Sustainable Systems - Univeristy of Michigan

The University of Michigan offers a field of study called Sustainable Systems. This interdisciplinary program is focused on enabling technology and enterprise to enhance the sustainability of systems that provide mobility, shelter, sustenance, communication and recreation. It draws on and benefits from the diversity of faculty expertise found at the school and across the University. Many cross-listed courses offered by the Ross School of Business and the College of Engineering complement the research activities of the Center for Sustainable Systems and the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise.

This program is designed to address the concerns of the modern world. Both developed and developing nations face ever-growing challenges to meet basic human needs in a sustainable manner. Key issues include depletion of fossil fuels, global warming, water scarcity, loss of biodiversity and the human health impact, all of which are compounded by an expanding global population.

Innovative solutions are required at all levels of society to address these complex and inter-related problems. Individuals and communities, small businesses and global corporations, government agencies and non-governmental organizations - each constituency plays a vital role in the creation of a sustainable world.

Curriculum

You will gain expertise in systems analysis techniques with a wide range of applications, including renewable energy, water infrastructure, green construction, and sustainable mobility. In your coursework, you will examine sustainability by studying global and regional environmental impacts, materials and energy flows, social values and equity issues, and consumption patterns and sufficiency.

You also will develop the critical skills of systems thinking and systems-dynamics modeling and apply them to the challenges of global environmental and social change. Life-cycle assessment, risk-benefit analysis, environmental economics, energy analysis, design for environment, carbon emissions modeling and spatial analysis are among the analytical tools and skills taught.

Management training in environmental strategy, organizational change and conflict resolution, ethics, stakeholder engagement and scenario analysis will round out your skill set. For example, you will deepen your understanding of institutions that govern energy use and explore ways in which government policy has succeeded, or failed, in order to address the need for renewable energy and other sustainable-development challenges.

Launching your career

Students develop the skills necessary for effective and innovative leadership in the public and private sectors. "In these leadership roles, our graduates will solve complex sustainability challenges through systems thinking and a sound understanding of ecological principles, the capabilities and limitations of technology and the mechanisms which bring about social change", says Professor Gregory A. Keoleian, coordinator of the Sustainable Systems field of study.

Graduates also pursue careers in the private sector, often involving engineering and product development, management consulting, and strategic and sustainability planning. You also will be qualified to fill a professional position in the public sector with federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency or the National Renewable Energy Lab, with a state or municipal governmental unit, or with nonprofit groups, such as Environmental Defense or the Natural Resources Defense Council.

For more information on Sustainable Systems, contact snre.admissions@umich.edu.

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Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 300 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

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China and US Continue Climate Cooperation

At a White House summit meeting with President Obama, on Friday, September 23, Chinese president Xi Jinping announced that his country, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases will launch the world’s largest carbon trading system.

The national cap and trade program is scheduled to come online by 2017. It will be based on seven regional pilot programs already operating in China. The carbon trading initiative will reduce emissions from major industries, including steel, cement, paper and electric power. The system will also help expand investments in China's already considerable renewable energy market.

China is now among a number of countries, including several in Asia, that have imposed carbon trading programs. President Obama is green with envy as he has failed to implement such a system in the US. Despite the President's support for carbon trading, he has been stymied by Republican obstructionism. The Chinese announcement shows what can be accomplished in a state managed economy and points to a glaring weakness in efforts to advance climate action in the US.

The US and China have forged climate agreements and both leaders are working together on ambitious efforts to pressure other nations to do the same. Under the terms of a previous agreement China will reduce its coal use and the US has made emissions reductions pledges of 28 percent by 2025. China agreed that its emissions will peak around 2030 and the country has indicated that it will derive one-fifth of its power from non-fossil-fuel energy sources.

China has also pledged to help developing countries cut emissions and adapt to climate change. Although China will not contribute to the United Nations’ Green Climate Fund (GCF) like other countries including the US which has already committed $3 billion to the GCF. Both the US and China have adopted a common system for monitoring and reporting of GHGs and both countries have agreed on heavy duty vehicle standards and building efficiency standards.

This meaningful cooperation between the world's top two emitters of GHGs is particularly important as we head towards COP21 in Paris where it is hoped the world will finally come together to sign a global agreement on climate change.

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Emissions Reductions Efforts at GE, P&G, and Time Warner Cable

Corporate leaders are increasingly working to lower their emissions profiles. Three such companies are General Electric, Procter & Gamble and Time Warner Cable. These three companies provide good examples of corporate emissions reduction efforts that includes setting ambitious goals for the future. A growing number of companies realize that emissions reductions and other sustainability efforts make sense as we move ever closer to new regulatory regimes.

As reported earlier this year GE GHG emissions were reduced 31 percent from the adjusted 2004 baseline. GE has achieved measurable progress on nearly 40 environmental, social and governance goals and metrics including freshwater use which is down more than 42 percent from the 2006 baseline.

According to its 2014 Sustainability Report, GE invested more than $2 billion in research and development for Ecomagination and healthymagination innovations. They have invested massively in clean-tech research and development, including $15B in Ecomagination R&D, since 2005. The company is on track to meet the commitment of $25B in total investment by 2020. An estimated 1 million GE volunteer hours were contributed in 2014 and they are working hard on communications to ensure that they keep the public informed.

P&G's has set new GHG reduction goals in partnership with World Wildlife Fund. In addition, P&G is joining the Climate Savers program, sponsored by WWF.

Procter & Gamble has pledged to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions from its facilities by 30 percent by 2020, against a 2010 baseline. The consumer goods company has currently reduced absolute emissions by almost 4 percent against that baseline. P&G says it plans to achieve its new goal by maintaining a focus on energy conservation and increasing its use of renewable energy.

P&G is to be credited for its science based approach to reducing its emissions. They have factored the latest science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in the development of a stretching target of 30 percent.

Time Warner Cable has pledged to reduce its carbon intensity 30 percent by 2016 year end compared to 2015. TWC says it will focus reduction efforts on fleet management and energy efficiency that will include strategic partnerships with the EPA Clean Cities Clean Fleets program. The company also says it will aim to reduce cooling power consumption, pursue LEED elements in all new buildings and seek new renewable energy opportunities. This is in addition to it already considerable achievements. Previously TWC announced it achieved a 38 percent carbon intensity reduction, surpassing the 15 percent two-year goal set in 2012.

TWC's efforts also extend to water management. They have pledged that by 2016, TWC plans to complete its first water footprint analysis with the goal of developing a water-usage reduction plan.

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Climate Recap of the Canadian Leaders Clash in the Munk Debate

During the Munk debate on September 28th the three Canadian leaders articulated their distinct visions of Canada. This was the forth leaders debate of the 2015 federal election and the first ever foreign policy debate between the three major parties. Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau clashed on the stage of Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto. All three are running neck and neck in the polls as we head down the final stretch. With less than three weeks to go before election day they went at each other like desperate men fighting for their political lives. While climate change was hardly the dominant theme of the evening it was addressed at least eight times. Here is a recap of those exchanges.

