The Scholars Project Library contents hundreds of reports, charts, tool-kits, and more, documenting the applied research produced since 2011. A useful body of knowledge to support further research around sustainability.

This project assesses different aspects of a building decarbonization plan for Musqueam First Nation public buildings, including capital costs, utility bills, and GHG emissions reduction potential. The budget impact will be determined based on upfront costs including equipment and installation, and the utility costs of using different heating, cooling, and water heating systems in the buildings. The decarbonization plan is focused on replacing the existing systems with heat pumps for space and water heating.

Partner: Musqueam Indian Band
Funder: BC Hydro
Keywords: climate adaptation, green buildings, low carbon buildings 

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2024
German Ortega Noriega

Focusing on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES) community, this report draws on academic literature, interviews with City staff, and published experiential accounts to explore the intersection of the climate crisis and housing crisis. Aiming first to understand the DTES community's climate-related challenges, needs, and resources, the report then offers recommendations for municipal policy and action to improve climate-related health equity for people experiencing homelessness in the DTES.

Partner: Union Gospel Mission (UGM)
Funder: UBC (McConnell Foundation Grant) & City of Vancouver
Keywords: social sustainability, homelessness, climate action, climate equity

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2024
Taryn Plater

In response to Vancouver's 2021 heat dome, the report focuses on protecting Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES) communities living in social housing through DIY passive cooling techniques. The proposed solutions aim to lower heat risks affordably and quickly. Aligned with Vancouver's Climate Adaptation Plan, the report advocates for sustainable, long-term improvements in urban heat resilience, stressing the need for more robust strategies to ensure a safer living environment for marginalized populations.

Partner: Union Gospel Mission (UGM)
Funder: City of Vancouver & UBC (McConnell Foundation Grant)
Keywords: social sustainability, sustainable development & green economy, urban heat resilience, extreme heat, climate action, climate equity 

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2024
Radhika Singh

This report analyzes models, best practices, and common stumbling blocks for City-University partnerships on climate justice. It aims to inform the development of the CLimate Equity Action and Resilience (CLEAR) project, a new partnership in Vancouver, Canada.

Partner: UBC Sustainability Hub & UBC Learning Exchange
Funder: UBC (McConnell Foundation Grant)
Keywords: social sustainability, sustainable development & green economy  

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2024
Linsell Tim Linsell

Focusing on recentering water engagement through an Indigenous lens, anchored by the Fraser River/Estuary model, this project features a workshop and actionable guidance for Sierra Club BC's Mother Tree Local Leaders Program. Empowering leaders to nurture personal and organizational water relationships, it fosters diverse environmental stewardship through land-based education. Includes insights from collaborating environmental NGOs that translate expertise into practical suggestions.

Partner: Sierra Club BC
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation Grant)
Keywords: sustainability in education, water, Indigenous knowledge systems 

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2023
Jessica Groat

The purpose of this research is to better understand the breadth and depth of relationships and networks that coordinated actions across multiple sectors during extreme heat events (EHE) in South Vancouver and Marpole. Both neighbourhoods are disproportionately impacted and vulnerable to EHE. The social network analysis demonstrated that neighbourhood level networks of place-based organizations are the most effective in addressing EHE in a quick, coordinated and community-based manner.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Funder: City of Vancouver
Keywords: equity, diversity, inclusion, healthy city, climate resilience social sustainability

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2023
Rajpreet Sidhu

This project provides insights for the optimization of the City of Vancouver leaf collection seasonal program in anticipation of climate change effects on vegetation. It includes spatial suggestions and a phenology calendar relevant to adjusting Service Operations logistics according to the timing of deciduous trees’ foliage shedding. Analyzed information is based on the tree species abundance, canopy density, and species-specific information on physiological responses to climatic changes.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Funder: City of Vancouver & UBC
Keywords: biodiversity, waste management & recycling, urban forestry 

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2023
Paulina Vazquez Quintana

This project studied 6 retrofit programs from British Columbia to present them as case studies to highlight their evaluation methods, success factors, energy savings, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction amounts. Based on these case studies, this project discussed the recommended evaluation methods and set of success factors that can represent the program's overall achievements. This study will help practitioners to design a successful retrofit program based on the study findings.

Partner: Community Energy Association
Funder: BC Hydro
Keywords: green buildings  

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2023
Jannatul Ferdous

This project aims to establish a framework for the Indigenous-focused Climate and Energy Resilience Capacity-building programs within the Fraser Basin Council (FBC). This project introduces three Centre for Economic Research and Capacity Building (CERCB) programs with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and facilities the alignment of these programs through six UNDRIP parameters. These parameters are distilled from UNRP principles, a review of related literature, and input derived from interviews with Indigenous leaders, FBC staff, and stakeholders. The results of this project inform the proposal for a UNDRIP Compliance Measurement Toolkit for evaluation.

Partner: Fraser Basin Council Society
Funder: BC Hydro
Keywords: leadership & behaviour change, social sustainability, sustainable development & green economy  

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2023
Sopuruchi Christian

This project actively investigates the constraints that contractors face while implementing efficient residential retrofits. It analyzes and identifies these hurdles. Furthermore, it offers practical recommendations and solutions to alleviate these constraints, ultimately boosting the efficiency of residential retrofit projects. The research actively contributes valuable insights to the construction industry, enabling more successful and sustainable retrofit initiatives in the future.

