Major Funding Boost For BC-led Climate Change Research
The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) is pleased to announce $1.8 million in new funding for British Columbia-led projects aimed at finding solutions to the environmental, social and economic challenges — and opportunities — brought about by climate change.
PICS is a collaboration of BC’s four-research intensive universities—the University of Victoria (UVic), University of British Columbia (UBC), Simon Fraser University (SFU) and the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)—hosted and led by UVic.
PICS Executive Director Dr. Tom Pedersen says the institute’s collaborative nature sets it apart from other research bodies because it brings together top minds—from what can be competing organizations—on specialist climate change topics.
“The 27 new research projects we are announcing today are living proof of this collaboration, with the majority of the project teams involving inter-university researchers as well as experts from within government, the private sector, and other research bodies,” he says. “Such collective intellectual effort will help ensure BC has the sound research base it needs to develop innovative climate change policies, and to ensure its ongoing leadership in this crucial area.”
Project durations range from eight months to 2.5 years and come under one of the PICS research themes: the low carbon emissions economy, sustainable communities, social mobilization, and resilient ecosystems.
Research topics include:
- determining the next best steps for BC’s groundbreaking carbon tax
- using solar energy to turn the greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon dioxide (CO2) into a clean energy fuel
- investigating opportunities to reduce GHG emissions and create green jobs through zero waste policies
- designing a framework for dealing with the employment impacts of the shift to a low-carbon economy
- determining if BC’s luxury tax steered motorists towards cheaper, smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles
- investigating whether energy from ocean waves can be a viable electricity source in BC
- creating a new computer tool to help local governments ‘test drive’ their energy and emissions planning
- analyzing social media’s effectiveness at mobilizing youth to reduce energy consumption
- development of tools and better management systems to safeguard BC’s forests and fisheries, and
- maintaining biodiversity in BC’s mountains which are tipped to lose up to 97 % of alpine habitat by 2085.
Pedersen says the breadth of this research reflects the need to expand mitigation efforts to include adaptation. “The impact from human-caused climate change will increasingly be felt across our environment, our economy and our way of life, from the food we will be able to grow in future through to our willingness as a society to wean ourselves off carbon and move to a renewable energy sector. Research needs to encompass all these aspects.”
Research projects under a fifth theme – carbon management in BC forests – will be announced later this year. The attached backgrounder describes the 27 research projects and their institutional composition. For more information or to arrange interviews with Pedersen or project leaders please contact PICS communications.
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