Environment Archives - Queen's Journal

Project to bring more green spaces to campus

Written on March 5, 2021. Posted in News, Student Politics.

Students can expect to see more green spaces on campus next year. In collaboration with Students of Queen’s Urban Agriculture and Sustainability Hub (SQUASH), Molly Urquhart, AMS commissioner of environmental sustainability, is planning a three-year project to reintroduce pollinator gardens and more...

Queen’s student named one of top 25 environmentalists under 25

Written on May 28, 2020. Posted in News.

When The Starfish recently recognized 25 young leaders as “Canada’s Top Environmentalists Under 25,” Queen’s student Sebastien Molgat, ArtSci ’20, was on the list. The list, released annually since 2011, highlights individuals who inspire and lead environmental change in their communities across...

Make climate action your pregame warmup

Written on September 12, 2019. Posted in Sports.

You might wonder where the crossover is between sports and wanting to fight climate change. Sports and environmentalism seem worlds apart, but they’re more interconnected than they seem. If you care about sports as an institution, you owe it to yourself to be more climate-conscious. Summer sports...

Banning plastic straws doesn’t do enough for turtles—or our society

Written on March 15, 2019. Posted in Editorials.

Regardless of the damage plastic straws do to sea turtles, it’s impossible to eradicate them without damaging economic and physical accessibility. Ontario, however, might do just that. After releasing a discussion paper on reducing litter and waste last week, Environment Minister Rod Phillips...

Buying my first sustainable winter jacket

Written on January 15, 2019. Posted in Lifestyle, Student Life.

In mid-November, I walked out of my house in disbelief and found everything beautifully covered in snow. After spending three months at Queen’s while on exchange from Japan, the Canadian winter finally welcomed me, and it was time to buy my first winter jacket. When thinking about my ideal winter...

WWF launches new student engagement program on campus

Written on October 30, 2018. Posted in News.

This fall semester, the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) has launched a new student engagement program to draw attention to the declining population of animal species in Canada. The new program, called Living Planet @ Campus, features resources for students to take action to promote sustainability....

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...

Environmental group launches initiative for plastic-free campus

Written on July 30, 2018. Posted in News.

Last Monday, the Society for Conservation Biology Kingston Chapter [SCB] launched a petition asking Queen’s to transition into a plastic-free campus. In just two days, the petition exceeded its goal of 500 signatures and reached over 700 by Saturday. In a phone interview, SCB Vice-President Minoli...

Sustainability Week persists following dissolution of Commission of Environmental Affairs

Written on October 5, 2017. Posted in News.

The dissolution of the AMS Commission of Environmental Affairs last school year left many students concerned about the role of sustainability on campus. Months later, Queen’s is celebrating Sustainability Week in the absence of the commission. Running from October 1 to 5, Sustainability Week is an...

Doors Open Kingston features Queen’s Engineers

Written on July 31, 2017. Posted in News.

On June 17th, the Queen’s Solar Design team unveiled to the Kingston community its current major project — a fully autonomous environmental house. Known as the Queen’s Solar Education Centre (QSEC), this net-zero energy home is located at 244 Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard and was featured at Doors...

Increased awareness to reduce Earth’s pollution

Written on June 26, 2017. Posted in Opinions.

When I was little, I had a book about sharks — I read it all the time and took it with me everywhere I went. In it, there was a chapter on how the pollution people create affects our oceans and poses a great risk to the lives of the animals that live within it. This book was how I first learned that...

Five years after water bottle ban, the decision needs another look

Written on January 31, 2017. Posted in Editorials.

Plastic bottles filled with sugary drinks aren’t any more environmentally conscious than plastic bottles filled with water. Considering last week’s passed motion in AMS Assembly to dissolve the Commission of Environmental Affairs, now is as good a time as ever to think critically about what we can...

Free parks in 2017 isn’t a cause for celebration

Written on November 25, 2016. Posted in Editorials.

Free admission to Canada’s national parks is a step in the right direction, but still a walk in the dark. To celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary, admission for all visitors to national parks will be free in 2017. The plan is meant to promote Canada’s national parks, some of which have less than...

Water literacy speaker series turns legal

Written on November 4, 2016. Posted in News.

On Wednesday evening, a full house convened at the Grad Club to talk about water. Mark Mattson, who graduated from Queen’s in 1985, now practices law in the environmental sector. He came to Queen’s this week as a part of the Kingston Water Access Group’s Think.Drink.Water Speaker Series. Addressing...

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 —...

AMS seeks to promote environmentalism to students

Written on September 30, 2016. Posted in News.