Partner: Community Energy Association
Funder: BC Hydro
Keywords: green buildings, carbon reduction

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2023
Zain Husain

False Creek, the jewel of Vancouver, is at a critical crossroads that necessitates strategic and comprehensive environmental stewardship. This project employed a multi-phase methodology to explore avenues for transitioning False Creek's marine ecosystem from a state of survival to thriving. The focus centred on deriving learnings from the efficacy of successful models/practices, as well as insights from a diverse range of stakeholders, including NGOs, government agencies, and local residents.

Partner & Funder: False Creek Friends Society
Keywords: ecological systems, leadership & behaviour change, sustainable development & green economy

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2023
Yash Mehta

On a global scale, Indigenous peoples are disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change, largely due to their close relationship to and reliance on traditional lands. This paper introduces nature based solutions (NbS) as they pertain to flood management across the Fraser Valley. Topics reviewed include: current state of flood infrastructure, regional flood strategies, nature-based solutions, organisations that support flood resiliency. The report includes a feasibilty map and a discussion of natural asset management and ways it can be Indigenized.

Partner: Stó:lō Research and Resource Management Centre (SRRMC)
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation Grant)
Keywords: ecological systems, water, flooding, Indigenous, biodiversity  

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2023
Tirath Dave

This project aim was to assess frontline healthcare worker knowledge and readiness to participate in low-carbon, low-waste, high-quality sustainable practices at BC Cancer. A community assessment was conducted through a qualitative approach to quality improvement. The initiative resulted in recommendations for effectively engaging clinicians in sustainability practices such as the need to implement green policies, nurture a positive culture, involve patients, and encourage staff empowerment.

Partner: Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)
Funder: Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)
Keywords: clinical engagement, low-waste, low-carbon, sustainable practices

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2023
Eunice Bawafaa

This research examines climate change adaptation through nine case studies from the Global South, showcasing community-based and systemic strategies against challenges like floods and wildfires. It highlights the importance of addressing power imbalances, international partnerships and valuing diverse knowledge. The study also delves into Canadians' openness to global insights, especially during the COVID-19 era. Furthermore, it examines Canada's institutional transition from mere aid provision.

Partner: BC Council for International Cooperation (BCCIC)
Funder: UBC
Keywords: leadership & behaviour change, social sustainability, adaptation, resilience, knowledge creation and collaboration

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2023
Neftali Hernandez-Martinez

Environmental racism is contributing to widening health disparities in cities globally, including Vancouver. This report explores the historical and current impact of structural racism on the distribution of environmental hazards in the city. It highlights concerning correlations between high temperatures and visible minority populations, particularly in South Vancouver and the east/southeast areas. The report underscores the need for further analysis to understand the health outcomes of these exposures.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Funder: City of Vancouver
Keywords: social sustainability  

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2023
Federico Andrade Rivas

This project seeks to understand how NatureKids BC, a nature-based youth organization, affects its child and adult members. We asked whether and how it is achieving its program goals of fostering love and curiosity for nature. The program effects were measured using a combination of quantitative measures, and qualitative surveys and interviews. The qualitative results suggest that the impact of the NatureKids BC program impacts aligns with its organizational goals.

Partner & Funder: Young Naturalists' Club of British Columbia Society
Keywords: sustainability in education, youth development, program evaluation 

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2023
Amy H. Bu

The aim of this project was to develop a curriculum framework to educate and inform Vancouver Coastal Health food services staff on sustainable food practices that also support cultural safety and environmental health in hospital food outlets. Interviews, both informative and exploratory, were conducted with food service directors and staff. The responses guided development of a draft curriculum framework. Recommendations include suggestions for further related research.

Partner: Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)
Funder: Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)
Keywords: food systems, supply chain management & green procurement, waste management & recycling  

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2023
Patricia Unung

This project's goal was to create an exhibit based on a holistic understanding of the health of the lower Fraser River adjacent to the Fraser River Discovery Centre (FRDC). The exhibit implements a multisensory mode of inquiry and will replace the current water health exhibit. Research conducted included a literature review and interviews and consultation with the Musqueam Environmental Stewardship Department.

Partner: Fraser River Discovery Centre Society
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation)
Keywords: ecological systems, sustainability in education, water

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2023
Samuel Kohlmann

This report evaluates the potential benefits of replacing paper shelf labels with electronic shelf labels (ESLs) in the Canadian retail sector with respect to GHG emissions. The research assesses the impact of adopting ESL in retail stores across Canada. Data collected from research estimates the total paper consumption within the industry.

Partner: Smart Label Solutions Inc.
Funder: Smart Label Solutions Inc.
Keywords: leadership & behaviour change, waste management & recycling, sustainability practise 

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2023
Sidharth Kwatra

This project aims to provide a review of the current operations at selected VCH facilities and recommend practical strategies to reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions of HVAC systems. Maintaining good indoor air quality at each facility is also of paramount importance to safeguard the well-being of occupants. The recommendations consider both the emission and air quality aspects and inform building operation protocol updates and retrofit efforts.

Partner: Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)
Funder: Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)
Keywords: energy efficiency, health care facilities  

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2023
Shuoqi Wang

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