Climate change Archives - Queen's Journal

‘Don’t Look Up’ is all message, no movie

Written on January 21, 2022. Posted in Lifestyle.

Deservedly or not, Don’t Look Up has earned a significant place in contemporary pop culture. With a stacked, high-profile cast and comedic tone, the Netflix original depicts a reality where a devastation-level comet is headed toward the Earth. The film is written and directed by Adam McKay, who is...

Challenging dominant worldviews through outdoor education is key to preventing climate disaster

Written on October 26, 2021. Posted in Editorials.

Framing humanity and nature as separate created the climate crisis. Teaching our youth the opposite can end the cycle of environmental damage. The rapid rate of global industrialization within the last two centuries has caused greater climatic changes than any other period in history. The globalized...

‘Rebellion’: The Journal sits down with David Suzuki to discuss climate resistance documentary

Written on November 6, 2020. Posted in Arts.

Although David Suzuki has been warning world leaders about climate change since the 1970s, his calls to reduce carbon emissions have fallen on deaf ears. Now, Greta Thunberg rallies the new generation to continue the fight for climate action. From David Suzuki and David Attenborough to Greta Thunberg,...

Are outdoor sports facing elimination?

Written on September 25, 2020. Posted in Sports.

Climate change poses a major threat to all aspects of human life, and sports are no exception. Increasing temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events are threatening ability to play sports across the globe. While winters are getting shorter, summers are hotter, which places undue strain...

Music has the capacity to make climate resistance feel more personal

Written on September 25, 2020. Posted in Arts.

As individuals around the world grapple with the realities of the climate crisis, some artists are addressing it in a more emotionally charged manner—through music. Songs about climate resistance differ from news headlines because information or anxiety is relayed through an artistic medium. Because...

Individuals have just as much responsibility as governments to address the climate crisis

Written on October 10, 2019. Posted in Opinions.

Over a week at the end of September, millions of people around the world—predominately young people—took to the streets to protest a lack of political and social action to mitigate the effects of our changing climate. The protests emerged as a result of Scandinavian teen Greta Thunberg’s public outcry...

Talking Heads: Why are you protesting at the climate strike?

Written on October 4, 2019. Posted in Opinions.

“To stand in solidarity with everyone else protesting across the country.” Chonyi Iama, ArtSci ’22 “Despite all the science for it, no one is doing anything about climate change.” Courtney Newberry. ArtSci ’23 “I’ve seen a lot of urban effects of...

Professor talks climate change and rising water levels in Lake Ontario

Written on September 12, 2019. Posted in News.

Over the summer, water levels in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River rose significantly, affecting docks and other coastal infrastructure across Kingston, including the Gord Edgar Downie pier. In an interview with The Journal, Queen’s professor and Canada Research Chair in Environmental Change,...

As a student, going green comes with a price tag

Written on September 12, 2019. Posted in Opinions.

There’s no denying that climate change and money are closely intertwined. Whether it’s big industry polluters cutting corners to save (or make) a buck, carbon taxes in the news, or the cost of cleaning up after yet another extreme weather event, dollars and cents contribute to the dialogue around...

Queen’s should divest from the source of climate change

Written on March 15, 2019. Posted in Editorials.

The University’s refusal to divest from fossil fuels proves that Queen’s values its finances above the changing climate. Queen’s positions itself as a leader in action against climate change. But if the school is sincere about its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, that should extend...

Club to hold climate rally next week

Written on March 8, 2019. Posted in News.

Queen’s Backing Action on Climate Change (QBACC) has organized a community rally on Mar. 15 to show support for action on climate change in Kingston. The event will start at noon around the intersection of University Avenue and Union Street, and over the course of two hours will make its way up...

Queen’s signs onto University Climate Coalition

Written on February 14, 2019. Posted in News, University.

Queen’s has joined the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3), ratifying a commitment to take action against climate change. On Feb. 4, the University announced its new membership to the UC3—a group of 19 North American research institutions committed to reducing their carbon footprint and encouraging...

The Canadian government needs to take serious action on climate change

Written on January 18, 2019. Posted in Editorials.

If you have a phone or internet access, you’ve probably seen the 10-year challenge floating around—people posting photos of themselves in 2019 contrasted with 2009. People’s pictures have highlighted how they age—or haven’t seemed to—yet one change that’s been particularly alarming in the past 10...

Combatting climate change can’t be done alone

Written on January 11, 2019. Posted in Opinions.

Increasingly, there’s been a shift towards individualistic approaches in combatting climate change, be it through reducing animal product consumption, thrift shopping or no longer using plastic straws. However, this shift in social attitudes and consumption patterns isn’t enough to bring tangible...

Apathy toward climate change more harmful than we think

Written on November 6, 2018. Posted in Editorials.

Acknowledging the damages of climate change is a first step—but acknowledgment without immediate action accomplishes nothing. While past claims that climate change was exaggerated might have held merit, its dangers are unavoidable for young people today. NASA has forecasted an expected temperature...

