Resource Library

Thrive is a Mental Health Literacy campaign for the UBC community. The objectives of the research were to explore the needs and expectations of the UBC community with regards to mental health promotion in the context of COVID-19 and beyond. It includes recommendations for how Thrive can support the promotion of mental health and communication of mental health literacy information.  

Partner: UBC Wellbeing
Keywords: social sustainability

This research explains how First Nations in B.C. envision culturally-appropriate and energy-efficient homes and buildings, the role that building standards play in the development of new construction, and barriers and successes First Nations are experiencing implementing new construction projects. The report also includes nine recommendations for how the Province can support the development, modification, and implementation of culturally-appropriate and energy-efficient new construction.

Partner: Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
Keywords: green buildings, indigenous housing, culturally-appropriate design  

The objective of this project is to assess the hazards and risks associated with the chemical ingredients used in patient care products in BC's health care facilities. A chemical screening framework that includes human health and environmental hazard criteria is utilized to assess the risk and further classify the chemicals into different hazard categories. A chemical ingredient inventory database and a recommendation of chemicals to avoid are also included.

Partner: Vancouver Coastal Health
Funded by: Fraser Health
Keywords: supply chain management & green procurement, waste management & recycling, zero toxicity 
 

This report lays the foundation for carbon accounting for Metro Vancouver's biosolids land application program by looking at historical work, interviewing industry professionals, and creating a list of considerations for future work. Future considerations include: soil carbon sequestration factors; biomass carbon storage; GHG emissions from soil, stockpiles, transport, and application; biosolids characteristics; fertilizer displacement; pre- and post-application field measurements; and regular monitoring.

Project Partner: Metro Vancouver
Keywords: sustainable development & green economy, waste management & recycling, biosolids

This project aimed to help TransLink assess the impacts of the proposed implementation of fare capping by studying consumer preferences and ridership impacts. It reviewed literature from behavioural science and transportation studies to examine how human behavioural biases influence transit ridership. Findings were used to design an experiment of how fare capping will impact ridership and customer perceptions of fares. Results will inform whether to pursue the implementation of fare capping.

Partner: TransLink
Keywords: transportation, leadership, mobility

This project aims to evaluate current emission reduction resources provided by Climate Smart Businesses Inc., using a sectoral approach to identify gaps in current emission reduction resources and develop sector-specific emission reduction plans. Climate Smart will utilize sector-specific emission reduction plans to guide reduction efforts of small to medium-sized (SMEs) businesses in the short, medium, and long-term. 

Partner: Climate Smart
Keywords: green buildings, leadership & behaviour change, sustainable development & green economy

This research provides an overview of the experiences of students belonging to equity-seeking groups at UBC and outlines the barriers that impact their sense of belonging and social connection at the institution. Through assessing the relationship between wellbeing priority areas and social connection the report synthesizes and evaluates the connection between social determinants of health, and the structural determinants of wellbeing that can impact social connection.

Partner: UBC Wellbeing
Keywords: leadership & behaviour change, social sustainability, diversity equity and inclusion

This project aims to develop a high-level equity approach to inform the City of Vancouver's Equity Framework for City Plan. Includes best practices on racial and gender equity, intersectionality and decolonization from local governments across North America and Oceania. Provides directions for embedding equity in city planning in a meaningful, transformative and substantive manner to positively impact the lives of all residents, particularly those communities excluded by colonial and other unjust systems.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: healthy city

This project aims to support the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation to develop a proactive plan to improve canopy cover and increase equitable access to green space for residents in the Downtown Eastside (DTES). This project reviews successful cases of greening dense and vulnerable communities, identifies gaps in the planning and implementation of urban forestry projects in the DTES, and develops recommendations on next steps.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: access to nature, healthy city