From October 2-6, the AMS is set to run their Sustainability Week — designed to celebrate and promote environmentalism through groups on campus, various initiatives and campaigns. Liam Dowling, commissioner of environmental affairs for the AMS, explained that providing awareness and services throughout...

Dream Courses selected for fall semester

Written on June 6, 2016. Posted in News.

In early April, six professors were granted permission and funding to proceed with their carefully crafted “Dream Courses”. After a four month process, and out of 10 applicants, three courses were chosen as the winners for the Principal’s Dream Courses initiative. The Principal’s...

Queen’s votes not to divest from fossil fuels

Written on November 13, 2015. Posted in News.

Queen’s Board of Trustees’ Investment Committee announced on Nov. 6 that they will not be divesting Queen’s funds from fossil fuels. The decision comes roughly a year after Queen’s Backing Action on Climate Change (QBACC), a student environmental activist group, submitted a petition to Principal Woolf...

Queen’s environmental group talks fossil fuel divestment

Written on September 22, 2015. Posted in News.

The Advisory Committee on Divestment of Fossil Fuels held its final feedback meeting on Thursday, Sept. 17, moving them closer to finalizing a report on divestment at Queen’s. The committee has held four consultation dates open for submissions from concerned individuals, with its final meeting taking...

Going Green in Iceland

Written on September 18, 2015. Posted in Lifestyle.

I spent my first year at the Castle. I’ve been to four Olympic Games and I’ve traveled to 26 different countries. But of all these amazing experiences, my trip to Iceland with The GREEN Program was the best one yet. This 10-day summer adventure was focused on renewable energy and sustainability....

Blue dots for a green planet

Written on March 20, 2015. Posted in News.

The AMS Commission of the Environment and Sustainability (CES) has led a nation-wide campus challenge to recognize Canadians’ right to a “healthy environment”. Supported by the David Suzuki Foundation, the Blue Dot movement was launched in September and aims for governmental recognition of a right...

Queen’s looks at divestment

Written on February 6, 2015. Posted in News.

Following a push from students and campus groups, the University has launched discussions on fossil fuel divestment. In last week’s AMS winter referendum, 4,127 students — or 73.5 per cent of voters — voted in favour of the AMS assessing the feasibility of divestment from fossil fuels from its Restricted...

Pact lacks practicality

Written on November 27, 2014. Posted in Opinions.

Joshua Goodfield, ArtSci ’15 Earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping and United States President Barack Obama established an agreement to support the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Their meeting on Nov. 9 received grandiose public support due to the ambitious goals both...

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...

KingstonFest focuses on sustainability

Written on October 9, 2014. Posted in Lifestyle.

It was a cold and rainy Saturday morning, but that didn’t deter the crowds from attending the first KingstonFest on Oct. 4. Run by Sustainable Kingston, the event focused on showcasing the wide array of organizations that contribute to environmental responsibility in the Kingston community. The event...

Third annual Sustainability Week looks to make sustainability personal

Written on October 7, 2014. Posted in News.

The third annual Sustainability Week kicked off on campus on Monday and will play host to 14 events by the week’s end. A total of 20 groups from campus and the community are involved with the events, including Queen’s Backing Action Against Climate Change (QBACC), Enactus, STRIVE, the Earth Centre,...

A changing atmosphere

Written on November 15, 2013. Posted in Features.

Climate change is happening, and is likely to impact Kingston’s animal population — including the famed Kingston squirrel. According to Queen’s geography professor Warren Mabee, the local squirrel population may increase and become more aggressive as temperatures warm. “We’re going to get more aggressive...

Campus waste stations to launch

Written on October 22, 2013. Posted in News.

After years of a scattered disposal system, 15 new strategically-placed waste stations will make their debut on campus – some of which will include the school’s first organic waste bins. The project, jointly-funded by the AMS through student fees and the University’s sustainability office, will see...

Barlow promotes Blue Future

Written on October 18, 2013. Posted in News.

International best-selling author Maude Barlow spoke to a full crowd on Wednesday night to promote her most recent book, which highlights solutions to the global water crisis. Barlow’s 16th book, Blue Future: Protecting Water for People and the Planet Forever, was the focus of the talk, which was...

Sustainability Week seeks more students

Written on October 8, 2013. Posted in News.

Despite a strong message, organizers of this year’s Sustainability Week said they would have liked to see a stronger turn out. Sustainability Week, which took place on campus last week, marked its second year. Out of the 11 events organized as part of the campaign, some saw low participation rates. Organizers,...

Tag: Environment

The Journal, Queen's University - Since 1873

Get the App

Get the App