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Is sustainable development possible? Only if we take a unified approach

Published: October 11, 2024

Latest stories in Climate change

Archeological site of the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich (Stone Lady) in Belize, Central America

What is societal collapse and why does it matter?

Society collapses when we cannot collectively meet the basic needs of the majority of the population

Penticton, BC/Canada - August 29, 2021: Pedestrians watch from Lakeshore Drive as a forest fire flares up in the hills above the city.

How to protect your lungs from wildfire smoke

How to know when air quality is poor and how to protect yourself from the health effects of smoke

Aerial view of large apples with an "organic" label, overlaying an image of tiny agricultural vehicles on a field.

Sustainable Bites: Food and Our Future

At the University of British Columbia, we’re advancing society by addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Sustainable Bites: Food and Our Future What can we do to help make our food systems more sustainable? UBC researchers share small steps that can make a big collective impact. Read the stories below to find out […]

Cheerful young woman on the beach applies sunscreen on her shoulder

How to choose the right sunscreen this summer

Learn common sunscreen myths and how to choose the right sunscreen year-round

Keep outdoor play spaces cool: the best trees, shrubs and plants for shade

How to build sun-safe and creative outdoor play environments

A fox roaming the streets in search for food left by people in garbage bags.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed our patterns and behaviours, which in turn affected wildlife

How we can promote co-existence between humans and wildlife

5 tips for staying cool at home without air conditioning

How to cool down with fans and more when you don’t have AC in your home

Helicopter fighting British Columbia forest fires during a hot sunny summer day.

The wildfire season has started—here’s what we need to know in 2024

What individuals, businesses and communities can do to reduce their wildfire risk

Close-up of a Xylopa (Carpenter Bee or lonely Bee) foraging sweet pea flowers

Where the wild bees are—and aren’t—impacts food supply

How the public can help protect wild bees and preserve biodiversity

Split image showing a top-down view of a farmer on a tractor in a green field on the left, and a pile of food waste including fruits and vegetables on the right.

How technology can help reduce food waste

Eco-friendly food packaging and innovative food processing can help make our food last longer

Assortment of food items including fruits, vegetables, eggs, fish, and meat displayed with directional arrows on a white background.

How the supply chain impacts the cost of food

The reasons behind rising food prices and grocery prices might surprise you—and what impacts the cost of food

A digitally edited image juxtaposing a ripe tomato against a detailed globe representing earth, emphasizing contrast and scale, set against a vibrant red background.

Balancing sustainable agriculture with the need to feed the world

These sustainable farming practices can help us produce more food while fighting climate change

A scientist in a lab coat examines a plant sample outdoors, with a backdrop of a lush university campus and mountains at sunset. fresh vegetables are visible in the foreground.

Testing new ways to reduce the environmental impacts of food

Everyday choices can help to reduce emissions in our food systems

Building sustainable food systems

As the climate changes, there’s plenty we can do to help ensure both global and local food security

A surreal composite image featuring a landscape with a reflective lake, forested mountains, and cloudberry and bluebell flowers superimposed over the scene, creating a vivid, dreamlike atmosphere.

How Indigenous food sovereignty can improve food security

Indigenous food sovereignty can help heal both the land and its people as we face the challenges of climate change

Farming our way to a future more resilient to climate change

Farmers do more than produce food—sustainable farming practices can help fight climate change

A man is smiling and holding a spoon full of bugs.

Bug protein powder smoothies? Cricket flour muffins? Why it’s time to consider eating more insects

Insects could be the meat of the future and a sustainable alternative protein

An image of homeless people in Chinatown, Vancouver

Extreme heat, extreme inequality: Addressing climate justice in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

Researchers must work with the most vulnerable populations to build a more resilient city

A photo of steam rising from smokestacks in a rural sunset sky.

