UNB Saint John’s Green Society recently held their second-ever Sustainability Conference on October 29^th. The Green Society is an organization made up of students, faculty, and various organizations working together to create a more sustainable future in Saint John. Seven speakers were invited to attend, each with their own talks and viewpoints on sustainability.

Rebecca Issac/Submitted

Wahkuna Lisik was up first, a registrar at UNB and a former member of Green UNB. She spoke on the efforts taken to change UNB’s former paper systems into its modern electronic paperless systems, as well as her early experiences with sustainability. Sama Almaarofi, a member of the United Spirit Nature Network, spoke next. She was very passionate in her talk, and explained the relationship between the environment, society, and the economy, and how they should all theoretically be balanced in order for sustainability to be accomplished, saying that “everything communicates”. Almaarofi also explained the difference between short-term sustainability and long-term sustainability, using electric cars as an example of good short-term sustainability but poor long-term sustainability. She was followed by Mrs. Karen Vickers, a former teacher at Harbourview High School and a founder of the school’s Climate Action Group. She told the story of two students who were the real backbone behind founding the group and her involvement as the teacher supporting them. Due to her experiences within the group, she believes that human connection can save the planet. The next speaker was a little surprising, as she presented remotely. Ellen Jost, a member of UNB Sustainability, talked about UNB’s Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), which hopes to make UNB completely carbon neutral by 2050. She also talked about the Campus Sustainability Plan (CSP) and UNB’s silver rating with the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) on both campuses. She finished her talk mentioning UNB’s free sustainability modules.

The next speaker was a bit different. Aaloak Jaswal talked about A.I. influence on the environment. He has a good resume as he worked with technology for 30 years, 20 of those years being spent in the United Nations. He talked about how technology can both benefit and harm people. Many of the points made in his talk that about A.I.’s destruction of the environment were also made in an article in the Baron earlier this year. Following him was Dr. Kurt Samways, a teacher at UNB Saint John and a part of the Canadian Rivers Institute. His talk was very enjoyable. He took the approach of working with industries instead of being in opposition with them. “It’s about balance” Samways said. He talked about his work with the CRI and the opportunities he’s shared with students out in nature. He calls himself an ‘applied ecologist’. The last speaker was very brief. Julian Devine spoke on Trees International, a program founded by his father 40 years earlier. It is New Brunswick based, but has also worked overseas in places like Trinidad and Tobago and Bulgaria.

Rebecca Issac/Submitted

The night ended with a presentation of succulents to the speakers, a gift card draw, and sustainable vegetarian pizza for the audience, whose size was nothing to sneeze at. It was a fitting way to end Sustainability Month at UNB, and congratulations are in order for the talented team directing UNB Saint John’s Green Society!