This summer we are featuring a series of blog posts from students in the ENV 2301 course "History of Environmental Thought". We are super happy to highlight the thoughts and ideas of these bright young individuals.
Everyone cares about climate change. I mean, we’re all supposed to, right? Save for the climate change deniers a la Donald Trump mold, saving the Earth has been pushed to the forefront of social issues, and it seems like everybody cares. The real question is does everyone know what to do to help? Putting desires into simple daily practices is still an area where most people struggle to “walk the talk. A big reason for this is a lack of information and resources, but for some people it is just an issue of caring.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that every student who leaves this institution is equipped with the knowledge to live sustainably and be able to think critically about climate change. Simply put, the University must try their best to get these students to care. uOttawa’s initiatives may promote climate change within the campus, but when students leave this domain, they should really take their learnings and apply them elsewhere. Don’t get me wrong, the University has been very active in its support for action on climate change. With a vision to become a carbon neutral campus, and through supporting students participation during global climate strikes, it is clear that sustainability, and a forward thinking student body are valued by the school. However, the question becomes are we doing enough to educate students within these walls so that they can apply these practices elsewhere. Events like the global climate strike should be seen as perfect opportunities to hold campus-based events in congruence, in order to maximize on the interest of students. uOttawa must ask themselves, are we doing enough to get students to realize the importance of stopping climate change?
There needs to be an increased emphasis on providing access to resources, seminars, curriculum, and extra-curricular based initiatives. While it is conceivable that many individuals do not and will never prioritize climate change initiatives in their life, there are still a staggering number of individuals who might simply lack information, or a way to get learn and get involved with sustainable initiatives. Because if every person can make a difference, in this fight, then the University should see their young impressionable student body as a gold mine. It’s easy to make claims of being a sustainable campus who really cares, but a campus is so much more than physical structure, it is a living thing, and to achieve the goals set by uOttawa, students need to be on board.
Everyone cares about climate change. I mean, we’re all supposed to, right? Save for the climate change deniers a la Donald Trump mold, saving the Earth has been pushed to the forefront of social issues, and it seems like everybody cares. The real question is does everyone know what to do to help? Putting desires into simple daily practices is still an area where most people struggle to “walk the talk. A big reason for this is a lack of information and resources, but for some people it is just an issue of caring.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that every student who leaves this institution is equipped with the knowledge to live sustainably and be able to think critically about climate change. Simply put, the University must try their best to get these students to care. uOttawa’s initiatives may promote climate change within the campus, but when students leave this domain, they should really take their learnings and apply them elsewhere. Don’t get me wrong, the University has been very active in its support for action on climate change. With a vision to become a carbon neutral campus, and through supporting students participation during global climate strikes, it is clear that sustainability, and a forward thinking student body are valued by the school. However, the question becomes are we doing enough to educate students within these walls so that they can apply these practices elsewhere. Events like the global climate strike should be seen as perfect opportunities to hold campus-based events in congruence, in order to maximize on the interest of students. uOttawa must ask themselves, are we doing enough to get students to realize the importance of stopping climate change?
There needs to be an increased emphasis on providing access to resources, seminars, curriculum, and extra-curricular based initiatives. While it is conceivable that many individuals do not and will never prioritize climate change initiatives in their life, there are still a staggering number of individuals who might simply lack information, or a way to get learn and get involved with sustainable initiatives. Because if every person can make a difference, in this fight, then the University should see their young impressionable student body as a gold mine. It’s easy to make claims of being a sustainable campus who really cares, but a campus is so much more than physical structure, it is a living thing, and to achieve the goals set by uOttawa, students need to be on board.
~ Gabriel Fluke