In August, Ali Rivers joined the Office of Sustainability as UU直播鈥檚 first-ever Climate Officer. With close to ten years experience in the environmental sector, Rivers is well-equipped for her new role as Climate Officer.
Rivers will be closely involved in implementing UU直播鈥檚 upcoming Climate and Sustainability Action Plan (2017-2020), set to be released later this fall. This will involve participating in the development of policies and programs tailored for students, faculty and staff, to reduce UU直播鈥檚 carbon footprint. She will also be responsible for helping UU直播 reach carbon neutrality, enhancing climate literacy, and improving climate resilience.
Rivers鈥� arrival is a significant moment in the history of sustainability at UU直播: the creation of her position was preceded by more than two years of student climate activism, beginning when Divest UU直播 made a submission to the Committee to Advise on Matters of Social Responsibility in Winter 2015, asking that the University divest from fossil fuel companies. After a year of consideration, the Committee advised the University not to divest, but instead recommended a series of climate actions. While many were disappointed with the administration鈥檚 response, Divest UU直播 paved the way for impactful campus initiatives that would occur in the year to come.
When the academic year resumed in September 2016, members of the UU直播 community were invited to participate in a series of Open Forums that, among other things, explored ideas to create a comprehensive climate plan. During these meetings, students put forth the idea of having a Climate Officer who would be well-connected to the UU直播 administration.聽 鈥淎 number of student leaders at the Postgraduate Student Society (PGSS) were adamant about creating a position within the UU直播 administration that could push forward聽an ambitious and science-based climate agenda,鈥� explained Toby Davine, Communications Officer at the UU直播 Office of Sustainability.
Following the consultations, the student leaders met regularly with Provost Christopher Manfredi, the Office of Sustainability, and other key stakeholders to discuss the potential role and responsibilities of the Climate Officer. 鈥淎fter a few meetings, we quickly realized that turning UU直播 into a carbon neutral entity was a very complex task that required the sustained and coordinated effort of different units at UU直播,鈥� said Amir Nosrat, PGSS Environment Commissioner. 鈥淚n response to this realization, our team of students proposed that the Provost's office sponsor half of the expenses associated with a committed staff member to coordinate this effort - what we called the Climate Officer.鈥�
In the Spring, the students developed a funding application to the Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) to support the position salary, when Provost Manfredi announced that he would fund the position salary for two years. Nosrat explained, 鈥淥ur team of students collaborated with a variety of staff, students and faculty at UU直播 to create an outline for this new role. This process made us realize that the issue of climate change is not confined to carbon neutrality, but should also address climate literacy and climate resiliency. The final proposal, which we submitted to the Provost in November 2016, was met with so much enthusiasm that the Provost offered to finance the entire position for 2 years.鈥�
As a UU直播 alumna and experienced climate analyst, Rivers brings a unique perspective to her new role. After graduating from UU直播, Rivers briefly worked at Macdonald Campus before getting a job with Ecometrica, a Montreal-based tech startup that made it easier for organizations to measure their environmental impact. 鈥淲e started in a consulting capacity but then designed and developed our own software that can manage greenhouse gas emissions, energy, water-use, waste and more. I was on the climate change and sustainability data side,鈥� she explained. Rivers聽worked there for more than eight years, slowly climbing up the latter from a Climate Change Analyst, a Senior Analyst, to a Technical Lead on Climate Change and Sustainability.
鈥淭he great thing about [Rivers] being here is that we have someone who is an expert in the area and who can act on the specifics that our climate action plan is addressing, like air travel,鈥� said Amelia Brinkerhoff, Sustainability Strategist at the Office of Sustainability. 鈥淪he has the expertise to address these issues and she鈥檚 an open door; she鈥檚 a resource for people to learn from and is someone who is going to be in the community and put a face to climate action at UU直播.鈥�
As Climate Officer, Rivers will be able to utilize her prior experience in climate change data analysis to introduce initiatives that will reduce the environmental footprint of UU直播. She is particularly excited about working within an educational institution. 鈥淭here is a direct ability to take all of the brain power that already exists and apply it to help UU直播 achieve its climate goals, including carbon neutrality,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a unique opportunity to apply the newest advancements in engineering, urban design, and other fields. Having the community here fuelling ideas and who are really actively engaged鈥攊t鈥檚 very unique.鈥�
The students, faculty and staff involved in this two-year process are excited to see what Rivers will accomplish. 鈥淲e have high hopes that our new Climate Officer can do wonders in transforming UU直播 into a leader in the fight against climate change,鈥� expressed Nosrat. Rivers is certainly up for the challenge.
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