UBC SPPGA – Statement of Support for Global Climate Strike

September 19, 2019
UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs – Statement of Support for Global Climate Strike

On September 20 and 27, millions of people worldwide will be striking from school and work to demand that the climate crisis be acted on as an emergency. UBC students, staff and faculty are organizing an event to take place on September 27 at 11:00 AM at the Nest, with a convoy to meet with other strikers downtown at Vancouver City Hall at 1:00 PM.

The School of Public Policy and Global Affairs supports this action. Therefore, on September 27^th, all classes will be suspended from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Participating students, staff, and faculty are invited to assemble on the lawn in front of the Liu Institute for Global Issues at 10:30 AM so we can walk to the event as a group.

Statement on Climate Emergency 

Climate change is one of the most vital and urgent issues of our time. As a School dedicated to fostering solutions to critical global challenges, we recognize the need for a drastic shift in public policy to combat the growing threat of climate change.

We join with other university departments and institutions in naming a climate emergency.

We commit to not only reducing the carbon footprint of our own activities, but also proactive research, teaching, and engagement to help British Columbia, Canada, and the world find a just path to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to well below two degrees Celsius and pursuing effort to limit global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius.

In support of this goal, we commit to a series of weekly open discussions throughout the Fall 2019 term, designed to establish a series of climate actions for the school. Through these conversations, we invite both individual and collective culture change that will reduce our carbon footprint. We also hope to think through what we, individually and collectively, can contribute towards a better global climate future as learners, educators, and researchers. All students, staff and faculty are welcome and encouraged to attend.