar with Dr. Emily Yeh
Join Dr. Emily Yeh for her seminar on the political economy of geothermal development in Indonesia
April 2, 2026: IRES Professional Development Seminar with Rich Francis
This session offers a broad overview of the history and implementation of the US federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund, that governs the cleanup of historical hazardous material waste sites.
February 26, 2026: IRES Faculty Seminar with Dr. Sally Pusede
Join Dr. Sally Pusede for her talk on coal dust pollution and environmental justice.