AMS seeks to promote environmentalism to students

Sustainability week to run on campus starting Sunday

Image by: Victoria Gibson
Liam Dowling

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 the week is beneficial to the Queen’s community, both now and for the future.

Each day is set to represent a specific theme, which will be tied into the activities planned.

Some of the activities include a youth mentoring trip to Elbow Lake Educational Centre, Queen’s farmers’ market and a debate between the different political parties on campus.

The ‘lightbulb exchange’ is another event happening during the week, where students can replace old incandescent lights with new florescent ones. The event seeks to help students with their utility bills, as well as help the environment.

“Essentially it’s two-fold, in that you can raise awareness and promote sustainability as well as actually encouraging individuals to adapt it into their lifestyles,” Dowling, ConEd ’18 said.

He also hopes that the week will help make the AMS Environmental Affairs Commission greater known within the Queen’s community.

“It shows a commitment at the university to environmentalism, and ensuring that we do have a green campus, especially given the Climate Action Plan that has been released in the past year,” Dowling said. 

The Climate Action Plan, signed in 2010 by Principal Woolf, committed the university to engage in activities that reduce GHG emissions and promote curriculum on climate change and sustainability.

Dowling said that the week’s plans have been in the works for several months now.

The event involved collaboration from environmental groups including the Commission of Environmental Affairs, Queen’s Sustainability Office and other clubs on campus.

“It’s a very unique event in the way that it brings together groups from various aspects of the university under the same banner in order to promote the importance of sustainability,” Dowling said.

His favourite events are the Cogro Mug Days that will provide students with free coffee or tea if they bring a reusable mug to CoGro, Monday through Wednesday from 3-9pm.

A full list of events is available on the Sustainability Week Facebook page.

 

Tags

AMS, climate action plan, Environment, Liam Dowling, Sustainability

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