Trudeau criticized Harper for having done nothing on climate change in 10 years. Harper responding by pointing to a handful of green projects in Ontario that are supported by his government. He also helped to make Mr. Trudeau's point, when he reminded Canadians that the Conservative party is against carbon taxes. Mulcair reiterated his support for climate action and he threw a barb at Harper's environmental record saying, "we have to take care of the defining issue of the age, which is climate change. We’re the only country to have withdrawn from the Kyoto Protocol."

Trudeau asked Harper why he bothers to have ambitious emissions targets with no plan to make good on them. Harper responded by pointing out that the the Liberals were "30 per cent over their targets" when they were last in power. Mulcair called out both his rivals for failing to produce a comprehensive policy to tackle greenhouse gas emissions.

Trudeau offered what may be the most intelligent remark of the evening when he tied climate change to the economy. Harper ended with the surprisingly optimistic prediction that, "we will reach a historic accord in Paris."

The three leaders and the Bloc Quebecois’ Gilles Duceppe will be at it again in a French language TVA debate on Friday.

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Alabama Schools to Teach Climate Change and Evolution

Alabama is well known for its religious conservatism, however, as of 2016 schools in the state will teach their students about climate change and evolution. All 40 members of the state board of education unanimously voted in favor of the update to the science standard. This is a landmark move given that the state and many of those who vote on the board have strong religious views. For decades faith and science where at odds on the subject of evolution and man-made climate change.

It took three years to develop the guidelines. This is the first time that the standard has been updated in 10 years. In the case of both evolution and climate change educators will now use scientific evidence to explain the existence and causes of climate change and the veracity of evolutionary hypothesis.

For years there has been controversy surrounding the teaching of the science of climate change and evolution. In 1995 to the present their was a disclaimer associated with evolutionary teachings suggesting that these ideas were controversial. The disclaimer will be reviewed in a public hearing on November 9.

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Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 300 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

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Carbon Reduction Rankings for FTSE 100 Companies and Companies that Support Carbon Pollution Standards

Here is a summary of companies leading efforts to manage their carbon emissions and communicate this effectively as well as a list of companies who support carbon reduction standards.

Carbon Clear has published its fifth annual report ranking carbon measurement and reporting efforts of FTSE 100 companies. Carbon Clear ranks companies on their carbon measurement and reporting, strategy and targets, emissions reduction and how carbon reporting is used to engage stakeholders.

BT Group leads the list for its exemplary efforts at carbon measuring and reporting and its science based approach to greenhouse gas reduction targets. They narrowly bested Marks & Spencer who came in second. In 2014 the two companies tied for first place. Both companies lead the field by a considerable margin of almost 10 percentage points and they are both working on going beyond their ambitious carbon reduction targets.

Rounding out the top 10 are: Sky, Kingfisher, Unilever, Aviva, Centrica, Coca-Cola, TUI AG and RELX Group. Kingfisher and Unilever shared joint fourth position and Aviva and Centrica shared joint sixth position.

However, the report concludes there are still a large number of companies who are doing far too little to manage their impacts on climate change.

In addition to reducing emissions companies are also supporting government efforts to reign in carbon pollution. Here is a list of companies that support carbon reduction pollution standards.

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Event - Fiduciary Duty in the 21st Century (Canadian Launch)

This launch will take place on Monday, October 5 2015 between 08:00 and 11:00 EDT, at BMO Global Asset Management BMO Conference & Event Centre, 55 Bloor St West – Manulife Centre, Toronto
The purpose of this report is to end the debate about whether fiduciary duty is a legitimate barrier to investors integrating environmental, social and governance issues into their investment processes. While many investors have made positive steps to incorporate sustainability risks into the way they deliver their fiduciary duty, the report argues that too many assets are still managed with a 20th century mind-set, exposing savers and beneficiaries to the threat of value loss.

The research, based on structured interviews with senior investment professionals, lawyers and policymakers, finds that failing to consider long-term investment value drivers, which include environmental, social and governance issues, in investment practice is a failure of fiduciary duty.

The PRI will introduce the report and a panel discussion on the how the recommendations can be taken forward, focusing on the Canadian market, will follow. Continental breakfast will be served.

Agenda

08:00 Registration and continental breakfast
08:30 Welcome remarks
Lesley Marks, Senior VP and CIO, Fundamental Canadian Equities, BMO Global Asset Management
08:35 Introduction of the report by the PRI
Will Martindale, Head of Policy, PRI
08:45 Panel discussion
Moderator: Vicki Bakhshi, Head of Governance & Sustainable Investment, BMO Global Asset Management
Leah Myers, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ontario Ministry of Finance
Judy Cotte, VP & Head of Corporate Governance & Responsible Investment, RBC GAM
Kevin Thomas, Director of Shareholder Engagement, SHARE
09:55 Closing remarks
10:00 Networking
11:00 Finish

Click here to see the PDF of the report

To register click here.

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Event - World of Energy Solutions

This event will take place on October 12 to 14, 2015. Participants will discover how battery and storage, fuel cell technologies, hydrogen technologies and future mobility solutions will affect the future energy industries. This is a leading international conference and trade fair for the convergence of energy generation, storage systems and mobility solutions.  It addresses all players involved in the manufacturing of battery and energy storage systems for mobile and stationary implementation.

All areas are dealt with, from raw materials to turnkey battery systems. Use their innovative platform to promote your research approaches, products, technologies and applications. 

In October 2012 the first international trade fair for mobile and stationary energy storage systems made its début with BATTERY+STORAGE. And it celebrated a huge première: An impressive 3,233 trade fair visitors and conference participants from 23 different countries attended BATTERY+STORAGE and the parallel events, the fuel cell forum f-cell and the e-mobil BW TECHNOLOGY DAY. With a foreign participation of 13 percent among the visitors, BATTERY+STORAGE satisfied the requirements of an international trade fair as soon as it was launched.

Thanks to demand, in particular from the energy and automotive industries, for solutions from the battery and energy storage sector, the requirements of the trade fair are also growing.

BATTERY+STORAGE wants to satisfy these requirements: For instance, it shows what an important role batteries and storage solutions play when it comes to topics such as a change to alternative energy sources and security of supply and has set itself the objective of becoming the central platform for energy solutions in the heart of Europe.

Are you a battery and energy storage system manufacturer on the lookout for new production partners, customers and markets? Are you in the battery manufacturing business and looking for ways of producing large quantities at less cost? As a research institute do you need new co-operation partners to implement your research results?

If so, BATTERY+STORAGE is just what you are looking for.

