The TRU ECO committee has partnered with the Sierra Youth Coalition and the BC Campus Climate Network for the conference. One hundred and forty youth from across the province are expected to attend the conference to share the knowledge, experience and skills that will help B.C.’s post-secondary institutions go beyond climate-neutral.
“BC’s new climate-change legislation means all post-secondary institutions in the province must be carbon-neutral by 2010,” said conference organizer Tria Donaldson. “We want to take the legislation to the next step and help all education institutions in B.C. move beyond climate-neutral, to do more to solve the climate crisis than they do to cause it.”
Maggie Baynham, the regional coordinator for the Sierra Youth Coalition sees this conference as a unique opportunity to explore the role of universities and colleges in climate change planning.
“Education institutions have unique tools that allow them to support and enhance climate change planning. With the capacity for research, education, as well as purchasing power, land use and modeling best practices, universities and colleges can have a huge influence on the world around them,” said Baynham. “Most importantly, education institutions have thousands of people like the students who will attend this conference with the passion and the energy to create change.
Through workshops, round table discussions, planning sessions and strategic direction setting, the conference creates a forum to learn about specific BC sustainability initiatives and to gain valuable skills to help campuses move beyond climate.
There will be two keynote speakers; David Bwakali from the African Youth Initiative and Marc Lee from the Centre of Policy Alternatives, as well as a panel discussion on going beyond climate neutral.
Registration is $50 and open to anyone who is interested. For more information check out www.campusclimatenetwork.org
Contact: Tria Donaldson, Conference Coordinator, cell: (250) 320-8437
email: sustainablecampus.bcconference@gmail.com
