University of British Columbia
PAE-24: Sustainability Policy Advocacy

Two examples of UBC research and partnership initiatives that involve public policy advocacy and research to advance sustainability in the local region and province are the Think&EatGreen@School Project and the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS).

1. The Think&EatGreen@School Project: Through recognizing food as a fundamental element of the organization of society, this collaborative research project addresses the critical issues of regional food security, food system sustainability, and institutional adaptations to climate change within the context of Vancouver schools. It does this through the following activities:
• exploring ways in which the school system can contribute to reconnecting people, food, and the environment;
• engaging in curriculum development and integration to promote understanding of food system sustainability and opportunities for students to connect with their sources of food;
• developing concrete policy recommendations for mitigating the environmental impacts of institutional food systems; and
• strengthening networks of food security organizations to enhance regional access to sustainable food procurement sources, enabling key stakeholders in the local food system to be actively engaged.

For more information, please visit: http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/thinkeatgreenschool-project.

2. The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) is led by the University of Victoria in collaboration with UBC, Simon Fraser University and the University of Northern British Columbia. Since it began in 2008, PICS has launched a number of core programs and activities that have been inspired by, and continue to involve UBC people, research and events.

PICS was officially established in March 2008 through an endowment of $90 million from the British Columbia Ministry of Environment. PICS partners with governments, the private sector, other researchers and citizens to undertake research on climate change impacts and to assess, develop and promote mitigation and adaptation solutions. Its main objectives include:
• Understanding the magnitude and patterns of climate change and its impacts;
• Evaluating the physical, economic and social implications;
• Assessing mitigation and adaptation options and developing policy and business solutions;
• Evaluating and strengthening educational and capacity-building strategies to address climate change; and
• Communicating climate change issues to government, industry and the general public.

For more information, please visit: http://www.sustain.ubc.ca/pics