By UBNow Staff, originally published in UBNow
Published April 2, 2024
Not to be outshined by the total solar eclipse, Sustainability Month always occurs in April here at UB.
While all eyes — protected, of course, by eclipse safety glasses — will be on the sky on April 8, there are plenty of other events throughout the month that aim to bring the university community together in celebration of the sustainability successes that have been achieved, and the work that still must be done.
“At UB, we recognize that the quality of our lives and the economy of our region, nation and world are increasingly tied to how we develop and deliver energy and manufactured products, how we use and sustain our natural resources, and how human activities — including those at our university — alter and impact the environment,” Provost A. Scott Weber and Vice President for Finance and Administration Laura Hubbard wrote in their annual Sustainability Month message to the campus community on April 1.
“From our groundbreaking research on the environmental disaster at Love Canal to the collaborations currently being supported by our RENEW Institute and our innovative sustainability efforts across campus in support of our ambitious climate action plan, UB has long made environmental sustainability a top priority.”
Dozens of sustainability related events will be hosted by campus partners throughout April.
Once again, the signature event will be an update on the university’s Climate Action Plan set for 8:30-10 a.m. April 22 (Earth Day) in the Mainstage Theatre in the Center for the Arts. University leaders and campus partners will gather to share how UB is advancing climate action, especially the university’s decarbonization strategy, and what collective actions members of the campus community can take to be part of the solution. Attendees are asked to RSVP online.
Additional events include:
“It’s great to see the list of events and campus partners grow each year. It’s indicative of the passion our campus community has to make a difference as we work to move the needle on creating a more sustainable campus, region and world,” says Derek Nichols, associate director for sustainability. “Clearly, UB students and employees are ready to lead.”
Plan meals, use shopping lists and avoid impulse buys so you don’t purchase too much and generate waste.
Learn about where your food comes from, its environmental impacts and about concepts like food justice and food sovereignty. Also, local food banks are always looking for volunteers and donations.