Blogue

John F. Kennedy once remarked that learning and leadership are indispensable to one another... 

I have always been passionate about finding ways in which we can live, develop and grow as a society in balance with nature. I saw the rapid suburban growth and the degradation of our natural systems for progress and knew there had to be a better way to do things - I just wasn’t sure how to make it happen...

It is always important to start a new adventure on the right foot. That is why I was so excited to begin my studies in Environmental Sustainability Master program with the four day orientation week, during which there would be time to get to know my new classmates and elaborate on our perception of sustainability. It did not disappoint.

New York is home to countless things that are valued by New Yorkers such as; the theatre, the financial district, unique dining experiences, Central Park, and cultural museums. When it comes to natural systems however, people often have difficulty placing a dollar value on the good. For instance, it is recognized that wetlands are valued for their plethora of biological functions, but how valuable are they in economic terms? Does having a wetland on your property increase or decrease the value of your property? What other factors contribute to this value? Martin Heintzleman, 2015-2016 Fulbright Scholar at the Institute of the Environment, was able to shed some light on this topic.

Recent talk around who will succeed Dr. Rajendra Pachauri as the next head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has brought to mind a comment Dr. Pachauri made last year...

On March 3rd the Institute of the Environment in partnership with Sustainable Prosperity hosted a seminar with PhD student Akio Yamazaki. As a student in the Master’s of Environmental Sustainability program I was keen to attend and hear about Mr. Yamazaki’s research concerning the effects of the BC carbon tax on the manufacturing sector. Though his study was incredibly interesting it was more the discussion that ensued between IE faculty members concerning his results which created enthusiastic debate.

George Santayana, the Spanish philosopher once said “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

At the Institute of the Environment, we take an interdisciplinary approach to learning and are interested in understanding the perspectives of various experts. I was therefore very excited to learn that the Office of Campus Sustainability at Ottawa University was broadcasting a virtual classroom with David Suzuki. I was keen to invite our Master’s of Environmental Sustainability students, and attend myself.

In the nation’s capital, there is a hint of autumn in the air, parliamentarians will soon be returning to the Hill and students of all ages are back in the classroom.

We are at an important juncture in history. The decisions we make as individuals, business leaders, politicians and organizations will determine the fate of our planet for generations.