Tips for how to cope with climate anxiety

These steps can help you move from eco-anxiety to positive action

Easy ways to conserve water this summer

Tips for conserving water in British Columbia

Three killer whales at Vancouver island, British Columbia, Canada

With only low-fat Chinook on the menu, southern resident killer whales are going hungry

Food quality, not just quantity, matters when it comes to the health and survival of southern resident killer whales

Photo of writer Naomi Klein looking into the camera

Naomi Klein on the future of climate justice

Climate activist Naomi Klein shares insights on tackling climate injustice in BC, Canada and beyond

Raising arms with social media likes icons

Online activism isn’t just slacktivism

How social media advocacy can lead to positive, real-life change

Taking pictures of young woman raising her fist up with phones

From women’s rights to climate action: How ordinary people can help change the world

Supporting change in your own sphere of influence is just one way to make a difference.

How the COP27 climate conference could confront colonialism by centring Indigenous rights

Many “green” solutions represent more violations of Indigenous rights and territories, without consultation or consent

Photo of Dr. Simon Donner on stage at Tedx

Why our imaginations are the key to solving climate change

Envisioning a different future can help us overcome inaction on climate change, says Dr. Simon Donner in his TEDx talk

Harnessing the power of forests to fight climate change

Dr. Suzanne Simard’s Mother Tree Project at UBC could transform how we manage forests.

A collage showing a family cleaning up at the beach, a plate of sushi, sockeye salmon spawning

5 things you can do to help BC’s marine ecosystems

From reducing your plastic use to choosing sustainable seafood, every action counts

A Grizzly bear sitting on the banks of a river.

BC is facing a steep decline in sockeye salmon

As BC coastal waters warm, sockeye salmon are moving north to Alaska. Here’s what’s moving up to BC

An illustration of an electric car plugged into a charger and surrounded by plants.

How climate storytelling helps people navigate complexity and find solutions

Despite learning that climate change is hitting the planet faster than scientists predicted, society has been slow to decrease the use of fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate storytelling can help us navigate the complexity and find solutions.

Learning from Indigenous knowledge holders on the state and future of wild Pacific salmon

Elders expressed great concern about the role of greed in management choices

A photo of fried calamari with the ocean and sun in the background

Climate change is now on the menu at seafood restaurants

As ocean temperatures rise, you’ll see more squid and sardines on menus and less sockeye salmon

Building community resilience to wildfires in BC

Why we need to address the inequities that communities face in dealing with wildfires

A person's hand holding rice grains to show world hunger

‘Too many people, not enough food’ isn’t the cause of world hunger and food insecurity

Inequity and armed conflict play a large role in world hunger

Photo of smoke from a forest fire near Pearchland British Columbia Canada

Why protecting air quality in BC matters to your health — not just during wildfire season

Vancouver has some of the best air quality in the world. Here’s why we need to fight for it.

A collection of images depicting what effects affect air quality

What exactly is air quality, and what affects it in BC?

Learn about air pollution sources and how weather and location affect air quality in BC

Half the world is facing water scarcity, floods and dirty water — large investments are needed for effective solutions

Water needs to be at the centre of climate change strategies with a better understanding of the costs and benefits of solutions

BC heat waves threaten survival of bee colonies

Insulated bee hives could protect bees from heat stress

A group of people at a climate change protest. In the centre of the photo is a young woman with a child on her shoulders

The climate crisis demands courage, not optimism

Here’s why citizen action matters for climate change, despite uncertain outcomes

Sea turtle swimming next to tiger with plastic bag caught in its shell

Instead of shopping this Black Friday, consider curbing your consumption

With plastic in everything from computers to clothing, UBC researchers connect what we’re buying to what’s harming our oceans

COP26: Strong carbon-trading rules could help the world avoid dangerous levels of global warming

An international emissions-trading system being discussed at COP26 could bring an end to the production of coal-fired electricity

Speculative rendering of False Creek in 2050, illustrating the incorporation of nature-based solutions through the restoration of wetlands and coastal ecosystems. It shows a higher sea level that is mitigated by the planting and caretaking of coastal wetlands.

It’s time to accept, not resist, rising sea levels

UBC landscape architecture professor Kees Lokman explains how nature-based solutions could help coastal communities adapt

Smoke from wildfires descends on Vancouver

10 tips for coping with wildfire smoke, from a public health expert

Protect yourself from the risks of hazardous wildfire smoke

Three people measure a tree in their neighbourhood

How to climate-proof your neighbourhood, one step at a time

The Citizen’s Coolkit offers ideas for action to help cool your neighbourhood