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Trends of both total GHG emissions and emissions per student have continued to decline despite increased enrolment, construction and workforce.
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DAta Timeline
2010
UBC becomes the first Canadian University to include a pledge to limit GHG emissions in sustainable action plan and the UBC Sustainability Initiative (USI) is established
2016
Across the two campuses, a net reduction of GHGs by 33% puts UBC just one year behind in its goal of 100% emissions reduction by 2050
2019
UBC Vancouver’s GHG emissions increased by 10% as a result of interruptions in natural gas supply. This was in part due to the Enbridge pipeline explosion, a colder than average winter, and closure of our biomass energy plant for maintenance. Taken together these various factors increased the use of fossil fuels, especially diesel, to heat buildings.
The UBC Sustainability Initiative’s Urban Innovation Research group began their project focused on improving the practice of life cycle assessments.
2020
Expansionary work on the Bioenergy Research and Demonstration Facility (BRDF) is completed. From here on, the BRDF will help eliminate an annual average of 13 to 15 thousand tonnes of GHG emissions, putting UBC at a near 67% total reduction
UBC becomes the first Canadian University to include a pledge to limit GHG emissions in sustainable action plan and the UBC Sustainability Initiative (USI) is established
2016
Across the two campuses, a net reduction of GHGs by 33% puts UBC just one year behind in its goal of 100% emissions reduction by 2050
2019
UBC Vancouver’s GHG emissions increased by 10% as a result of interruptions in natural gas supply. This was in part due to the Enbridge pipeline explosion, a colder than average winter, and closure of our biomass energy plant for maintenance. Taken together these various factors increased the use of fossil fuels, especially diesel, to heat buildings.
The UBC Sustainability Initiative’s Urban Innovation Research group began their project focused on improving the practice of life cycle assessments.
2020
Expansionary work on the Bioenergy Research and Demonstration Facility (BRDF) is completed. From here on, the BRDF will help eliminate an annual average of 13 to 15 thousand tonnes of GHG emissions, putting UBC at a near 67% total reduction
We affirm ubc's dedication to ongoing reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
Looking Forward...
In addition to the significant progress made towards 100% GHG reduction, this year saw the launch of new emission research at UBC. The UBC Sustainability Initiative’s Urban Innovation Research group began their project focused on improving the practice of life cycle assessments. Life cycle assessments (LCAs) are used to estimate the embodied carbon emissions of buildings from their construction onward. This takes emission research to a new level by considering each and every factor cost on the environment. UBC has done an excellent job in bold climate action, ranking first for taking climate action according to the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. However, we are still far from the net zero emissions. If UBC wants to continue to lead the world in climate action and results while growing at the pace it has been, the environmental factor costs of ongoing construction must be subjected to life cycle assessments, and sustainable building methods must be employed.
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