Campaign · Vancouver, BC
University of British Columbia Vancouver
Where the CEFA network began. Students at UBC Vancouver have surveyed thousands of their peers and brought the case for climate education to deans, Faculty councils and course instructors across campus.
The campaign
Climate education in every UBC degree
The campaign at the University of British Columbia Vancouver started with a handful of students in the fall of 2024 and grew into the model behind the whole CEFA network. Its goal is simple: every UBC student, in every degree, should learn the causes and impacts of the climate emergency and how their field can help solve it.
Working Faculty by Faculty, our volunteers collect evidence of student demand, meet with deans and associate deans, present to Faculty councils and work with instructors to bring climate content into core courses.
- of 2,762 surveyed UBC undergraduates support mandatory climate education
- +91%
- volunteers at our second onboarding party, in October 2026
- 54
- years of student organizing, since our first meeting in fall 2024
- 2
Student survey
2,762 students made the case
Responses from undergraduate students across all UBC Faculties and schools. Only one response was allowed per student, and IP addresses were tracked.
Question 1
Should every student graduate with a basic understanding of climate change and its impacts?
94%said yes
Question 2
Should UBC integrate basic climate education into all undergraduate programs?
91%said yes
- 29% Yes, even if it slightly increases students’ workload
- 62% Yes, if it doesn’t increase students’ workload
Timeline
Two years of campaigning
From a first meeting in the fall of 2024 to a campus-wide volunteer team.
- Milestone for the CEFA network
Oct 2024
Juliana meets student organizers from UC San Diego in California.
Oct–Nov 2024
Milestone: First campaign meeting.
Nov 2024
Strategizing and researching the university context.
Oct 2024 – Oct 2025
Student survey collection.
Mar 2025
Meeting with the Dean of Forestry.
Mar 2025
Milestone: The CEFA Network is created.
Mar 2025
Meeting with the Dean and Associate Dean of Land and Food Systems (LFS).
Apr 2025
Meeting with the UBC School of Nursing.
May 2025
Nov 2025
Meeting with the Dean of the Sauder School of Business.
Dec 2025
Meeting with the Associate Dean of Arts.
Jan 2026
First volunteer onboarding party, with about 17 new volunteers.
Feb 2026
Presentation to the Faculty of Land and Food Systems Council.
Feb 2026
Second meeting with the Associate Dean of Arts.
Mar 2026
Meeting with the COMM 105 coordinator (Business).
Apr 2026
Meeting with the Associate Dean of Science.
May 2026
Presentation to the Arts Faculty Council.
May 2026
Faculty of Land and Food Systems Climate Education Symposium.
Jun 2026
Meeting with the CIVL 250 instructor (Engineering).
Jun 2026
Partnership meeting with the Alma Mater Society, UBC’s student union.
Jul 2026
Meeting with the EDST 201 coordinator (Education).
Aug 2026
Creation of the CEFA Teaching Resource.
Aug 2026
Meeting with the Economics Director.
Oct 2026
Second volunteer onboarding party, with 54 volunteers.
Throughout the campaign, our partnership with the UBC Sustainability Hub has brought joint events, mutual support and connections with professors.
Gallery
Moments from the campaign
Presenting the campaign to UBC Sustainability Fellows, November 2024 
Collecting survey responses at a campus event, 2025 
The Arts committee after meeting the Associate Dean of Arts, fall 2025 
Presenting to the Faculty of Land and Food Systems Council, February 2026 
After meeting the COMM 105 coordinator, March 2026 
After presenting to the Associate Dean of Science, April 2026 
Volunteer social, April 2026 
Faculty of Land and Food Systems Climate Education Symposium, May 2026 
With the UBC Sustainability Hub, our partner throughout the campaign
Join the campaign at UBC
Volunteers from every Faculty are welcome. No experience needed. We will train you.