Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions joins BC government climate council

The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS), a University of Victoria-led knowledge network focused on climate change solutions, welcomes Monday’s appointment of PICS executive director Sybil Seitzinger to serve on a new advisory council to the British Columbia government that will provide strategic advice on areas of focus for climate action that go hand in hand with economic growth.

The provincial government’s Climate Solutions and Clean Growth Advisory Council is a permanent body with a mandate that includes advising government on actions and policies that contribute to carbon pollution reduction and optimize opportunities for sustainable economic development and job creation in BC. Serving on the council aligns with PICS' new strategic plan and allows the network to work with stakeholders to derive climate solution options in BC, Canada and beyond.

“PICS is unique globally because we focus on solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation. We draw from a deep, multi-disciplinary pool of experts across our four-university collaboration model to develop new knowledge in our engagement with government, industry and other stakeholders,” said Seitzinger, an internationally recognized biogeochemist and elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

“All governments are grappling with how to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and prepare for changes in climate we cannot avoid. They are finally adopting relatively ambitious climate targets, but are only now realizing the mammoth scale of policies and regulation needed to achieve these goals. PICS offers an unbiased and evidence-based perspective on paths forward. I am excited to get to work on this advisory council.”                       

PICS is hosted and led by UVic in collaboration with BC’s three other research-intensive universities: Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia and the University of Northern British Columbia. PICS was created through a BC government endowment in 2008 and is an independent, policy- and technology-neutral knowledge network focused on solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

BC Government press release

PICS strategic plan

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