IRIS Executive Member and Faculty of Environmental Studies Professor, Jose Etcheverry has good news for the Canadian economy as long as people are willing to rethink the renewable energy sector. I recently sat down with Dr. Etcheverry for an interview and inquired about his work.

Dr. Etcheverry’s research on climate change emphasizes the importance of investing in the renewable energy sector. This involves shifting focus away from cap and trade programs towards designing and building a strong renewable energy sector throughout North America. Since North America already has the necessary administrative infrastructure this investment would create ‘green jobs’ and make 2020 and 2050 deep emission reduction targets possible.

Dr. Etcheverry points to Germany for empirical evidence demonstrating unequivocally that investing in the renewable energy sector can have a handsome pay off.

Through renewable energy laws and feed-in tariffs, Germany is able to create jobs and reduce emissions despite the recession. Thanks to these initiatives Germany achieves a yearly reduction in CO² of 107 million tonnes along with 300,500 renewable energy jobs and annual investment of €33 billion in the renewable energy sector. Unfortunately these encouraging trends are not being noticed by our current government which claims instead that signing onto the climate change bill C-311 would require implementing emissions targets that are fiscally “irresponsible.”

Ultimately, Dr. Etcheverry has good news to share. He is confident that there are many practical solutions, some of which are already being implemented right here in Ontario. The process of “greening” the economy is positive, creative and yields multiple co-benefits. Fostered by a coal phase out, the FIT programs, such as the Ontario Power Authority’s microFIT plan, are a great example of such initiatives. The Provincial government now pays Ontarians for generating renewable energy at their homes, farms, and places of work. The Ontario FIT programs also encourage community power and First Nation renewable initiatives to develop new jobs that can protect the climate, enhance local energy security and self-reliance.

For more information about Dr. Etcheverry’s research, you can visit his FES profile page.

Laurie Mook, the co-director at the Centre for Social Economy at the University of Toronto is in the process of writing a book entitled Social Accounting for Social Economy Organizations, which is scheduled to be published in 2011. York professors and students, Darryl Reed, J.J McMurtry, and Jacqueline Medalye are writing Chapter 10 of the edited collection entitled Environmental, Ethical Trade and Fair Trade Purchasing Policies: Some Challenges of Promoting Sustainability in Canadian Universities.

The chapter outlines some of the history behind sustainable purchasing policies in Canadian universities and though a number of themes emerge, one element is clear: it is university’s student organizations along with dedicated student’s that play a vital role in the implementation of purchasing policies.

Other highlighted impacts included the key role played by university administrators in implementing sustainable purchasing policies; the high awareness of sustainable purchasing policies by procurement managers; the sense of "powerlessness" felt by many managers in needing approval from "above" for all new policies; and finally the role of provincial governments as a main driver of initiatives.

So- what does this have to do with YorkU? If student-run on-campus organizations like the Fair Trade Coalition, the Sustainable Purchasing Coalition, Business and Society as well as other like-minded groups have their say, York U will soon be on its way to implementing a sustainable student run business that would buy local, organic, and fair trade products. For information or how to get involved please contact Darryl Reed at: dreed@yorku.ca.

I would like to dedicate this blog to expressing my concern for the future of Canadian civil liberties, in particular our freedom of speech, association, and assembly. At the G8/G20 protests this summer, countless protesters were detained in inhumane conditions, denied their one phone call, deprived of access to legal counsel as well as a plethora of other offenses attacking the civil liberties we often take for granted. If you are interested in some of the attacks on civil liberties that took place that week, The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has an excellent databank which includes reports, observations, analysis and on-going monitoring activities dedicated to the G8/G20.

So, how is the planning of the G8/G20 and the reaction to the protests relevant to the work at the Institute for Research in Innovation and Sustainability? Well, there are three spheres to sustainability which encompass the economic, social and natural environments. For the purpose of this blog, I would like to briefly focus on the first two.  I will begin with the most entertaining of the three spheres. Economically, this circus was absolutely detrimental to taxpayers. The CBC reported that G8/G20 costs included: $80 million for food and accommodation, $85,000 for snacks and $14,000 for glow sticks. No... that is not a typo- GLOW STICKS. I really wish the CBC explained what the glow sticks were being used for- but perhaps it is more fun to leave that one to the imagination. In terms of the social environment, the security provisions made it evident that protests were unacceptable. Despite the impression police presence created, opposition, disagreement and peaceful, direct action are not illegal activities engaged in by hooligans or criminals. In addition to struggling for an equitable economic and social environment, these ‘rebels without a cause’ were also fighting for our political freedoms. What state is our society in when we marginalize and criminalize the citizens who ask for our rights to be respected?

