Terms and Resources
CICan ImpAct Climate Report
Are we ready? The research in this report seeks to understand better climate and sustainability-related initiatives across Colleges and Institutes Canada’s (CICan) member institutions.
Download the ReportClimate Anxiety
Climate Anxiety is the feeling of helplessness that arises when thinking about climate change. We are very fortunate in Canada that we are only just starting to feel and see the effects of a changing climate. There are many countries that are feeling the effects of climate change much more strongly, and awareness of climate change has increased as the increased devastation has also increased. From an increase in flooding events, winter storms, and wildfires, the reality of a changing climate can be overwhelming to deal with. Niagara College’s Health, Wellness and Accessibility Services are here to support you.
Did you know?
The frequency of extreme precipitation days (the daily precipitation greater than 25mm) is projected to increase by 21% by 2050 and 47% 2080 in the Niagara Region? – Climate Projections for Niagara Region
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, incomes, and educational levels with respect to the development and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. The Environmental Justice movement was started in the 1960’s by individuals, primarily people of color, who sought to address the inequity of environmental protection in their communities. Learn more at epa.gov/environmentaljustice.
Environmental Racism
Racial discrimination in environmental policy making, the enforcement of regulations and laws, the deliberate targeting of communities of color for toxic waste facilities, the official sanctioning of the life-threatening presence of poisons and pollutants in our communities, and the history of excluding people of color from leadership of the ecology movements. (Mohai, P., Pellow, D., & Timmons Roberts, J. (2009). Environmental Justice: Annual Review of Environment and Resources. Vol. 34:405-430. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-082508-094348)
Any policy, practice, or directive that differentially affects or disadvantages (whether intended or unintended) individuals, groups, or communities based on race or color. (Bullard, R. D. (1993). The Threat of Environmental Racism. Natural Resources & Environment Vol. 7, No. 3 pp. 23-26, 55-56. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/40923229)
Did you know?
The Government of Canada is updating building codes, standards and guidance to address Canada’s rapidly changing climate and related hazards, to increase safety, security, climate resilience and adaptation.
Greenwashing
A form of advertising or marketing where a false claim or misleading statement about the environmental benefits of a products or practice are made. It is used to mislead the public into believing that a product is environmentally friendly, or a company has a greater positive impact on the environment than it does. Some tactics include labels reading “eco-friendly” or “green” that are not associated with any recognized standards or certifications and emphasizing a single environmental attribute while ignoring other impacts (for example, claiming a product is made from recycled materials but concealing the fact that it is produced in a high-emitting factory). Greenwashing creates barriers to change and undermines credible efforts to reduce carbon missions and address the climate crisis. United Nations. (n.d). Greenwashing – the deceptive tactics behind environmental claims. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/greenwashing.
Intersectional Environmentalism
This is an inclusive version of environmentalism that advocates for both the protection of people and the planet. It identifies the ways in which injustices happening to marginalized communities and the earth are interconnected. It brings injustices done to the most vulnerable communities, and the earth, to the forefront and does not minimize or silence social inequality. As defined by Leah Thomas (Thomas, L. (2022). The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet).
Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted during the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) following a four year consultation and negotiation process.
Did you know?
$44 trillion of the world’s economic output is dependent on nature to some degree.
– World Economic Forum Global Risk Report 2022
Natured Based Solutions (NbS)
Actions to address societal challenges through the protection, sustainable management, and restoration of both natural and modified ecosystems, benefitting both biodiversity and human well-being. They use the power of nature and functioning ecosystems as infrastructure to provide natural services to benefit society and the environment, and target major challenges like climate change, disaster risk reduction, food and water security, biodiversity loss and human health, and are critical to sustainable economic development. IUCN. (n.d). Nature-based Solutions. Retrieved from https://www.iucn.org/our-work/nature-based-solutions.
Net Zero CO2 Emissions
Net zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are achieved when anthropogenic CO2 emissions are balanced globally by anthropogenic CO2 removals over a specified period. Net zero CO2 emissions are also referred to as carbon neutrality. Learn more at ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/glossary.
Scope 3 Emissions
Scope 3 activities included are business travel, and electricity transportation and distribution loss. Additional scope 3 activities will be identified in Target 10.1a. Establish a comprehensive scope 3 inventory, and incorporated into future carbon goals and targets, including waste management, student, and employee commuting, embodied energy & GHG in buildings and vehicles, embodied energy & GHG in purchased materials and services. Scope 3 – Scope 3 are indirect emissions that are not covered by Scope 1 and Scope 2. Niagara College, in alignment with other higher educational institutions, is currently assessing the direct and indirect emissions that result within the boundaries determined to be under the responsibility of Niagara College in accordance with the GHG Protocol – Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard (2011). Learn more: 4 Common Myths about Measuring and Reporting Scope 3 Emissions
Did you know?
Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity has exhausted nature’s budget for the year. In 2023, Earth Overshoot Day fell on August 2. For the rest of the year, we were maintaining our ecological deficit by drawing down local resource stocks and accumulating carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. – Earth Overshoot Day
SDG Toolkit for Canadian Colleges and Universities
Colleges and Institutes Canada has created a SDG Toolkit for Canadian Colleges and Institutes. This Open Educational Resource (OER) toolkit and guide includes resources and an inventory identifying emerging practices in post-secondary settings across Canada that explicitly integrate the SDGs. (SDGs in Action: SDG4) The toolkit can be found at pressbooks.pub/sdgcicanguide/.
Socially Just Transition
A just transition, broadly defined as ensuring that no one is left behind or pushed behind in the transition to low-carbon and environmentally sustainable economies and societies, can enable more ambitious climate action and provide an impetus to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals. United Nations. (2023). Just Transition. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/CDP-excerpt-2023-1.pdf.
Student Energy: Energy System Map
The Energy System Map’s unique map view captures the interconnections of the complex energy system in a simple, dynamic way that allows visitors to glimpse how energy flows through the energy system. Find the map at https://studentenergy.org/map/.
Did you know?
Equity and Inclusion Terms and Phrases can be found on Niagara College’s EDI Glossary.
Sustainability at Niagara College
Providing high-quality applied education and training through a dynamic and inclusive process to improve the natural environment and quality of life for students, employees, and the communities in which we live and operate today, while protecting and restoring the human and ecological systems that will be needed in the future. Visit us at niagaracollege.ca/sustainability/.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the layout to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030.
Learn more about SDGsIn order to build a sustainable society, diverse groups will need to be able to come together and work collaboratively to address sustainability challenges. Members of racial and ethnic minority groups and immigrant, indigenous and low-income communities tend to suffer disproportionate exposure to environmental problems. This environmental injustice happens as a result of unequal and segregated or isolated communities. To achieve environmental and social justice, society must work to address discrimination and promote equality. The historical legacy and persistence of discrimination based on racial, gender, religious, and other differences makes a proactive approach to promoting a culture of inclusiveness an important component of creating an equitable society. Higher education opens doors to opportunities that can help create a more equitable world, and those doors must be open through affordable programs accessible to all regardless of race, gender, religion, socio-economic status and other differences.