Here the entire value-added chain of storage manufacture is on show: from research and development to materials, battery and storage production to the end product. Even second-use and recycling technologies are included in the trade fair's topics. BATTERY+STORAGE is aimed at all players connected to the manufacture of battery and energy storage systems for mobile and stationary use - and indeed for all areas of applications, from photovoltaics and wind power to mobility.

f-cell – one of the world's most important meeting places in the industry f-cell has become one of the industry's major international meeting places. It was founded in 2001 by the Stuttgart Region Economic Development Corporation and Peter Sauber Agentur Messen und Kongresse GmbH. From the first, the Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector for Baden-Württemberg has been a strong supporter of this concept as co-organizer. As an annual meeting place for the industry, f-cell has been red-letter day for leading researchers, top managers and political and industrial decision-makers for many years.

Are you an expert in the area of fuel cell and hydrogen technology and would you like to enhance your knowledge? Are you looking for new contacts, do you want to expand your network and successfully accelerate the commercialization of your products?

f-cell conference and trade fair present the current developments in the stationary and mobile special applications of fuel cells, highlight special markets and new application fields, and view the potential of hydrogen as an energy storage medium. The f-cell focuses not only on knowledge transfer – the trade fair, evening event and various fringe venues provide various opportunities for discussion with experts and managers in industry and research.

e-mobil BW conference – Future Mobility Solutions The e-mobil BW conference is a stimulating industry meeting place and discussion platform for players, experts and decision-makers from industry, science and public authorities. Under the banner of "Future Mobility Solutions" prestigious speakers provide in-depth insights into the latest development trends and the most current research results in the industrialisation of electric mobility and the development of sustainable business models in the area of innovative mobility and infrastructure solutions.

Over 400 national and international participants actively use this platform every year to gain targeted information about innovations and progress in the field of electric mobility, to find out more about best practice examples and to form a picture of future technologies.

From the eMotor to smart traffic controlling - the conference program offers the state-of-the-art know-how and trends focusing on tomorrow's mobility solutions and places technological developments in the context of key economic policy aspects at international, national and regional level. A particular focus is the diverse activities of the two major research projects funded by the federal government – the "Electric Mobility Showcase - LivingLab BWe mobil" and the "Cluster Electric Mobility South-West".

Six parallel specialist forums this year are devoted to the subjects of "Networked driving", "Smart trip chaining", "eDrive trends", "Hybrid efficiency", "Urban mobility concepts" and "Innovative business models". In addition to the lecture program, an international matchmaking event in cooperation with the Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum provides participants with the opportunity to network on a person-to-person basis and initiate long-term partnerships.

The trade fair integrated in the WORLD OF ENERGY SOLUTIONS supplies visitors with an optimal platform to meet managers and professionals in the industry and forge lasting contacts. Pioneering companies, research institutes and project groups from the key industries automotive, energy, information and communication technology (ICT), as well as production, present the latest technology highlights and showcase innovative solutions for sustainable mobility of the future.

The e-mobil BW conference furnishes all the relevant actors with an ideal communication platform for future-focused mobility solutions and an intensive and all-embracing exchange of techology know-how. Join us and meet the makers and shakers of the industry – conveniently in the one place!

To register click here.

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Climate Week NYC 2015: Low Carbon Economic Opportunities (Video)

The seventh Climate Week NYC takes place between September 22 and September 29. Corporations are an important part of this event as they are pursuing a range of economic opportunities associated with transitioning to a low carbon economy. Businesses all around the world are developing pragmatic solutions to adapt to a changing climate, minimizing risk and leveraging opportunity throughout their corporate value chains. Climate Week NYC brings together influential global figures, as well as new voices, from the worlds of business, government and society who are leading the low carbon transition. Throughout the week there will be a wide range of events, activities, high-profile meetings, presentations and conferences.

One such conference took place on September 23rd, it was titled "Corporations and Climate Adaptation: Innovation in Emerging Economies." At this event participants explored what's new in corporate climate adaptation. They learned about global innovation and best practices in resilience.

Panelists included judges and winners of The ND-GAIN Corporate Adaptation Prize*, which recognizes projects that measurably decrease climate-related vulnerabilities by enhancing food security, water access, coastal protection, ecosystem services, human habitats, infrastructure resiliency or human health or by improving government, economic or social structures.

In this video you can see Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's address for Climate Week NYC 2015. Scotland sees the move to a low carbon future as both a moral imperative and a massive economic opportunity. "In Scotland it’s one of the fastest growing parts of our economy, already employing 50,000 people," she says.



Climate Week 2015 is convened by The Climate Group, an award-winning, international non-profit. Their goal is a prosperous, low carbon future. They believe this will be achieved through a 'clean revolution': the rapid scale-up of low carbon energy and technology. Find out more about the Climate Group in this video:

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Pope Francis and the Convergence of Morality and Science: Relinquish Fossil Fuels and Embrace Renewables (Video)

Pope Francis is now in the US where he continues to make the moral case for climate action. The most scientifically feasible way we can make progress in the war against climate change is to abandon fossil fuels and turn in earnest towards renewable forms of energy.  In his address to Congress the Pope talked about the need to "put technology at the service of another type of progress, one which is healthier, more human, more social, more integral."

As explained in this video from Think Progress, there is a powerful biblical argument for taking better care of the Earth. Many US states have made remarkable strides in renewable energy. Hawaii and California have already pledged to generate all of their power from renewables, as have cities like Burlington, Vermont.

We know that transitioning away from fossil fuels and getting all our power from renewable sources is possible in the US. Scientists say that using existing technology the US could power their entire energy infrastructure — their electricity, transportation, heating, and cooling systems — with wind, water and sunlight by 2050.


Driven by the Pope's message and Christian theology faith communities like Florida Avenue Baptist Church in Washington D.C. are going green. REV. DR. EARL D. TRENT JR.,

"One of the tenets of our faith is, we have to take care of creation. That’s early on in the book, the first book, the Book of Genesis and so we’ve taken that kind of seriously," explained Florida Avenue Baptist Church Reverend, Dr. Earl D. Trent. jr., "It's raised our whole consciousness about sustainability. We've had people in the church who've gone solar in their homes."

Religious scholars point to biblical passages such as Numbers 35:34: "You shall not defile the land in which you live, in which I also dwell."

Stanford University's Mark Z. Jacobson, pointed out that conventional fuels actually cost twice as much because of the health and climate costs. Although most people are unaware of the technical feasibility, he says that the United States can go completely green in 35 years.

Jacobson plan sees the switch to renewables unfold like this: In 2013, 81% of the power we generated came from fossil fuels like petroleum, natural gas and coal.The remaining 19% was sourced from nuclear, hydropower, solar, wind, and biomass. Under Jacobson’s plan, all 50 states would power their entire infrastructure -- their electricity, transportation, heating and cooling systems -- with wind, water and sunlight by 2050. 80% of that conversion would take place by 2030.

Related
Pope Francis on the Environment Politics and Business (Address to Congress)
Why Republican's Fear the Pope's Environmental Message
Pope Deprives Republican Climate Deniers of Religious Support
Implications of Pope Francis' Environmental Encyclical and Republican Attacks (Videos)

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Students are Powering the Unstoppable Fossil Divestment Movement

The fossil fuel divestment movement was born on college and university campuses. Driven by social justice concerns student activism spawned a multi-trillion dollar sledge hammer. This rapidly burgeoning movement has grown to be a force to be reckoned with. In 2014 there was a doubling in the number of institutions that pledged to divest their fossil fuel holdings. In the last year this number exploded.

