Sustainability can be achieved through social, economic, and environmental avenues. If you are a UBC student looking to get involved with sustainability, consider joining one of the many volunteer-run student clubs, organizations, or initiatives on campus. To help students navigate this vast space, the UBC Sustainability Hub has complied this list of students groups.
Africa awareness initiative
Committed to improving discourse surrounding and including Africa at UBC by producing academic forums to encourage critical discussions pertaining to the relevance of the African continent and its Diaspora.
Agape Street Missions
Working to increase awareness of the social issues affecting street-entrenched individuals in Downtown Vancouver, including handing out food and clothing, and engaging in a dialogue with those who are homeless.
Agora Café
A student volunteer-run, non-profit café at the UBC Vancouver campus with a goal to provide affordable, accessible, healthy, local, and organic food choices to students and faculty members while training volunteers in foodservice and business management.
Amnesty International UBC
An AMS club that is guided by the mandate of Amnesty International to uphold universal standards of human rights and equality and to promote a peaceful and impartial voice for the oppressed and wrongfully treated.
AMS Get Thrifty @ UBC
This UBC Vancouver campus thrift store primarily sells donated or consigned clothes, accessories, and books.
AMS sustainability
A student resource that ensures that ongoing sustainability efforts at the AMS are successful and that student involvement remains at its core.
ams.ubc.ca/what-we-stand-for/sustainability
Arts Undergraduate Society
Aiming to improve the social, academic, personal, and professional lives of Arts students at UBC Vancouver with a commitment to diversity and inclusivity through transparent governance and advocacy.
AMS Young Women for STEM at UBC
A group of female-identifying UBC students from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) committed to being role models for the next generation of female-identifying individuals pursuing careers in STEM.
Best Buddies UBC
A chapter of the national Best Buddies organization committed to promoting inclusion of people with disabilities on- and off-campus with monthly group events from potlucks to talent shows to games!
Bike Kitchen
UBC's non-profit, student-owned, full-service bike shop where you can purchase a fully refurbished and guaranteed used bicycle, donate old bike and parts, learn to fix your bike if you don't know how, fix your own bike with their tools, or leave your bike for repairs.
Botany Enthusiasts Club
Directly affiliated with the UBC Department of Botany, this club seeks to bring together UBC faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduates who share a passion for the discipline of botany and/or a general interest in plants.
Centre for sustainabLE Food Systems at UBC Farm
A teaching and research centre and local-to-global food hub working towards a more sustainable, food-secure future. This living laboratory offers many way for students to get their hands dirty, including for-credit courses and practicums, volunteer opportunities, and events.
The civic circuit
A UBC-based initiative dedicated to bridging innovation in technology and public policy to build policy-literate students who can connect ideas with impact, ensuring tomorrow’s workforce is fluent in both civic responsibility and technological change.
Climate Justice UBC
Through their campaigns, Climate Justice UBC advocates for government action on climate policy, political engagement, institutional climate leadership, environmental justice, and Indigenous sovereignty.
Common Energy UBC
A student-run organization working to incorporate sustainability into all aspects of the UBC community by building strong networks and working proactively with the university.
CUS Sustainability
Through their annual conference, Chasing Sustainability, and events throughout the year, CUS educates others about social, economic, and environmental sustainability with respect to real-world businesses and issues.
facebook.com/CUSSustainability
ENACTUS UBC
A global platform for student-driven community improvement through entrepreneurship. With teams in 33 countries and over 72,000 students, Enactus empowers socially responsible business leaders to spark change.
ENGINEERING UNDERGRADUATE SOCIETY
Every engineering student at UBC is a member of the EUS, representing over 5,000 engineering students across 14 different department clubs.
Engineers for a Sustainable World
An international organization dedicated to the advancement of sustainability in society. ESW consists of student and professional chapters that undertake engineering and outreach projects in their communities and around the world.
Engineers without Borders UBC
One of 34 professional and student chapters across the world working to create lasting change and improve the livelihood of people in developing countries by hosting member-learning discussions to broaden collective understanding of local and global issues.
Environmental Engineering Student Association
Offering academic support, resources, field trips, learning opportunities, and social activities to current ENVE students, and liaison between ENVE students, other departments and faculties, and external parties.
enveubc.wixsite.com/eesa-ubc/about
Environmental Law Group
A student-run club operating out of the Faculty of Law that seeks to connect students with environmental law and environmental justice issues. Their events provide opportunities for learning, activism, and fun. Contact: ubc.elg@gmail.com
Environmental Science Students Association
Dedicated to bring people together who share a passion for the environment, organizing study sessions and social events, hosting alumni nights and career conferences with professionals, and participating in events promoting public awareness of environmental issues.
Environmental Policy Association
Promoting awareness, education, and advocacy for environmental policy and contemporary social and environmental issues by engaging in discussion of current policies, major policy events such as the COP, and incorporating sustainability into various professions and industries.
Forestry Undergraduate Society
Dedicated to continuously improving the academic, social, and professional environment within the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Stewardship to support the diverse interests of students by providing meaningful resources and opportunities for engagement.
Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice Undergraduate Society
Built on social justice frameworks, a safe, anti-oppressive, and anti-exploitative environment on campus for students to connect around topics of diversity, equality, gender, racialization, sexuality, (de)colonization, Indigeneity, representation, and intersectionality.
grsj.arts.ubc.ca/get-involved/undergraduate-student-association
Geography Students Association
A student-led organization supported by UBC’s Department of Geography that is actively involved in multiple outreach activities, including running social and academic events and managing the Trail Six journal.
