Thoughts on UBC's Sustainability Plan in Advance of Dec. 5/19 Board Meeting

These are rough notes that gather some of my overarching questions about the plan and set of documents summarizing it as presented to the UBC Board of Governors for discussion at the Dec. 5/19 meeting. 

Action Plan - carbon neutrality by 2050 - twice too long. We are overdue for this, it should already be in place. We should be aiming for carbon neutrality in 5 years not 30.

Strategic partnerships - what are the material outputs of these, beyond roundtables .

Transportation - 2/3rds of trips in transit - what about the rise of short haul vehicle trips related to constant housing development? How does continued housing development effect transpiration numbers (and don’t say skytrain, please).

Looking forward. Is it enough to constantly point to being the first to do something? Especially when being first becomes more prominent than making a life saving difference?

Indigenous Engagement - there is nothing there to show how that has any connection to resolving the climate emergency. Hard to understand how any of the Indigenous items included in this report relate to sustainability and resolving the climate emergency. This is not to say Indigenous engagement has nothing to say with climate action -ti does, it is rather to say that the items presented don’t present as related to addressing climate action.

Does UBC really care about the climate crises? No mitigation plans in building proposals.

Twitter Commentary on UBC Building Approvals

I support the concept of the #Gateway Building & at committee voted for it so that it could be discussed at the full board. But there are a few problems with the current plan.

@Mikey4493

https://bog3.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/11/4.1_2019.11_Gateway-Building-B1.pdf…

7:22 AM · Dec 1, 2019·Twitter Web App

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charlesmenzies

@charlesmenzies

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Dec 1

Replying to

@charlesmenzies

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@Mikey4493

First, this is a plan with NO mention anywhere I could see of how the builders plan to mitigate adverse climate effects of the design and construction of this building.

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charlesmenzies

@charlesmenzies

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23h

Next, there are NO funds allocated in the budget to demonstrate any concern with mitigating adverse climate effects.

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charlesmenzies

@charlesmenzies

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23h

Then, there is no attempt to assess the cumulative effects on adverse climate effects of the construction of this building in the adjoining precinct that is currently the site of massive construction with more anticipated.

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charlesmenzies

@charlesmenzies

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23h

Finally, there is no indication in these preliminary plans whether the units associated with the project are anticipating further expansion of their programs or if this is part of a status quo perpetual growth model.

charlesmenzies

@charlesmenzies

The Arts Student Society building is up for Board 2 approval (allowing design completion and tendering processes). https://bog3.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/11/4.2_2019.11_Arts-Student-Centre.pdf…

7:33 AM · Dec 1, 2019·Twitter Web App

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charlesmenzies

@charlesmenzies

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23h

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@charlesmenzies

Like the Gateway Building, the AUS building documents contains no consideration of plans to mitigate adverse climate impacts during it's planning or construction phase.

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charlesmenzies

@charlesmenzies

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23h

There is one minor nod to climate change - not a mitigation, rather an adaptation- the reserving of a space of the roof for a heat exchange system in the event increased cooling is required.

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charlesmenzies

@charlesmenzies

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It is unclear just how improved air conditioning can do anything substantial toward mitigating the adverse climate change effects this continued construction is producing.