In an article in the Toronto Star regarding the Hundert case, a journalist asks: Where is the outcry? There are some events going on in Toronto that are dealing with the aftermath of the G20 crisis including an event with Naomi Klein, the author of the Shock Doctrine. All proceeds go to the G20 legal defence fund which was set up to support those arrested for organizing in Toronto.

In response to the Toronto Star journalist: There are people who are concerned in this city such as citizens who organize events to generate funds to support community organizers, and those who dedicate their time to participating in organizations like the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.  We need to continue asking critical questions to our government. WHO should be accountable for the G20 screw up (Please, can anyone tell me which bureaucrat approved the glow stick budget?) HOW can we preserve our civil liberties? WHO is being targeted, and WHY? Our social and political freedoms are vulnerable, and if we want a healthy and sustainable socio-political future we are going to have to fight for our civil liberties.

On October 14^th, I attended the Toronto premiere of Water on the Table, a compelling film by Liz Marshall showcased at Planet in Focus — Toronto’s International Environmental Film & Video Festival. Water on the Table, features Canadian water activist Maude Barlow, the National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians. The documentary addresses some of Canada’s current water crises, while highlighting their global context.

Growing up in Northeastern Brazil, I can recall taking baths with buckets of bottled water, when our taps and showers ran dry. Before moving to Canada, nearly a decade ago, I believed water crises were limited to underdeveloped countries and it had never occurred to me that Canada, a freshwater-rich country, could ever face such issues.

But, this is far from the truth. In fact, Canada currently faces several issues over water use and conservation. In Water on the Table, Barlow explains how the Alberta Tar Sands use an incredible amount of water, daily, to separate the oil from the soil. As Chris Wood — author of Dry Spring: The Coming Water Crisis of North America — explains in a recent article for The Walrus, “for every barrel of crude extracted from the oil sands in its southeastern reaches, three more of water are pumped from rivers that flow into the Mackenzie.”

In addition to compromising our water supplies and wildlife, the Tar Sands have had devastating effects on its neighbouring communities. The health and wellbeing of residents of Fort Chipewyan in Northern Alberta have been greatly affected by the pollution of Lake Athabasca. According to Barlow, the only way to address this issue and to prevent further pollution and environmental degradation is to recognize the fundamental difference between a human need and a human right.

In Water on the Table, Barlow explains that if we define water as a human need, we allow it to be bought, bottled, sold and traded, whereas, if we define it as a human right, water cannot be privatized or denied. Thanks in great part to Barlow the United Nations General Assembly recently declared clean water and sanitation a human right.

On Sunday, I had the great pleasure of watching Liz Marshal receive the 2010 Planet in Focus Best Canadian Feature Film Award for Water on the Table, a well-deserved accolade.

The more I speak to other students at York about the lack of sustainable food on campus, the more confused I become. I continually hear pleas for more sustainable food- fair trade, local, organic or even just some options that have more than one natural ingredient. So, why aren't there more student run initiatives that provide what students have identified they want?

Well, part of the reasons is that York is a complex place; there are four different organizations on campus that handle food services. First of all, there is the student center, which is technically owned by students. This space, as I am sure you all have noticed, is filled with franchises that provide largely processed, unsustainable food. Part of the reason for this is because when those franchises became a part of our student space they were locked into incredibly long contracts so that we cannot replace them until we are done suffering through the legalities that were decided upon many years ago. The second food services operation is York Lanes which is owned by the York University Development Corporation and is actually a separate entity of the University. Schulich caters all of its own food services, but this is directly a part of York University's operations. Lastly, there is York Food Services which is currently being run by Aramark. These are the cafeterias that are run in common spaces like the TEL building, Stong College,  Central Square as well as other locations.

To be fair, there are a couple of great student run initiatives left on campus including The Absinthe Pub in Winters which is student run and now selling fair trade coffee (thank you winters!), as well as the Grad Lounge.  If you are looking for more information about food services at York, you should check out the Food Report that IRIS published in 2009- it has all of this information and more about campus food services.

As convoluted and depressing as this seems... do not despair! There is hope. There are people at York who are working to integrate sustainable foods onto campus. They are working for more fair trade, more organic foods, a stronger local presence, and for a space where students  can feel proud  purchasing food from their peers--- by running these spaces as student initiatives.

On October 29th, 2010 in the Founder's Assembly Hall these people will be gathering to educate, discuss and organize to make this happen at the Sustainable Purchasing Policies Conference. On the same day, there will also be a Fair Trade Fair in Central Square, Vari Hall, the Ross Link, and the Bear Pit. There will be Fair Trade vendors selling everything from chocolate to jewelery.

I, for one, am officially sick of Wendys. I sincerely hope to see you on October 29th.