As explored in the 2015 Divest Invest report, there been a 50-fold increase in fossil fuel divestment over the course of the last year. To date, 430 institutions and 2,040 individuals across 43 countries together representing $2.6 trillion in assets have committed to divest from fossil fuel companies. There are also thousands of ongoing divestment campaigns but nowhere is the energy of the movement felt more passionately than on University campuses.

In the last year 40 educational institutions have divested representing $130 billion in divestment. This includes Stanford, Glasgow and Australian National Universities. There are ten Canadian universities where students have voted to divest this includes Concordia University which was the first campus in Canada to divest.

Students have been pushing the divestment movement for years now and they show no sign of slowing down. In the Spring of this year Syracuse University announced that it was divesting university divests from fossil fuels. Chalmers became the first Swedish university has announced it is divesting from coal, oil and gas! Chalmers University of Technology has long been a university showing leadership on sustainability – and now they’re selling assets in fossil fuels worth almost 5 million SEK.

After a two year campaign students at the University of Maine managed to convince the Board of Trustees to unanimously approve a measure to divest all direct holdings from coal companies.

Although the divestment movement may have started on university campuses it is now embraced by the World Bank, the director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the governor of the Bank of England.

A host of major pension funds have divested from fossil fuels. This includes $476 billion from the California General Assembly pension fund, the British Medical Association, Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global, AP4, the giant Swedish pension fund. Australia’s Capital Territory and the Australian city of Newcastle, home of coal, are also among those divesting from fossil fuels.

In late August, the Canadian Medical Association voted to divest it's holdings in fossil fuels. The vote came at the end of a summer that saw both the British Columbia Government Employees Union and the United Church of Canada pass similar resolutions.

Investment Groups like the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Axa said it will divest €500 million ($547 million) from companies most exposed to coal-related activities and triple its green investments to reach €3 billion ($3.28 billion) by 2020. The Guardian Media Group announced it would divest its £800m fund from coal, oil and gas,

A total of 140 philanthropic organizations in the philanthropic sector have pledged divest $10 billion from fossil fuels and dozens of faith groups are getting onboard. The fossil fuel divestment movement is growing with investors, institutions and ordinary people. The divestment movement was born at colleges and universities. Massive investments of time and energy were invested by student at schools of every size, from big ivy league schools like Yale or Harvard, or small liberal arts colleges like Carleton or the New School.

Generations to come will remember that this is where students concerned about social justice spawned the divestment movement. Most importantly these schools will be remembered as the places from which a movement began that ultimately helped to stave off a climate catastrophe.

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Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 300 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

Read More»

Sustainable Development Goals: Increasing the Emphasis on Water

Water must be a priority issue as we adopt Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A total of 193 world leaders are engaged in a process that will formally adopt 17 SDGs. This takes place at the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda which takes place between September 25 and 27, in New York. Although one of the 17 global goals (Goal 6) aims to ensure access to water and sanitation for all, there needs to be more emphasis on water.

The replacement of Millennium Development Goals with SDGs was first announced at the end of 2013.

The 17 sustainable development goals are:

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture
Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all
Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

It is important to understand that as water is key to sustainable development and it must be made a higher priority if the other SDG goals are to be achieved.

SIWI is in New York to advocate for the inclusion of water in addition to goal 6 as dedicated sustainable development goals. As SIWI explains, "Access to water is a prerequisite for the achievement of the majority of the other goals such as poverty, health, food, energy, climate, and infrastructure."

On Sunday September 27, SIWI Executive Director, Torgny Holmgren will participate in a high-level event, Catalyzing Implementation and Achievement of the Water-related SDGs.

In his opening address at the recent World Water Week in Stockholm, the Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven emphasized the importance of water.  "When the international community is shaping a new sustainable development agenda, water management and allocation must be at its heart. Not only as a separate goal but as an essential vehicle for development and health," Löfven said.

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2015 - The Hottest Summer in the Hottest Year on Record

Anthropogenic warming continues to contribute to heat records and this trend shows no signs of abating. We now have the highest concentrations of atmospheric CO2 in human history and it is no coincidence that we are also consistently breaking heat records. The summer of 2015 was the hottest summer ever recorded. Global average sea surface temperatures this summer were 1.35 degrees Fahrenheit (0.75 degrees Celsius above the 20th century average. According to NOAA, this is the highest departure from average for this period since records began in 1880. Five months of 2015 are among the top 10 monthly temperature departures.

It is certain that 2015 will be the hottest year on record. Prior to this year 2014 was the hottest. The new average heat record that will be set this year adds to a string of record breaking average annual temperatures. Thirteen of the 14 hottest years have come in the 21st century. This was also the hottest decade on record.

The month of August was the hottest on record as were all of the months dating back to the start of the summer in June. We also set a record for both the warmest sixth month period (Feb - August) and 12 month period (August 2014 to August 2015).

NOAA the Japan Meteorological Agency and NASA all agree that 2015 is on track to be the hottest year ever.


As reported by the Guardian, a new report from the UK Met Office indicates that the record-breaking global temperatures in 2015 will continue in 2016. This is not just more of the same, we are talking about an intensification of an already pronounced warming trend. The result is that global warming is expected to accelerate in coming years.

"We will look back on this period as an important turning point," said Professor Adam Scaife, who led the Met Office analysis. "That is why we are emphasising it, because there are so many big changes happening at once. This year and next year are likely to be at, or near, record levels of warming."

Professor Rowan Sutton, at the University of Reading and who reviewed the Met Office report, said: "The fact that 2014, 2015 and 2016 look like being among the very warmest years on record is a further reminder about climate change."

The Met report flatly attributes most of the warming to human activity (ie carbon emissions). A strong El Niño effect is also at play which makes it likely that this extreme heat will continue well into 2016.

The temperature records make global warming impossible to refute.

When we examine the data from tree rings, ice cores and coral formations in the ocean we can determine that the Earth is now the warmest it has been since at least 4,000 years.

Related
Global Temperature Data Underscores the Urgency of Climate Action
El Niño and Global Warming are Locked in a Feedback Loop
Hottest June Foreshadows the Hottest Year on Record
Extreme Heat in the Western World Marks the Start of Summer 2015
At Least 30 Years of Above Average Temperatures
Heat Records Tell the Story of Climate Change
India's Heat Wave Offers a Glimpse into the Future
2014 is the Hottest Year in Recorded History
3 Charts: Record Breaking Heat August - October 2014
How Much Heat is Required to Spur Global Action?
Record Breaking Heat Suggests Accelerated Warming
Interactive Map - Summer Heat in the US
June's Record Breaking Heat and the Global Warming Trend
Freak Weather: Alaska is Warmer than Alabama
James Hansen's 2012 Research Linking Global Warming and Extreme Weather
In the US 2012 is The Hottest Most Extreme Year in Recorded History
Globally 2012 is One of the Hottest Years on Record

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Oil Pipeline Dominates the Enviromental Component of the French Language Leaders Debate

The Energy East Pipeline was the most prominent environmental issue in the first French language leaders debate. Stephen Harper was criticized by the other leaders for his government's failure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. On September 24, 2015, the leaders vying for Prime Minister of Canada held a French language leaders debate in Montreal, Quebec. This debate is important because there are 78 seats in Quebec out of 338 up for grabs in the House of Commons. In addition to the seven million French speakers in Quebec there are one million French speakers outside of the province.

