At the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, sustainability is not only something we are committed to as an Institute, but also something we strive for in all that we do as a community. From encouraging low-emissions transportation to curbing carbon emissions to participating in local shoreline cleanups, we are constantly taking actions to become better leaders in environmental and social sustainability at UBC and beyond.
Sustainability at IOF
100% Ocean Wise Sustainable Seafood
When ordering seafood, the Institute ensures that what our community is consuming is Ocean Wise-recommended and therefore sustainably fished. As of 1 July 2019, UBC adopted a similar policy, in which it announced it would only purchase and offer 100% Ocean Wise recommended sustainable seafood in its food services.
Skipper Otto
We have a working relationship with Skipper Otto Community Supported Fishery (CSF), an organization founded in 2008 that supports local Canadian fishing families by connecting them directly to consumers. As the first CSF in Canada and the second worldwide, Skipper Otto aims to protect ocean resources and increase food sovereignty by creating an alternative to the dominant model of export-oriented industrial food production.
Local & Sustainable Catering
For our events we aim to support local and sustainable catering businesses, many of which are located within UBC and also source their produce locally, to reduce transportation-related emissions in our food consumption.
Low-Emissions Transportation
Many staff, faculty and students bike or take public transit to work, a step towards reducing emissions that the Institute strongly encourages. Please take a look at UBC’s Transportation Maps and the City of Vancouver’s Cycling Routes and Maps to learn how you can plan your route to UBC.
IOF Building Certified LEED Gold
The Aquatic and Ecosystems Research Laboratory (AERL) building, where IOF is based, is certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold and in 2011 received the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal in Architecture for sustainable design.
Student Society Beach Clean-Up
The IOF Student Society regularly organizes shoreline cleanups, to pick up garbage along local beaches like Wreck Beach, in order to help make our oceans cleaner and healthier. They also collect data as part of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup Project, the results of which contribute to a better understanding of what kinds of garbage are most prevalent on these beaches.
In 2018, an analysis of shoreline cleanup data by students Cassandra Konecny, Vanessa Fladmark and Santiago De la Puente found that cigarettes account for half of waste recovered on Vancouver and Victoria shorelines. This project, which arose from the Training Our Future Ocean leaders program at UBC, appeared in Marine Pollution Bulletin.
Sustainability at UBC
UBC Sustainability Initiative
Established in 2010, the UBC Sustainability Initiative aims to connect, curate and facilitate a wide breadth of sustainability programs and activities across campus.
Some of their projects and programs include:
- Energy Conservation Projects
- Sort it Out
- Bird-Friendly Windows
- SEEDS (Social Ecological Economic Development Studies) Sustainability Program
- Sustainability Plans, Policies and Reports
Ranked #1 in Climate Change Action and Sustainable Cities
In April 2019, UBC was ranked number one in the world for taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, and was also ranked first in Canada for making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, according to Times Higher Education (THE).
UBC Green Buildings
As part of UBC’s Sustainability Initiative, the university aims to create buildings that encourage human and ecological well-being, through initiatives like the Green Building Action Plan and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for all UBC buildings from 2008 onwards.
UBC Sustainability Fellowships
Part of UBC’s Sustainability initiative, Sustainability Fellowships are awarded to full-time UBC Vancouver faculty members who are leading the design of new sustainability courses and programs through an Interdisciplinary Education Grant.
Ways you can help!
From choosing sustainable transportation options to making better consumer choices, there are many things the IOF community can do in their everyday lives to be more sustainable.
Transportation
| What | Why | Resources |
| Bus or bike to work and around Vancouver | Lower carbon emissions compared to driving a car |
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| Carpool or carshare if you need a car | Lower carbon emissions compared to driving solo |
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| For long-distance travel for vacations or conferences, take the train, group coach or bus instead of plane | Lower carbon emissions compared to taking a plane |
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Food
| What | Why | How |
| Bring your own reusable plates, mugs and utensils to IOF and UBC | Reduces use of single-use plastics and utensils like paper plates, plastic utensils and related items |
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| Try to buy local, in-season foods | Limits transportation emissions and supports local communities |
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| Try to buy foods without plastic or less packaging, and in bulk | Reduces plastic or packaging waste from food purchases | |
| If buying seafood, try to purchase sustainably | Reduces chance of buying threatened species and supporting companies with inequitable fishing practices |
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| If possible, try to consume less meat, especially red meat | Production of meat, especially red meat, can emit large amounts of carbon emissions |
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Consumer Purchases
| What | Why | How |
| Consider buying items, appliances and clothes second-hand as opposed to new | Reduces waste by repurposing an older item that might have been thrown away |
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| Donate old clothing and items, or recycle old items | Reduces waste by repurposing an older item that might have been thrown away |
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| Avoid buying products that are especially destructive to the environment, like microplastics | Reduces the chance of your purchase harming the environment once it is unusable |
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Resource Conservation
| What | Why | How |
| Try to conserve water | Reduces water usage |
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| Try to conserve energy | Reduces energy usage |
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| Limit paper and printing use if possible | Reduces paper waste |
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Social Sustainability & Citizenship
| What | Why | How |
| Be politically active | Supporting officials who encourage sustainable action can lead to more sustainable changes on a wider level, like at the municipal or federal level |
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| Support Indigenous communities [2] | Indigenous stewardship of their traditional territories produces the healthiest ecosystems, so supporting Indigenous rights can create as well as conserve healthy environments |
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| Participate in oceans outreach and sustainability outreach programs | Outreach can help spread awareness and instigate change at both local and broader levels |
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Getting Involved in Vancouver
There are many ways to get involved in sustainability beyond IOF and UBC, including:
- Participating in or organizing a Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup
- Participating in the City of Vancouver’s Green Volunteer opportunities
- Getting involved at at UBC Farm
- Getting involved at UBC Botanical Garden
- Participating in a Vancouver Parks Group like the Jericho Stewardship Group or Stanley Park Ecological Society
References:
[1], [2] “Ten Things You Can Do to Protect Ocean Health“, written in collaboration by Ocean Leaders Fellows
Fiona Beaty, Cameron Bullen, Sara Cannon, Fanny Couture, Kaleigh Davis, Rocio Lopez de la Lama, Santiago de la Puente, and Heather Summers.