Next generation of climate leaders converges on UVic

From June 24 to 28, the University of Victoria is hosting the second annual World Student Environmental Summit (WSES). More than 40 students from universities around the world will converge on campus to discuss one of the most pressing questions of our day: what can we do to combat global climate change?

The four-day summit will feature three key themes: energy, university sustainability and global response to climate change. Students from as far away as New Zealand, China and Ethiopia will participate in workshops, debates and other special events.

Last year, UVic biology and environmental studies student Jill Doucette and UVic business student Chantal Orr represented Canada at the first annual summit in Kyoto, Japan. This year, Doucette and Orr are co-chairs of the summit.

WikiEarth, a unique user-friendly collaborative website for earth data and peer-reviewed scientific research, will be unveiled at the summit. During the summit, a student proposal will be developed to recommend best global practices for on-campus sustainability, positive environmental policy and environmental education.

Delegates will have an opportunity to hear esteemed international keynote speakers including Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Nobel Laureate and Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), who will digitally present at the summit, and Dr. Mukesh Kapila, advisor to the World Bank on climate change and to the UN for disaster reduction and humanitarian affairs, who will present at the closing ceremony.

Most events are open only to delegates, but everyone is welcome to join the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the plenary sessions presented by: UVic earth and ocean sciences professor Dr. Andrew Weaver (IPCC author); Ms. Leith Sharp (founding director of Harvard’s Green Campus Initiative); UVic business professor Dr. Ana Maria Peredo (BC Institute for Co-operative Studies).

More info: www.2009wses.com