Sustainability Engagement Programs

While sustainability policies and plans define UBC’s direction, it’s people who turn these plans into action. Our sustainability engagement programs empower students, staff, faculty, and all members of the UBC community to create a more sustainable campus, region, and world. 

Sustainability engagement programs

Our engagement programs empower students, staff, faculty, and residents to create a more sustainable campus, region, and world. We offer a wide range of leadership programs, campaigns and awareness building activities to support UBC’s goal of being a world-class leader in sustainability. 

Helping to turn policies and plans into action, our programs engage thousands of campus community members each year. Our focus areas include:

  • Advancing resource conservation across campus
  • Promoting sustainable behaviours
  • Building capacity and leadership, and 
  • Supporting implementation of UBC’s operational sustainability plans

Get involved and help build a more sustainable campus!

 

Green Labs Program

Green labs image

The Green Labs Program offers staff, faculty and students sustainable ways to reduce the environmental impact of research at UBC. 

With over 400 labs, UBC’s research activities require a significant amount of energy, water and materials. Labs are responsible for half of campus energy use, a quarter of campus water use, and 95 per cent of hazardous waste generated on campus.

Green Labs engages with researchers to identify resource conservation opportunities, pilot and promote sustainable solutions, and provide training on environmental best practices. Launched in 2008, Green Labs is a cooperative effort between Campus and Community Planning, Energy and Water Services, Financial Operations, Safety and Risk Services and UBC Okanagan.

Learn how to green your lab and join the network of lab sustainability champions:

Learn more

Sustainability in Residence

Sustainability in residence image

The Sustainability in Residence Program aims to inspire students to adopt greener lifestyles and build sustainability leadership throughout student housing.

UBC operates the largest student housing portfolio in Canada. With more than 12,000 students living in 13 residential complexes on campus, student residences account for half of all waste generated on campus, a third of campus water use, and more than a quarter of total campus energy use.

Offered in partnership with Student Housing and Hospitality Services, the Sustainability in Residence Program offers programs, campaigns, and educational opportunities to help make sustainability easy and fun for students.

Find out how to get involved in your residence:

Learn more

Sustainability Coordinators Program

Sustainability coordinators image

UBC’s Sustainability Coordinator Program fosters and engages a network of staff and faculty sustainability champions to help promote sustainable behaviours and initiatives across campus.

The program delivers educational tools, training, campaigns and resources to UBC employees to promote resource conservation and sustainable practices in the workplace. 

Become a sustainability champion for your department: 

Learn more

Zero Waste Squad

Zero Waste squad image

UBC’s Zero Waste Squad peer-to-peer engagement program trains student leaders to be zero waste champions and promote waste reduction and recycling education across campus.

Using a ‘street team’ approach, the Squad also helps event attendees properly recycle and compost at large-scale campus events.

Learn more

Get Involved

Get involved transportation

Learn more about our sustainability programs, upcoming campaigns, and opportunities to get involved.