EDST climate action plan, committee, mandate, and principles

EDST has a Climate Action Committee, with the following members: Aun Ali (graduate student), Holly-Kate Collinson-Shield (staff), Kari Grain (faculty), Dustin Louie (faculty), Faeyza Mufti (staff), Claudia Ruitenberg (faculty). This Committee was established after an initial Climate Action Plan had been approved by the department in May of 2024.

On April 21, 2022 the Department of Educational Studies established a Working Group for an EDST Climate Action Plan. Members of the Working Group were: Holly-Kate Collinson-Shield (staff), Jenifer D’souza (staff), Rosemarie Desmarais (graduate student, Chi Pham (graduate student), Sam Rocha (faculty), Claudia Ruitenberg (faculty), and Rob VanWynsberghe (faculty).

After a series of meetings and consultations, a Climate Action Plan was passed at the department meeting of May 16, 2024. The plan includes three overarching principles (focus on climate justice, attention to the material enactment of department operations, and supporting cultural change), as well as five areas of climate actions: teaching; research; advocacy and engagement; travel; purchasing and events. As planned, a Climate Action Committee was formed to oversee implementation of the plan.

Action item updates

Create “Climate Justice” section on EDST website
Implement vegetarian or plant-based catering for EDST-funded events
Invite fewer noted scholars for longer visits (rather than more scholars for short visits)