news

COP26: Climate change and climate inaction

COP26: Climate change and climate inaction

November 3, 2021: Dr. Jiaying Zhao, Canada Research Chair in Behavioral Sustainability and professor at UBC’s department of psychology and the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, spoke about getting everyone to act on climate and why there are many different reasons for climate inaction.

COP26 is a circus with a purpose: Putting climate change in the spotlight so no country can ignore it

COP26 is a circus with a purpose: Putting climate change in the spotlight so no country can ignore it

October 29, 2021: UBC geography and IRES professor Dr. Simon Donner shared his thoughts on the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Canada’s climate strategy ahead of COP 26

Canada’s climate strategy ahead of COP 26

October 28, 2021: Dr. Kai Chan, a professor at UBC’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, discussed what Canada needs to do to meet its climate objectives.

Canada’s climate questions

Canada’s climate questions

October 25, 2021: UBC geography and IRES professor Dr. Simon Donner spoke about what he is hoping to hear from the federal government on commitments related to oil and gas and what Canada has to do to meet climate goals.

Seeking Assistant Professor: Human Dimensions of Biodiversity Conservation

Seeking Assistant Professor: Human Dimensions of Biodiversity Conservation

IRES and Faculty of Land and Food Systems are seeking an interdisciplinary scholar who uses econometric and other quantitative techniques to investigate human dimensions of biodiversity conservation. For example, research interests may include how individual and institutional actions affect conservation outcomes, or how biodiversity conservation affects aspects of human well-being. Anticipated start July 1, 2022.

Indonesian court rules president negligent over pollution

Indonesian court rules president negligent over pollution

September 16, 2021: In a victory for the right to a healthy environment, the Central Jakarta District Court ruled that top officials have neglected citizens’ rights to clean air. IRES’s Dr. David Boyd submitted an amicus curiae brief supporting the lawsuit.

Hitting global climate target could create 8m energy jobs, study says

Hitting global climate target could create 8m energy jobs, study says

July 23, 2021: Sandeep Pai, a PhD candidate at IRES, was interviewed by the Guardian about his PhD thesis, which found that currently an estimated 18 million people work in the energy industries, which is likely to increase to 26 million if climate targets are met.

About 40 percent of India’s districts have some form of coal dependency

About 40 percent of India’s districts have some form of coal dependency

July 1, 2021: Sandeep Pai, a PhD candidate at IRES, discussed his PhD thesis, which showed that India’s transition away from coal should include comprehensive interventions that address the concerns of millions of people involved.

Lululemon founder buys Canadian islands to conserve ecosystems

Lululemon founder buys Canadian islands to conserve ecosystems

June 30, 2021: In a new Guardian article, Dr. Kai Chan says while private land conservation is an important part of the solution to overdevelopment, it is not a complete solution.

‘Black swan’ heat wave brings record-breaking power demand

‘Black swan’ heat wave brings record-breaking power demand

June 28, 2021: Dr. Milind Kandlikar gave comments about how utility providers will have to adjust to changing weather patterns.