Talk summary:

Limiting global warming to well below 2°C requires swift and effective climate policies. However, science assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlight our limited understanding of what policy solutions work, under what conditions, for whom and how. Rigorously synthesizing the insights from thousands of primary evaluations can improve climate policy practice just as collectivized evidence has transformed clinical guidance in health. In the talk I will highlight examples of this evidence-based approach to climate policy and highlight the efforts that are being made to synthesize evidence using community resources and the latest machine learning approaches.

Bio:

I am the Assistant Professor of Energy and Climate Policy at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and a visiting researcher at the Mercator Research Institute on Climate Change in Berlin. I am interested in the economics of the energy sector and the incentives needed to create low carbon energy systems. My wider research interests include evidence synthesis, policy evaluation, electricity markets, and the role of clean energy in development. Before turning to academia, I was a policy practitioner. I worked with regulators, governments, and utilities in the design and implementation of electricity policy in South Asia.

Talk summary:

This case study examines how the UBC Farm Wonders Summer Camps can respectfully integrate local Indigenous nations’ ways of knowing and being into their land-based learning curriculum. Situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation, these camps provide a unique opportunity to foster children’s connections to the land while uplifting Indigenous voices and practices. Guided by the principles of “two-eyed seeing” and the 4Rs of respect, relevance, reciprocity, and responsibility, the study employs interviews, focus groups, and participatory action research to assess the current state and potential of Indigenous-inspired land education at the camps. Data will be analyzed thematically to identify actionable improvements, with the ultimate goal of creating a toolkit for educators to incorporate meaningful land-based learning and contribute to the decolonization of outdoor youth programming. The findings aim to inform not only UBC Farm Wonders but also other outdoor programs in British Columbia and Canada, promoting a sustainable and equitable future grounded in respect for Indigenous knowledges and relationships with the land.

Bio:

Jasmine Lambert (she/her) is an MA student at IRES, supervised by Dr. Robert VanWynsberghe and Dr. Kari Grain in the Faculty of Education. Jasmine’s current research focuses on land-based learning, nature connection, and environmental outdoor programming. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, majoring in Environmental Studies and Peace, Conflict, and Justice, with a minor in Human Geography and a Certificate of Sustainability. Before Jasmine joined IRES, she worked at an environmental charity in Toronto that focused on inspiring a love of nature in urban areas. Jasmine believes that her passion for nature stems from her childhood years living on Saturna Island, which shaped her appreciation for the environment, and understanding that nature is not separate from us, but rather a part of us.

Talk summary:

The production and disposal of electronics create significant environmental and social challenges, harming human health in developing countries, damaging ecosystems, and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Nicotine vaping products have recently become a rapidly growing source of e-waste, expanding from a perceived trend into a $22 billion USD global market with an estimated 82 million users. To address this rising waste stream, countries like the UK and New Zealand have introduced bans on single-use vapes or mandated removable batteries, but in Canada, vape products and the e-waste they generate exist in policy gray zone that is creating a unique challenge for recycling and material recovery. This project addresses these challenges by conducting material flow analysis (MFA) and life cycle assessments (LCA) to quantify the environmental impacts of vaping products, surveying consumer purchase and disposal behaviours, and developing Canadian policy recommendations.

Bio:

Emily Shilton (she/her) is an M.Sc. student at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, supervised by Dr. Milind Kandlikar (SPPGA) and Dr. Alex Tavasoli (Mechanical Engineering). Her current research focuses on circular economy, public policy, and life-cycle assessments related to consumer electronics. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo, studying Mechatronics Engineering with a minor in English Literature. Prior to joining IRES, she was working as an electrical engineer on the Google Pixel team where her work inspired an interest in learning more about the intersection between technology and the environment!