climate change

Event: B.C. disaster recovery technical briefing

UBC engineering researchers will share preliminary observations on the natural disaster, informed by a combination of recent aerial reconnaissance of the disaster sites, together with applied research and specialist expertise.

Dec 14, 2021

Exterior of Bio-energy Research and Demonstration Facility.

UBC commits to net zero emissions by 2035

The University of British Columbia today unveiled a bold new climate action plan to accelerate emissions reductions and achieve net-zero emissions by 2035 at its Vancouver campus—15 years ahead of the previous target date.

Dec 8, 2021

UBC climate experts and COP26 delegates

The 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) climate change conference is taking place from October 31 to November 12. UBC conference delegates as well as UBC climate, environment and sustainability experts are available to comment.

Oct 21, 2021

UBC delegates on the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26)

UBC has selected a delegation of eight – including three students, one staff, and four faculty members – to send to the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow this November.

Oct 5, 2021

Coral reefs are 50% less able to provide food, jobs, and climate protection than in 1950s, putting millions at risk

The capacity of coral reefs to provide ecosystem services relied on by millions of people worldwide has declined by half since the 1950s, according to a new University of British Columbia-led study.

Sep 17, 2021

Companion animals in the climate crisis: How pet owners can reduce their environmental impacts

Pet ownership doesn’t have to be so tough on the planet, according to new UBC research. In this Q&A, Dr. Alexandra Protopopova shares why it’s important to make pet ownership sustainable, reduce waste, and more.

Aug 19, 2021

PhD candidate Sara Cannon conducting surveys in Abaiang. Photo: Dr. Simon Donner

‘Sticky questions’ raised by study on coral reefs

A new UBC study on the impact of climate change on coral reefs is raising sticky questions about conservation. It found coral in more polluted and high traffic water handled extreme heat events better than a more remote, untouched reef.

Aug 11, 2021

UBC experts on the Keystone XL cancellation

The Alberta government and TC Energy announced the termination of the Keystone XL pipeline project yesterday. UBC experts are available to comment.

Jun 10, 2021

How to talk to people about climate change

As our planet warms, seas rise and catastrophic weather events become more frequent, action on climate change has never been more important. But how do you convince people who still don’t believe that humans contribute to the warming climate?

Mar 30, 2021

RES’EAU Centre for Mobilizing Innovation is partnering up with the Italy-based symphony Bazzini Consort.

Innovating action on climate change and water quality through classical music

Dr. Madjid Mohseni, the scientific director at UBC-based RES’EAU Centre for Mobilizing Innovation, is partnering up with the Italy-based symphony Bazzini Consort in an innovative approach towards tackling climate change and its impact on water.

Mar 22, 2021

UBC experts on Biden’s Keystone XL decision

U.S. President Joe Biden has formally revoked the permit needed to construct the Keystone XL pipeline. UBC experts are available to comment.

Jan 18, 2021

UBC experts on federal climate bill

Canada’s federal government has introduced new legislation intended to make the country accountable for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. UBC experts are available to comment.

Nov 19, 2020

UBC, UC announce University Climate Change Coalition leadership transition

University of British Columbia President Santa J. Ono and University of California President Janet Napolitano today announced a transition in leadership of the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) a network of 22 leading North American research universities working together to accelerate local and regional climate action.

Jun 22, 2020

Switching grape varieties can help save world’s wine-growing regions: UBC study

Hotter temperatures threaten global wine production, with multiple studies now forecasting that more than half of regions suitable to planting wine grapes could be lost to climate change.

Jan 27, 2020

J16 making rainbows while surfacing, near Saturna Island's East Point. Credit: Miles Ritter/Flickr

Climate change fuels accumulation of pollutants in Chinook salmon, killer whales

University of British Columbia researchers studying the marine food web of the Northeast Pacific Ocean have found that the exposure and accumulation of chemical pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organic mercury, will be exacerbated under climate change.

Sep 11, 2018

Researchers predicted that changes in fish community could be reduced by 30 to 80 per cent with a doubling of reef area. Credit: Katina Rogers/Flickr

Reefs help protect vulnerable Caribbean fish from climate change

New research from UBC’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries suggests that larger reef areas may help protect the Caribbean’s coral reef fish communities from the impacts of ocean warming.

Mar 15, 2018

Warmer, wetter weather can increase the intensity of insect and pathogen outbreaks, including needle blight as shown on these pine needles. Credit: Robert L. James/U.S. Forest Service/Bugwood.org

As summers get warmer, more rain may not be better than less

Warm, wet summers are historically unusual and could bring unexpected disruptions to ecosystems and society, according to new research from the University of British Columbia.

Feb 28, 2018

Herbivores help protect ecosystems from climate change

Plant-eating critters are the key ingredient to helping ecosystems survive global warming, finds new UBC research that offers some hope for a defence strategy against climate change.

Oct 11, 2017

Some marine species more vulnerable to climate change than others

Certain marine species will fare much worse than others as they become more vulnerable to the effects of climate change, a new UBC study has found.

Sep 26, 2017

Warmer waters from climate change will leave fish shrinking, gasping for air

Fish are expected to shrink in size by 20 to 30 per cent if ocean temperatures continue to climb due to climate change.

Aug 21, 2017