The 2024 IFSA-UBC Conference on Climate Change brought together leading experts, policymakers, and researchers to discuss pressing issues related to climate finance, communication, conservation, and risks. Held at the University of British Columbia, the conference featured four insightful panels that delved into the complexities of climate policy, the role of the private sector, the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and landscapes, and the challenges posed by extreme weather events. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the discussions and key takeaways from each panel, highlighting the innovative solutions and interdisciplinary approaches necessary to address the global climate crisis.
Panel Topic 1: Climate Finance and Policy
The first panel focused on the economic and financial mechanisms essential for promoting sustainable practices in forest conservation and addressing the climate crisis. Discussions highlighted the significance of interdisciplinary research and the development of national frameworks to quantify ecosystem services and nature-based solutions. Experts also examined the role of the private sector and the political challenges in implementing effective climate policies in Canada.
Dr. Bianca Cecato: Economic and Financial Incentives to Accelerate Sustainable Practices in Forests
Dr. Cecato emphasized the significant role economic and financial incentives play in promoting sustainable forest management. She highlighted the challenges in quantifying biodiversity conservation due to the lack of data and the difficulty in assigning monetary values to many ecological assets. Despite these challenges, she noted the high potential of forest conservation strategies in mitigating climate change. The controversial nature of forest carbon offsets was also discussed, along with the importance of data dissemination and technology transfer, which require substantial upfront costs. Dr. Cecato called for interdisciplinary research to bridge the gap between academic findings and policy-making. The development of a national framework to quantify ecosystem services and nature-based solutions is crucial to avoid the abuse of natural assets for short-term gains.
Dr. Juliet Lu: Private Sector Approaches to the Climate Crisis
Dr. Lu explored the role of the private sector in addressing climate change. She emphasized the historical impact of the fossil fuel industry on society and the necessity for corporations to contribute to sustainable development and conservation efforts. Highlighting the example of Chinese rubber plantations in Laos, she pointed out the importance of creating sustainable criteria within the industry. Dr. Lu stressed that the private sector must be a key player in mitigating the climate crisis as everyone will be affected by climate change.
Dr. Kathryn Harrison: Political Challenges for Canadian Climate Policy
Dr. Harrison discussed the political hurdles faced by Canadian climate policy. She highlighted the disparity between past and present emission projections and identified three major challenges: unequal progress across sectors, provincial and industry opposition to emission caps, and the potential impact of federal government changes on climate policy. Dr. Harrison also noted the progress in the electricity sector and the worsening emissions in the transportation sector. The Clean Electricity Regulation and its opposition were also mentioned as significant political challenges.
Dr. Carolyn Smyth: Climate Change Mitigation Modeling to Support Policy and the Bioeconomy
Dr. Smyth, a federal research scientist, presented her work on climate change mitigation modeling. She compared the emissions of steel and concrete with wood buildings, highlighting the advantages of wood in terms of emission reductions. However, she cautioned about the future release of carbon from decaying or burning wood. Her work includes analyzing post-fire restoration in British Columbia, where wildfires have significantly increased emissions. Dr. Smyth emphasized the importance of regional-level strategies and understanding the economic and social impacts of greenhouse gas emissions.
Panel Topic 2: Climate Communication
The second panel explored the critical role of communication in climate change mitigation and adaptation. Speakers emphasized the importance of engaging local communities, addressing climate anxiety among youth, and overcoming biases in AI-generated environmental information. The panel also discussed innovative strategies for inclusive and effective climate communication, integrating principles of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
Dr. Agni Klintuni Boedhihartono: Climate Communication in the Tropics
Dr. Boedhihartono shared her experiences working in the tropics, particularly in Indonesia. She highlighted the disconnect between international agreements and on-the-ground realities, emphasizing the need for better communication with local communities. She advocated for using creative methods, such as painting, to engage communities, including school children, in climate change discussions. Integrating traditional knowledge into climate change mitigation strategies was also emphasized.
Dr. Fernanda Tomaselli: Climate Anxiety Among the Youth
Dr. Tomaselli discussed the growing issue of climate anxiety among young people. This distress, linked to emotions like fear, grief, and despair, can either motivate action or lead to hopelessness. She highlighted that a significant percentage of youth in Canada are affected by climate change’s impact on their mental health. Dr. Tomaselli recommended seeking mental health support, taking collective climate action, and developing more formal education initiatives to address this issue.
Dr. Hamish van der Ven: Do LLMs Bias Perceptions of Environmental Challenges?
Dr. van der Ven explored the biases present in AI chatbot outputs, particularly in environmental contexts. His research revealed a tendency towards Western-centric, male-dominated perspectives that often overlook traditional and local knowledge. The solutions proposed by these chatbots are frequently outdated and conservative, lacking environmental justice content. Dr. van der Ven called for more inclusive and updated AI training data to mitigate these biases.
Dr. Neil Leveridge: Beyond the Information Deficit Model (IDM)
Dr. Leveridge argued that the traditional IDM is insufficient in the rapidly changing climate landscape. He emphasized the need for communication models that consider people’s beliefs, values, and identities. Incorporating Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles can make climate communication more effective. Strategies include using accessible language, equitable storytelling, and creating opportunities for diverse audience engagement.
Panel Topic 3: Climate, Conservation and Landscapes
The third panel addressed the intersection of climate change, conservation, and landscape management. Experts shared insights on gendered impacts of climate change, the importance of land rights, and biodiversity conservation in regions such as the Colombian Amazon and the Congo Basin. The panel also examined collaborative landscape governance approaches and the challenges and opportunities for sustainable development in diverse ecological contexts.
Debbie Pierce: Land Rights, Women, and Land Use in the Colombian Amazon
PhD Student Pierce focused on the intersection of land rights and women’s experiences in the Colombian Amazon. She highlighted the diverse realities within Colombia, from urban Bogotá to remote forested areas. The prolonged internal conflict has significantly impacted daily lives, particularly for displaced populations. Ms. Pierce emphasized the importance of acknowledging women’s roles and experiences in land use and conservation efforts.
Shintia Arwida: Gender and Climate Change
PhD Student Shintia discussed the gendered impacts of climate change, noting that women and girls often bear the greatest burdens due to existing social, economic, and political inequalities. She presented case studies demonstrating gender-responsive adaptation and mitigation strategies, such as the use of fruits and vegetables to enhance household consumption. Empowering women and girls through climate initiatives was highlighted as a crucial component of effective climate action.
Fideline Mboringong: Climate Change Impacts on Biodiversity in the Congo Basin
PhD Student Mboringong presented the Living Planet Report 2022, highlighting the severe decline in wildlife populations globally. She focused on the Congo Basin, which is home to significant biodiversity, including many endangered species. The key threats include land use changes, poaching, and industrial activities. Ms. Mboringong discussed the challenges and opportunities for conservation in the region, emphasizing the need for more resources, regional collaboration, and international commitments.
Alida O’Connor: Barriers and Opportunities for Collaborative Landscape Governance
PhD Student O’Connor explored Integrated Landscape Approaches (ILAs) in Ghana and Zambia. She identified collaboration as a key factor in successful landscape governance but noted that evidence of effective collaboration is limited. The challenges include conflicting policies, land tenure issues, and duplication of efforts. Despite these challenges, there are opportunities for shared visions and informal collaboration at various scales.
Panel Topic 4: Climate Risks
The final panel focused on the risks associated with climate change, including extreme weather events and the broader ecological crises. Discussions covered the need for transformative change, the unequal distribution of climate impacts, and the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge in climate research and restoration efforts. The panel underscored the urgency of preparing for and mitigating the impacts of climate change to ensure a resilient future.
Dr. Kai M. A. Chan: Confronting the Climate and Ecological Crises
Dr. Chan called for transformative change to address the climate and ecological crises. He highlighted the interconnectedness of maintaining freshwater, biodiversity, and other ecological goals. Emphasizing the role of individuals as agents of change, he advocated for integrating theories of transformation across private, social, and systemic spheres. Dr. Chan’s TED Talk, “You are a special agent in a planetary crisis and we’ve got missions for you,” underscores the need for collective action and system change.
Dr. Rachel White: Climate Change and Extreme Weather
Dr. White discussed the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events due to climate change. She explained the thermodynamic principles behind these changes, such as the atmosphere’s capacity to hold more moisture, leading to heavier precipitation extremes. Dr. White highlighted the unequal distribution of warming and the devastating impacts of extreme weather, including heatwaves and glacier melt.
Dr. Sarah Dickson-Hoyle: Collaborative Research and Restoration During the Climate Crisis
Dr. Dickson-Hoyle emphasized the importance of collaborative research with indigenous communities, particularly in the context of wildfire management. She shared her experiences documenting the impacts of mega fires in British Columbia and working with indigenous leaders to integrate traditional knowledge and scientific research. Dr. Dickson-Hoyle called for transformative change guided by indigenous perspectives to address the modern wildfire challenge effectively.
The 2024 IFSA-UBC Conference on Climate Change showcased the critical intersections of finance, policy, communication, conservation, and risk management in the ongoing battle against climate change. Through insightful discussions and innovative proposals, the conference highlighted the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration and inclusive strategies to address the complex challenges posed by the global climate crisis. As we move forward, it is essential to integrate these learnings into practical solutions that drive meaningful change.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all IFSA-UBC members, professors, speakers, moderators, and audience members for their dedication and efforts in preparing for and participating in this event. Your contributions were invaluable in making the conference a success and advancing our collective understanding of climate issues.
Stay tuned for our next term’s conference and academic seminar, where we will continue to explore cutting-edge research and foster dialogue on sustainable solutions for a resilient future. We look forward to welcoming you to another engaging and impactful event.
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