For the first time the gang of three (Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Justin Trudea, Liberal, and Stephen Harper) will be joined by two others, Green leader Elizabeth May and Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe.

Quebec has proven itself to be very fickle in recent years. After a couple of decades of ardent support for the Liberal Party of Canada, Quebecers switched to the Bloc Quebcois and most recently (2011) the NDP won 58 seats in the province.

The NDP is expected to retain their support in the October 19th federal election. According to an Ekos poll at the end of August the NDP has more than double the support of the Liberals who are their nearest rivals. However, the most recent polls suggest the NDP's support is slipping.

While Harper is the main advocate of Energy East Pipeline, both Trudeau and Mulcair seem to support the prime minister's pipe-dream. The only two parties that clearly oppose the pipeline are the Green Party and the Bloc.

Duceppe attacked Trudeau for not opposing the Energy East pipeline while Harper accused his rivals of not being in favour of replacing foreign oil with Canadian oil.

The niqab was a major issue in the debate. Mr Mulcair said, that "Mr. Harper is trying to hide his record behind a niqab," while Mr. Trudeau said, "We all know why we're talking about this. It's because Mr. Harper and Mr. Duceppe want to play on fear and division."

Ms. May had one of the best lines of the night when she said, "What is the impact of the niqab on the economy? What is the impact of the niqab on climate change? What is the impact of the niqab on the jobless? It is a false debate meant as distraction from the real challenges for Canada."

The Bloc has not gained the traction it had hoped by trying to build its support around zenophobia, particularly as it concerns Moslem women's right to wear a niqab during citizenship ceremonies. The Bloc closer to the Conservatives on this issue than any of the other parties.

However, Duceppe was quick to try to distance himself from the prime minister.

Duceppe stole the Green Party's thunder by going after leaders who support the fossil fuels. "Mr. Harper put everything on oil," Duceppe said. "His economic plan rests on oil, essentially, with the consequences we see now." Duceppe accused Mulcair of supporting oil sands development when he is speaking in English, and hiding that support when he is speaking French.

Trudeau went after Mulcair for allegedly suggesting that Canada should export water to the US. "We're speaking of oil today, but in the years to come there's a lot of concerns surrounding exporting water." Trudeau said. "Mr. Mulcair likes to talk about the fact that he was the environment minister here in Quebec. But as minister he was proposing exporting bulk water to the United States. I'd like to know: why would even think of doing that?"

As the front runner in Quebec Mr. Mulcair took the brunt of the attacks during the debate. In response the NDP chief said, "We have to unite behind a single objective, and that is to have a progressive government and get rid of Stephen Harper’s Conservative government. That is my priority."

A second French-language debate is scheduled October 2, and some French will be heard during the Munk Debate, September 28.

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MIT Gets a Fossil Fuel Divestment Letter from Scientists and Advocates

On September 16, 2015, 33 prominent climate scientists and advocates joined those who are calling for MIT to heed its own committee’s advice to divest from fossil fuels as part of a multi-faceted climate action plan. See their open letter below.

Dear President Reif,

We write — as interested scientists, alumni, and citizens — to ask that you cap off MIT’s exemplary study into fossil fuel divestment by committing the university to selling its stock in fossil fuel companies as part of a multi-faceted climate action plan.

As you know, the Climate Change Conversation committee that you set up, after extensive interaction with students, faculty, and outside experts, has recommended divestment from carbon-intensive fossil fuel companies. Were MIT to take this step, it would join educational institutions including Stanford University, Oxford University, Australian National University, and the University of Washington, organizations like the World Council of Churches, AXA Insurance Company, and Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, and philanthropies like the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. As they and many others have demonstrated, divestment is not only financially prudent but also politically effective, scientifically consistent, and morally right.

Nothing is holding back global action against climate change more than a lack of political will. The will, for example, to end trillions of dollars of fossil fuel subsidies that each year undermine simultaneous attempts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. And the will to put a price on carbon to accelerate the transition to clean energy technologies, many of them pioneered at 77 Massachusetts Avenue. Divestment, with its proven theory of change for building social and political momentum, can help build that will.

We ask that MIT add its own special weight to this effort. As the world’s foremost citadel of science, the Institute is uniquely poised to remind policymakers of the basic dilemma we face: to limit dangerous global warming, at least two-thirds of the world’s carbon reserves need to stay underground. Yet the business plans of fossil fuel companies call for precisely the opposite, committing hundreds of billions of dollars every year to looking for more.

It is a sad twist of fate that after two illustrious centuries, the hydrocarbons that have underpinned so much of humanity’s progress now threaten to undo it. The inertia of our infrastructure and the irreversibility of climate change mean that our energy future must accelerate away from its past, and engineers at MIT and around the world are rising to this challenge. By re-aligning the Institute’s investments with this mission, MIT can set the course for future progress, and inspire both policymakers and industry to follow.

Regrettably, in the face of overwhelming scientific consensus, many in the fossil fuel industry continue to sow doubt about climate science1,2,3 and oppose constructive policy change. For this reason, your committee concluded that MIT has a unique obligation to stand up for science by also divesting from those who undermine the principles of scientific inquiry and thereby threaten MIT’s own integrity.

Over the years, MIT’s global leadership has been built around key “moments of decision”. The singular great issue of our time is climate change, and with it, an opportunity for you to provide great leadership by divesting the Institute’s endowment from fossil fuels as part of a comprehensive climate action plan. In the coming weeks, as your administration formulates its strategy for tackling climate change, we will join your students, staff, faculty, and alumni in the Climate Countdown to MIT’s next great moment of decision.

Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,

James G. Anderson
Philip Weld Professor
Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Harvard University

Kevin Anderson
Professor of Energy and Climate Change, University of Manchester
Deputy Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research

John Broome, Ph.D. ’72
Emeritus White’s Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Oxford
Visiting Professor, Stanford University
Lead Author, Working Group III Contribution to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report

Robin Chase, S.M. ’86
Co-founder and former CEO, Zipcar

Leland Cheung
City Councilor for the City of Cambridge

Eric Chivian
Founder and Director Emeritus, Center for Health and the Global Environment, Harvard Medical School
Shared 1985 Nobel Peace Prize for co-founding International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War

Noam Chomsky
Institute Professor (retired)
Department of Linguistics & Philosophy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Joseph A. Curtatone
Mayor of Somerville, Massachusetts

Junot Díaz
Rudge and Nancy Allen Professor of Writing, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Pulitzer Prize winner and 2012 MacArthur Fellow

Josh Fox Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker
Board of Directors, The Solutions Project

Peter Frumhoff
Director of Science & Policy, Union of Concerned Scientists

Don Gould
Trustee, Pitzer College
President, Gould Asset Management LLC

James Hansen
Adjunct Professor, Columbia University Earth Institute
Former Director of NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies

Stephen Heintz
President, Rockefeller Brothers Fund

Wael Hmaidan
Executive Director, Climate Action Network – International

Kenneth Kimmell
President, Union of Concerned Scientists

Naomi Klein
Journalist and author
Climate change advisor to Pope Francis

Michael E. Mann
Distinguished Professor and Director of the Earth System Science Center, The Pennsylvania State University

Bob Massie
Former president, New Economy Coalition

Marc McGovern
City Councilor for the City of Cambridge

Bill McKibben
Founder, 350.org

Naomi Oreskes
Professor of the History of Science and Affiliated Professor of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Harvard University

Joseph Romm, B.S. ’82, Ph.D. ’87
Founding Editor, ClimateProgress.org

Mark Ruffalo
Actor and producer
Founder, Water Defense
Board of Directors, The Solutions Project

Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, C.B.E.
Professor for Theoretical Physics, University of Potsdam
Founding Director, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Chair, German Advisory Council on Global Change
Member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences
Climate science advisor to Pope Francis

Denise Simmons
City Councilor for the City of Cambridge
Former Mayor of Cambridge

Peter Singer, A.C.
Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics, University Center for Human Values, Princeton University

Michael Sonnenfeldt, S.M. ’78
Founder and Chairman, TIGER 21
Chairman, Carmanah Technologies Ltd
Board Member, Earthjustice

Rhea Suh
President, Natural Resources Defense Council

David Suzuki, C.C., O.B.C.
Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia
Science broadcaster and environmental activist
Co-Founder of the David Suzuki Foundation

David Turnbull
Campaigns Director, Oil Change International
Former Executive Director, Climate Action Network – International

Kelsey Wirth
Founder and Chair, Mothers Out Front

Timothy E. Wirth
U.S. Senate, Colorado (Ret.)
Vice Chairman and President Emeritus, The United Nations Foundation

_________________________________________

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 300 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

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Pope Francis on the Environment Politics and Business (Address to Congress)

As expected, in his address to a joint session of Congress Pope Francis spoke to a number of issues that are sure to earn the ire of Republicans. The Pope repeatedly quoted his environmental encyclical, something that the GOP had warned him not to do. In addition to the environment the Pontiff also spoke about politics and business.

Although the Pope ignored the warnings from Republicans, his tone was dignified not didactic, conciliatory not condemning. Nonetheless the message he is sending amounts to a request for the GOP to rethink many of their core policy positions.

The Pontiff seemed to be addressing Republican partisanship and obstructionism when he provided a primer on responsible governance. He defined politics as, "an expression of our compelling need to live as one, in order to build as one the greatest common good: that of a community which sacrifices particular interests in order to share, in justice and peace, its goods, its interests, its social life."

As he continued you could almost hear conservatives recoiling in horror and screaming "socialist" under their breath.

"It goes without saying that part of this great effort is the creation and distribution of wealth," the Pontiff said, "The right use of natural resources, the proper application of technology and the harnessing of the spirit of enterprise are essential elements of an economy which seeks to be modern, inclusive and sustainable."

As if to counter claims that he is stridently anti-capitalist, the Pope said that "business is a noble vocation, directed to producing wealth and improving the world. It can be a fruitful source of prosperity for the area in which it operates especially if it sees the creation of jobs as an essential part of its service to the common good."

Although he continued, and this is where many Republicans felt compelled by party dogma to object, "This common good also includes the earth, a central theme of the encyclical which I recently wrote in order to enter into dialogue with all people about our common home." (ibid., 3).

In an attempt to be truly inclusive the Pope said, "We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all." (ibid., 14).

"In Laudato Si’, I call for a courageous and responsible effort to "redirect our steps" (ibid., 61), and to avert the most serious effects of the environmental deterioration caused by human activity."

The Pope showed his eternal optimism when he said, "I am convinced that we can make a difference and I have no doubt that the United States – and this Congress – have an important role to play. Now is the time for courageous actions and strategies, aimed at implementing a culture of care (ibid., 231) and an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature"(ibid., 139).

"We have the freedom needed to limit and direct technology (ibid., 112); to devise intelligent ways of… developing and limiting our power (ibid., 78); and to put technology at the service of another type of progress, one which is healthier, more human, more social, more integral (ibid., 112). In this regard, I am confident that America’s outstanding academic and research institutions can make a vital contribution in the years ahead."

While conservatives will no doubt focus on the Pope's comments about abortion, marriage and other views they share in common, his speech clearly articulated a vision that in many major respects is at odds with the political leadership of the GOP.

John Boehner, speaker for the House of Representatives, repeatedly wiped tears from his eyes throughout the Pope's speech. Either he was moved by the Pontiff or as a Republican he was suffering from a long overdue crisis of conscience.

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Canadians Want Less Fossil Fuels and More Climate Action

According to recent poll, climate protection, energy policy and energy decision-making processes are strategic issues for Canadians ahead of the forthcoming federal elections.

The majority of Canadians do not support Ottawa's fossil fuel obsession. Canadians appear to recognize that the ruling Conservatives' emphasis on fossil fuels is damaging to the planet and harmful to our longer term economic interests.

As reported by the Climate Action Network, an April 2015 poll indicates:

• 61 percent of Canadians think that protecting the climate is more important than pipelines and the tarsands.

• 72 percent want to see a plan for creating jobs in the clean renewable energy sector.
• 58 percent want a commitment to phase out coal, oil and gas and replace it with renewable energy.
• 60 percent said a promise to legally enforce a cap or limits on carbon pollution.
• 78 percent want citizens to have a say in decision-making about projects like the tarsands and Energy East.
• 85 percent believe that TransCanada should be required to translate all of its project related documents to allow Francophone Canadians to review the project.
• 70 percent agree/strongly agree that Canadians should be global leaders in protecting the climate by reducing our energy consumption.
• 76 percent of Canadians believe that individuals are morally obligated to take action in their daily lives to reduce carbon pollution

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Why Environmentally Concerned Canadians will Vote for Anyone but the Conservatives: Resources to Vote Strategically

While the NDP and the Liberal party each have massive shortcomings, no party is more of a threat to Canada's environment than the ruling Conservative government under Stephen Harper.

Although the NDP and Liberal parties have pledged to act on climate change they do not have a comprehensive policy to substantially reduce fossil fuel emissions. Neither party has put forth a policy platforms to manage the tarsands.

Harper's Conservatives have done nothing to seriously address climate change while they have done a great deal to exacerbate the problem. During their decade in power, the party has amassed a lamentable rap sheet of environmental abuses.

Stephen Harper has made Canada's climate record the worst in the industrialized world. When he became Prime Minister, Harper cancelled all climate initiatives, which led to his government's failure to meet its 17 percent GHG reduction commitments. Knowing he will never achieve them, the prime minister recently pledged 30 percent GHG reductions. Harper's Conservatives have gutted environmental oversight, worked tenaciously to increase the nations  exploitation of dirty energy, stifled environmental dissent, and silenced climate scientists. Under these same Conservatives Canada has withdrawn from the Kyoto protocol and UN efforts to combat desertification. Finally Harper has used the nation's intelligence services to spy on peaceful environmental groups.

The Conservative leader's planned expansion of the tar sands is at odds with the internationally agreed upon goal of keeping temperatures within 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial times. The prime minister appears to be oblivious to the fact that Canada will need to leave 85 percent of the tar sands in the ground if we are to bring Canada in line with global climate obligations.

The battle cry for many who are concerned about the environment and climate change is, "anybody but Harper". This is because no party in Canadian history has been as environmentally destructive as the ruling Conservatives. If you care for the environment or efforts to combat climate change you simply cannot vote Conservative.

Here are some resources published in the National Observer to help Canadians vote strategically and ensure that Harper's Conservatives are not returned to power in 2015.

VoteTogether: Lead Now has developed a well-designed strategy to defeat Stephen Harper in 12 key ridings, and it is active on the ground in 70 others. If you're in one of these ridings, you'll be able to find out which candidate is best suited to defeat the Conservative. Click here for more information.

Strategic Voting: Lets you know who has the best chance of defeating the Conservatives in each riding. For more information click here.

The Dogwood initiative (BC): This site offers a detailed and sophisticated strategy in eight ridings. For more information click here.

GreenPAC organization: Candidates with environmentally sound track records (ie not Conservatives). For more information click here.

CBC News Éric Grenier's Poll Tracker website: Overview of what’s happening in opinion polls across the country. For more information click here.

Éric Grenier's Website: Breakdown of support for each party in all 338 individual ridings. For more information click here.

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School Program that Gets Kids out in Nature and Teaches Environmental Responsibility

The David Suzuki Foundation has launched a fun and free program designed to encourage kids to get outside and learn about environmental responsibility. The program is titled Back to School Superhero Challenge and it intended for families or classrooms.

Research shows that there are numerous benefits associated with being outside in nature. These benefits extend to both students and teachers. Studies show that children who spend time outside are healthier, happier and smarter. We also know that people who feel connected to nature are more likely to care about protecting it. There is tremendous value associated with getting out into green spaces.


Each week there is a superhero themed activity. Each of these activities teach kids about pressing environmental issues and connects them to nature. All the activities are adapted from the David Suzuki Foundation’s Connecting With Nature educational guides.

Those who enroll will have a chance to win an autographed children’s book by David Suzuki and a beautiful Herschel hemp backpack. Classrooms can win a collection of autographed David Suzuki children’s books.

Click here for more information about the program.

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Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 300 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

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Pope Francis and President Obama are a Climate Dream Team

In an address on the south lawn of the White House, Pope Francis spoke pointedly about the need to combat climate change. It quickly became evident that he was ignoring the warnings of Republican climate deniers when the pontiff lauded Barack Obama’s plan to cut carbon emissions. He followed that up by criticizing climate change deniers for failing in their duty to protect our "common home".

Republican's fear of the Pontiff's environmental message is entirely justified. The spiritual leader of more than 70 million American Catholics directly attacked the GOP's resistance to climate action. The Pope said that he believed this was a moral issue and he went further calling efforts to combat climate change a moral imperative for all Americans.

Barack Obama introduced the welcoming ceremony saying that this was a moment to, "shake our conscience from slumber".

"Climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation," the Pope said. "Mr President, I find it encouraging that you are proposing an initiative for reducing air pollution."

The Pope made it clear that politicians have responsibilities to the planet, to children and to the underprivileged who are most at risk from climate change.

The pontiff quoted from the Bible and from the US Constitution. He even invoked the words of the Reverend Martin Luther King when he said, "we can say that we have defaulted on a promissory note and now is the time to honor it."

"We know by faith that the Creator does not abandon us; he never forsakes his loving plan or repents of having created us." the pontiff stated. "Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home. As Christians inspired by this certainty, we wish to commit ourselves to the conscious and responsible care of our common home."

President Obama thanked the Pope for his remarks saying, "Holy Father, you remind us that we have a sacred obligation to protect our planet – God’s magnificent gift to us..We support your call to all world leaders to support the communities most vulnerable to a changing climate and to come together to preserve our precious world for future generations."

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Climate Change is Emerging as an Issue in the Canadian Federal Election of 2015

In previous Canadian federal elections climate change has not been much of an issue. However, there appears to be a shift in the mood of Canadians and we may very well see concerns about climate change making an appearance as an election issue at the ballot box in October.

Some of this interest is being driven by Canadians who are experiencing the effects of climate change first hand. This includes floods in Calgary and Toronto, dry summers on the West Coast, low snow packs in the mountains, wildfires in the western provinces, and melting northern ice sheets.

The news offers daily reminders of the climate crisis around the world and it is becoming increasingly evident that Canada is already suffering from the impacts of climate change. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the Arctic. The combination of personal experience and scientific evidence appears to be getting through to Canadians. 

We are seeing a growing number of actions all across the county that indicate that Canadians may be waking up to the dangers of climate change. Here is a quick summary of some of the climate events that have occurred in the last few months.

On July 4th 2015 people in communities all across Canada came out against environmentally destructive industries and then on July 5th, thousands converged in Toronto for a march designed to show the environmental resolve of Canadians. In a spectacular demonstration of unity and solidarity, over 10,000 people marched together in Toronto for Jobs, Justice and the Climate. This mobilization brought together a truly diverse coalition that included indigenous communities, public and private sector unions, students, social justice organizations and grassroots groups.

On September 10th, Bill McKibben, Naomi Klein and many others came together to decry the Conservative's track record on the environment and demand better government.

Climate activists have also organized a number of actions along the leaders campaign trail. Some of these events demanded that federal leaders put forth science based plans to tackle climate change and manage the tar sands.

In the middle of September, activists greeted prime minister Stephen Harper as he campaigned in British Columbia. On September 10, people asked the NDP and Liberal party about their commitments and plans to transition Canada to 100 percent renewable energy.

On September 17th, the day of the Globe and Mail debate, Calgary Climate Action Network activists delivered a 20-feet tall message to all three federal leaders gathered in the city for the debate. The message read, "if you want to avoid the carbon bubble and build a new economy that works for people and the planet, you need to keep fossil fuels in the ground."

A digital action also took place on the day of the Globe and Mail debate as thousands of people sent Tweets that said you can’t talk about the economy without grappling with the scientific reality of climate change.

A series of actions are planned for the September 24th debate in Montreal. Divest McGill and other groups will greet party leaders and remind them that the science of climate change is not up for debate. On Thursday September 24th at 5:30 PM they are organizing a climate bloc at a giant rally that will take place outside of Radio-Canada at Place Emilie-Gamelin, Montreal

There are also actions planned for the September 28 debate in Toronto.

As explained by the Climate Action Network, "we have reached a turning point that will lead us closer to climate justice."

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Canadian Students Leading the Call for Climate Action Including Fossil Fuel Divestment

Students and faculty are often the ones to lead the charge for societal betterment and environmental justice. Canadian students and faculty are no different and they are showing leadership on campuses all across the country.

In 2014 students at the University of British Columbia have voted to divest from fossil fuels and in February 2015, the UBC Faculty formally voted to divest. This move is significant given that the campus has a $1.1-billion endowment that contains the largest university holding of fossil fuel stocks in Canada. Professors at the University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, University of Toronto and Mount Allison University have already voted to urge their university directors to divest.

There are more than 30 universities across Canada with active divest campaigns, including the University of Winnipeg, Sherbrooke University and the University of Calgary.

On July 3, 2015 university students in 6 Canadian cities confronted those vying to be prime minister as well as other leading MPs demanding that they take real action on climate change. These students are calling for a justice-based shift toward a clean, renewable economy.

in their offices to demand that our elected officials take real leadership on climate change and champion a justice-based shift toward a clean, renewable economy. Students went to the offices of PM Stephen Harper, Thomas Mulcair and Justin Trudeau, among others to make their demands. Dozens of students from University of Toronto marched to Joe Oliver’s office.

The following day, July 4, students took part in an inclusive protest across Canada calling for a clean energy economy and telling political leaders that our communities are worth more than the tar sands. On Sunday July 5 students joined labor groups, migrants, environmentalists and social justice organizations in a march for jobs, justice and climate.

On September 21, one year after the People's Climate March, a large and diverse number of students at Montreal's McGill University pitched tents in front of the James Administration. These students are part of Divest McGill, and they protested as part of their Fossil Free Week.

Their action is meant to call attention to the serious threat posed by climate change, and of our collective responsibility to act. After years of campaigning for fossil fuel divestment from the schools students, faculty and alumni, this protest is demanding that McGill act boldly in the face of the climate crisis.

These students are hoping the McGill will join over 400 other institutions to divest from fossil fuel companies. Their goal is to stigmatize the industry’s immoral business plan and its corrupting influence on public policy. They also hope to call attention to the ways in which fossil fuel companies have violated indigenous rights for decades and the poor and marginalized who have done the least to cause the climate crisis but who will bear the brunt of climate impacts. Finally their protest point out that fossil fuel emissions not only damage our planet they directly undermine human health.

In February of this year, Divest McGill submitted a second petition and research brief to the Board of Governors, signed by more than 1,700 McGill community members and endorsed by an open letter from over 120 McGill faculty and librarians.

As explained in the McGill Daily:

"McGill might be ranked as the best university in Canada, but does that alone make it an educational institution that we should be proud of? By not divesting, McGill is ignoring its own scientists and researchers who have highlighted the dire nature of the climate crisis and the need to freeze tar sand expansion. It is clear that our university’s Board of Governors is not acting in line with the urgency that this crisis merits, nor the transparency that the community deserves. By acknowledging the climate science, but refusing to accept its clear implications, the Board is displaying a dangerous type of wilful ignorance that calls the efficacy of its governance seriously into question. The scientific analysis and the moral imperative are both resoundingly clear: full fossil fuel divestment is the bare minimum of what must be done."

The protestors say that it is time that the McGill administration stand, "with the community, instead of with fossil fuel corporations."

Concordia is the other major English language University in Montreal and they became the first campus in Canada to divest in December. The institution set aside $5 million from its investments to test the fossil-fuel-free waters.

10 campuses with successful student votes to divest

University of British Columbia
University of Victoria
Simon Fraser University
University of New Brunswick
Dalhousie University
University of Guelph
Trent University
McMaster University
McGill University
Concordia University

5 campuses where faculty voted to divest

University of British Columbia
University of Victoria
Simon Fraser University
University of Toronto
Mount Allison University

Image Credit: McGill Daily
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Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 300 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

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Why Republican's Fear the Pope's Environmental Message

Pope Francis is on his way to the US and his position on a number of issues is at odds with the core of the GOP's platform. The historic visit will include an address to a joint session of the Republican controlled Congress on Thursday, September 24th. Francis will be the first Pontiff ever to address Congress.

Republicans have warned the pope to avoid speaking on environmental matters, some, like Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar, who is himself a Catholic, have even vowed to boycott the Pope's speech.

Republicans feel betrayed as the Pope has put forth views that are diametrically opposed to their positions on the environment and climate change in particular. The Encyclical that was released by Francis this summer flatly refutes the Republican's stance on global warming. Not only did the Pope say that human activity causes climate change he clearly indicated that politicians must work to develop policies that combat it including moving away from fossil fuels.

The Catholic church was once the spiritual refuge of conservatism, but that has changed under the leadership of Pope Francis. Rather than review the anti-science folly of their own position the GOP has turned on the Pope.

This does not bode well for Republicans as the majority of Americans like this Pope while those who sit in congress are more unpopular than they have ever been. Christian conservatives have long made up the core of Republican support, however, many of these Christians respect Francis whether or not they identify as Catholics.

The Republican's disdain for the Pope's views extend far beyond his embrace of a science informed view of environmental issues. They are also at odds with the Pope's take on immigration, guns and capitalism. The GOP dismisses the Pope the same way they dismiss anyone whose views conflict with their own. According to Republicans the Pope should not be listened to because he is a progressive liberal, and a socialist.

Although the GOP would prefer that Americans ignore the Pope's message that is unlikely to happen. Millions of Americans will follow his address as will House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, both of whom are Catholic. Although the Pope's visit will undoubtedly challenge his party's position Boehner nonetheless called it, "one of the biggest events in the history of the Capitol."

Republicans have good reason to fear the Pope's message. With the 2016 are elections just a little more than a year away, a rebuke from the world's most prominent faith leader is cause for concern.

Related
Pope Francis and COP21
Pope Deprives Republican Climate Deniers of Religious Support
Science Adds Weight to the Pope's Environmental Encyclical
The Pope's Encyclical Opposes Fossil Fuels and Supports Renewables
Pope Francis' Moral Call to Environmental Action
The Pope's Encyclical is an Indictment of Capitalism
The Encyclical of Pope Francis Calls for Revolution
Implications of Pope Francis' Environmental Encyclical and Attacks from Republicans (Videos)
Pope's Environmental Encyclical Supports the Poor While Demanding Change from the Rich
Leaked Papal Encyclical Lauds the Climate Movement and Derides Deniers
Spoof of Pope Francis' Environmental Encyclical (Video)
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Faith Based Environmental Leadership

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