Geological Engineering Club
Representing all Geological Engineering students at UBC, the club runs annual events and organizes education field trips, a peer mentorship program, and industry networking opportunities.
Graduate Student Society
The GSS promotes and protects members' academic, social and cultural interests by bringing key issues to the university and government, and offers a variety of events, classes, and other opportunities to connect with peers, as well as academic, personal, and career support.
International Forestry Students' Association
A globally organized and locally operating student organization that connects forestry students to their peers and forest-related organisations and policy platforms.
Mental Health Awareness Club
Raising awareness for mental health, promoting and supporting positive mental health, and eliminating the stigma towards mental illnesses and mental health conversations through a variety of events and blog posts.
Planning Students' Association
Composed of students within the School of Community and Regional Planning to create a community of student engagement and learning that examines and bridges issues from the classroom to the community, including sustainability.
Psychology Students' Association
Working with the Department of Psychology to enhance the personal, professional, and academic success of UBC's psychology students with year-round academic and social events, and information about psychology-related research and volunteer opportunities.
Roots on the Roof
A student-run club that manages the garden plots on the roof of the AMS Student Nest with an aim to create an inclusive space for social engagement and opportunities to explore, learn, and actively take part in food system initiatives.
Science Undergraduate Society
Promoting the academic, physical, and social well-being of UBC Science students with an aim to integrate sustainability into day-to-day operations through environmentally friendly events and advocacy for climate justice.
Ski and Board Club
Fostering connection through trips and social events for folks stoked on skiing and/or snowboarding. Experience with skiing or snowboarding is not required.
Social Enterprise Club
Educating students about all aspects of social enterprise, engaging students in active examples of social enterprise, and connecting students to social enterprise organizations and professionals and other students, locally and internationally.
Social Justice Centre
The Social Justice Centre is an AMS Resource Group located at the Resource Lounge (2nd floor or the AMS Student Nest). We recognize that there are immense socio-economic inequalities both globally and in our communities that are inherently unjust. At the Social Justice Centre, we aim to serve any and all students interested in finding progressive solutions to societal and global injustice.
facebook.com/ubcsocialjusticecentre
Student Energy at UBC
Student Energy at The University of British Columbia's (SE UBC) mission is to empower and educate youth on the clean energy transition while providing them with the skills to be the next leaders in the sustainable energy sector.
instagram.com/studentenergyubc
Student Environment Centre
An AMS Resource Group that provides resources, in the form of funding and advising, for the UBC community, relating to projects and events that are sustainability-focused or that are aiming to be more environmentally friendly.
Surf Club
A community who is as concerned with the health of the environment as they are with enjoying it's best features. Beyond planning parties and surf trips, the club holds sustainability events with local activists, inventors, and community.
Sustaingineering
A multidisciplinary team with the goal of accelerating the adoption of sustainable energy across the globe with a focus on creating sustainable technologies for remote communities and educating youth on the important role of sustainable practices.
TERRA UBC
Part of the Enactus UBC chapter, this pro bono consulting project partners with local restaurants, farms, and food retailers to design and implement sustainable business practices.
The Pride Collective
Collective members are available to offer education and support services to those who self-identify within the multitude of gender & sexuality identities and non-identities, as well as to allies and those who wish to know more.
UBC PROJECT SUNSHINE
Bringing play and games to pediatric patients at local BC hospitals, with an interest in finding more sustainable activities for children.
UBC Global Lounge
A home base for globally-focused UBC student clubs and organizations that regularly hosts programs and initiatives with an intercultural and international focus, and builds community among students, faculty, and staff interested in global issues.
UBC Mental Health Network
Facilitates cross-collaboration and promotion of mental health initiatives through media campaigns, network meetings, workshops and symposiums, and identifies and pursues advocacy on campus with regard to policies surrounding student mental health concerns.
UBC Sprouts
Operating Sprouts and Seedlings Café, a destination for rotating seasonal, local, and organic dishes, Sprouts Box, a weekly produce subscription service, and Community Eats, a weekly pay-by-donation lunch.
UBC Sustainability in Residence
A collaborative partnership between UBC Sustainability & Engineering and Residence Life that develops and organizes engaging sustainable initiatives for over 8,500 students living on campus.
UBC Wellness Centre
Connect with Wellness Peer Educators, who answer questions and recommend resources for everyday concerns related to health, relationships, and workload, and attend events and workshops to help you navigate university life.
students.ubc.ca/health/wellness-centre
UBC Women in Science
Providing support for women in Sciences through networking opportunities with alumni, professional development workshops, social events, and a mentorship program.
UNICEF UBC
United Nations Children’s Fund at the University of British Columbia is a student-run organization that raises awareness and funds for UNICEF Canada.
instagram.com/ubcunicef_campusclub
Varsity Outdoor Club
With a history of environmentally conscientious wilderness adventure, VOC members have been leaders in outdoor recreation stewardship through rock climbing, mountaineering, skiing, hiking, orienteering, mountain biking, cross-country biking, and more.
Vegans of UBC
Educating the UBC community about veganism through activism, outreach, and work with different organizations to encourage a more ethical, environmentally sustainable, and healthy campus.
World Vision UBC
An AMS student-run World Vision club with an aim raise awareness and funds to improve the lives of the impoverished through World Vision Canada’s initiatives, and to support four sponsor children from Cambodia, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone.