In celebration of Earth Day, UBC Campus and Community Planning hosted Earth Day is Every Day: Fostering a Culture of Climate Action at the CIRS Hydro Theatre on April 23. This interactive event brought together students and staff to jointly explore UBC’s Climate Action Plan 2030 (CAP2030), discuss barriers to sustainability, and ideate actionable climate solutions across individual, community, and institutional levels. This event was held in partnership with the Earth Day Campus and Coalition and supported by the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS). It emphasized collaboration, engagement and creative problem solving.
The session began with a warm welcome and engaging activities to spark conversation among participants. It was followed by an informative presentation on Climate Action Plan 2030 (CAP2030) and UBC’s current sustainability landscape. Participants were then divided into smaller groups and were instructed to rotate through five theme tables: Biodiversity, Food Systems, Zero Waste, Business Air Travel, and Engagement & Outreach.
Discussions revealed shared concerns and creative ideas. Students emphasized the need for more plant-forward food options, sustainable vendor partnerships, and low-waste meal plans. Staff highlighted systemic challenges such as emissions from business air travel and the complexities of institutional procurement. Attendees expressed strong interest in expanding biodiversity education and working more closely with the Musqueam nation to restore Indigenous landscapes. Engagement initiatives like reuse marketplaces, thrift events during move-in/move-out, and better zero-waste communication strategies also emerged as potential next steps.
The event concluded with a reflective share-back, where participants named something they learned, felt, and committed to act on. Whether rethinking food choices, advocating for policy changes, or participating in reuse programs, attendees left inspired to integrate sustainability into daily life- echoing the event’s central message: Earth Day is every day.