Queen’s prof breaks down startling IPCC climate change report

Written on October 12, 2018. Posted in News.

On Monday, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned the international community about the increasingly severe—and imminent—consequences of global climate change. The report, which has gained significant media attention for its dire predictions, stated the planet will reach an average...

Queen’s alum appointed Ambassador for Climate Change

Written on July 29, 2018. Posted in News.

On World Environment Day, Queen’s alum Patricia Fuller became Canada’s next Ambassador for Climate Change. Fuller, ArtSci ’86, is a veteran of the Foreign Service and entered the role on June 5 for a three-year term. She graduated Queen’s with a Bachelor’s in political studies and economics before...

Liberals can’t have it both ways on Canada’s climate targets

Written on January 30, 2018. Posted in Editorials.

Putting a price on carbon pollution has become the paradigm of climate policy. It’s widely considered a catalyst for low-carbon innovation and the shift away from fossil fuel dependency. Since taking power in late 2015, Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government has held the idea as a central policy...

Divestment from fossil fuels is overdue for Queen’s

Written on September 15, 2017. Posted in Editorials.

The world’s continued use and exploitation of fossil fuels has been scientifically proven to affect the climate. Climate change isn’t just warmer weather around the globe, it’s more rain, more severe weather and more frequent natural disasters like Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Even though Queen’s...

Queen’s alum named Canadian ambassador to climate change

Written on July 31, 2017. Posted in News.

When speaking about her new role as Canadian climate change ambassador, Jennifer MacIntyre focused on potential: “If you ask about the challenges, I think my brain switches immediately to the opportunity.” On June 27th, the seasoned diplomat and Queen’s alumnus MPA ’08, was appointed Canada’s new...

Updated: AMS executive disband Commission on Environmental Affairs

Written on January 19, 2017. Posted in News.

Originally posted: Jan. 19, 4:00 p.m. A motion to dissolve the Commission of Environmental Affairs was passed during AMS Assembly on Jan. 19. In a 41-page agenda released before Assembly, one paragraph was included in Vice President (University Affairs) Carolyn Thompson’s report, noting the sudden...

Sustainability is more than a week-long commitment

Written on October 6, 2016. Posted in Opinions.

This week, Queen’s campus celebrated Sustainability Week, a week to promote environmental initiatives on campus. While it was nice to exchange some clothes and lightbulbs, eat some local food samples and get free coffee in a reusable, nice won’t reduce our carbon emissions by 35 per cent by 2020 —...

Queen’s to announce Climate Action Plan

Written on March 4, 2016. Posted in News.

In today’s Board of Trustees meeting, Queen’s University will publicly unveil its plan to become completely carbon neutral by the year 2040. With milestone targets for 2020 and 2030, the Queen’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) is a university-wide initiative with both short-term and long-term goals,...

Global warming: a worldwide concern

Written on January 15, 2016. Posted in Lifestyle.

Just over a month ago, world leaders gathered in Paris to take a hard look at one of the most pressing threats humanity has ever faced. For many of us, terms like “climate change” and “global warming” are issues too far in the future to worry about. But while many have held this view, the global...

In the Andes, new evidence of climate change

Written on February 12, 2015. Posted in News.

Queen’s scientists published a study earlier this month that shows new evidence of climate change in tropical Andean lakes. Neal Michelutti, lead author and a senior research scientist at Queen’s Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Lab (PEARL), and John Smol, co-author, Queen’s biology...

QJ Politics: National plan is needed

Written on January 27, 2015. Posted in Lifestyle.

Carbon tax. They’re dirty words for most Canadians and especially for former Liberal Party leader Stéphane Dion. After proposing a revenue-neutral carbon tax in the 2008 election, Dion was swiftly decimated at the polls. But it’s time we look at carbon tax in a positive light. Seven years later, Canadian...

QJ Politics: Canada-China deal

Written on November 21, 2014. Posted in Lifestyle.

On Oct. 1, Prime Minister Stephen Harper signed a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) with China. It allows businesses in both countries to invest with more ease within each other’s borders. A few weeks later, President Barack Obama signed his own bilateral agreement with...

Canadian climate neglected

Written on October 1, 2014. Posted in Opinions.

Elena Routledge, Sci ’16 Climate change was a hot topic in September, with politicians and celebrities alike focusing on issues of sustainability, and global protests highlighting a need for action. At last week’s United Nations Climate Summit in New York City, actor and activist Leonardo DiCaprio...

With eyes open

Written on March 21, 2014. Posted in Editorials.

Less than half of Canadian parents think their children will have higher living standards than they do. Analyses of these ill-feelings about the future often attempt to frame them in strictly economic terms. But when asked about their “deepest concerns” regarding what lies ahead, Canadians rank both...

In considering divestment

Written on February 10, 2014. Posted in Editorials.

The threat of climate change calls for a response from young people and the institutions that cater to them. University divestment from fossil fuel companies should be seriously considered going forward. Students at the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University...

Tag: Climate change

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