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IPSOS-REID / UBC POLL RESULTS
ENVIRONMENT
Of the following environmental issues, which one should
be the top priority for government?
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Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
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43%
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Global warming or climate change
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38%
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Chemicals in our food
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29%
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Spending money to encourage
individuals to make sustainable lifestyle choices
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28%
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Loss of old growth forests
through logging
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27%
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Genetically altered food
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15%
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State of the global fisheries
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13%
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Do you agree or disagree with the following opinions
on the environment?
1. Science and technology will come up with ways to
solve environmental damage and pollution
2. Protecting the natural environment is more important
to me than creating economic growth and employment
3. Individuals have to change their own habits and
lifestyles if we are to protect the environment
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Industrial pollution, overflowing landfill
sites, increased urbanization, over-fishing and clearing of
rain forests are but a few of the environmental challenges
facing our planet – and all who inhabit it.
At UBC we believe there are solutions
to each of these issues, and our researchers are working on
new technologies, policies and practices for industries such
as fishing and forestry. In the meantime, the university community
is committed to sustainable operations, and promotes personal
sustainable choices among staff, students and faculty.
MILESTONES
Clean Energy Research Centre officially opens, leading research
into fuel cell technology and other energy innovations.
UBC implements initiatives that will reduce energy and water
consumption on campus by 30 and 45 per cent, respectively.
Prof. Daniel Pauley discovers that ocean fish counts are
well below previous estimates.
Sustainable Development Research Institute launches QUEST,
a game about environmental choices that will provide a database
for future urban planning.
Mining engineers develop the Millennium Plug, to help clean
up one of Canada’s most toxic mines.
New centre launched to study best practices for a healthy
B.C. aquaculture.
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Kim Nulty, Land and
Building Services Labourer
and Sustainability
Coordinator WHAT CAN INDIVIDUALS DO TO IMPROVE
OUR ENVIRONMENT?
“The only way we’re going to have a healthy environmental
future is if we start planning for it now.”
KIM NULTY is one of UBC’s 120 volunteer Sustainability
Coordinators, employees who are dedicated to learning about
ways to make their departments at the university more sustainable
and help co-workers make environmentally sound choices. “The
program gives you the tools to facilitate small changes, and
provides information on topics like transportation, paper
reduction, composting and so on.”
As a labourer with UBC’s garden shop, Nulty jokes that
she automatically has a “green” orientation. Her
first project was to implement a composting program in her
department’s lunchroom. “It’s been so successful
I end up having to take the excess home to my garden.”
Her current priority: convincing the university to invest
in a chipper / shredder, so items like fallen trees and branches
can be reused or composted. Nulty’s commitment to the
environment has led her to get involved in civic politics,
while making personal choices like recycling, taking the bus
to work, using a more fuel-efficient car and working with
a neighborhood greening program.
“I wouldn’t even call them choices anymore - they’re
just things I do automatically. They’re things we all
should try to do.”
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