Global Climate Strike Week

Across the world, millions of people will gather in their communities, schools, and cities to demonstrate the importance of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.

To emphasize the need for climate action, groups across our campuses and within the wider community are hosting engagements and activities aligned with the Global Climate Strike Week movement. 

Check out what's going on below! As events pop up, this article will be updated. 

What's going on? 

Social Media Photo Contest: Sept 20 - Oct 4

Show us how you take action on climate change by participating in our Global Climate Strike Photo Contest. Whether you take the bus, reduce your waste, or attend a climate strike, we want to see what you're up to. Post your photo on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter by using #LaurierClimateAction to be entered in a draw to win a prize!

How to Enter

1. Take a photo of your climate action (on any Laurier campus)! Here are some potential categories: 

• Transportation - Taking the bus, carpool selfie, or the view on your bike ride
• Energy - Find our solar panel signage on campus and snap a photo
• Waste - Your zero waste practices or products
• Climate Strike - Take a picture of yourself or with friends at a local Global Climate Strike
• Food - Vegan, low-carbon, local food

2. Submit your photo between Friday, September 20th and Friday, October 4th by:

• Following us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter
• Post your photo on any of the above social media platforms with #LaurierClimateAction 

How to Win

You must be a student, staff, or faculty member on any Wilfrid Laurier University campus

Giveaway Prizes:

• 1 x $50 Laurier Bookstore gift card
• 2 x $25 MEC gift cards
• 1 x $25 zero-waste kit

See the Global Climate Strike Week Photo Contest section on Climate Action for more rules and regulations. 

Mural Painting: Starting Sept 20th  

Join the Laurier community in celebrating the start of Global Climate Strike week at 9AM by participating in the creation of a powerful public mural for climate action titled "Climate is Life." The mural is being painted on the wall by the pathway leading up to the Quad from Mid-Campus Drive. All are welcome to join! 

Market @ LSPIRG Office | Sept 23rd

Head over to the LSPRIG Office - 165 Albert St (three flights of stairs up) for a market and concert!

Compostable Concerts is a zero-waste concert series that aims to use music to inspire an emotional connection to the way waste impacts the planet and to inspire action toward sustainable living.

For more info, visit the event's Facebook page. 

Pop-up Climate Action Booth: Sept 24th

Drop by the quad and come chat with the Sustainability Office! We'll have sustainability trivia, giveaways, and resources for you to take climate action. 

If you're looking for ways to get involved or do your part in taking on climate change, make sure to pop by our booth. 

Documentary Viewing: Sept 26th (Brantford)

Looking for a climate-action activity to do in Brantford? Stop by RCW202 at 8PM for a screening of "How to let go of the World and love all the Things Climate Can't Change." We'll have free popcorn for you to snack on while connecting with other students, staff, and faculty on our Brantford Campus!

Waterloo Region Climate Strike: Sept 27th 

Young climate strikers are calling on everyone: parents, workers, and all concerned humans to join massive climate strikes and a week of climate justice actions from September 20th to the 27th this year. Members of the Laurier Community are gathering at 10AM at the Quad (just outside of Veritas) followed by a walk at 10:50AM to Uptown Waterloo to join the region-wide Climate Strike! To sign up, fill out the Laurier Climate Strike form. 

For more information, visit the event page for the Waterloo Region Climate Strike or check out the Global Climate Strike webpage. 

What's next?

The Laurier Sustainability Office is committed to helping facilitate climate actions in our operations, academics, and engagements, which are all highlighted in our Sustainability Action Plan. Currently, we're working towards creating a Carbon Reduction Roadmap with short-term, mid-term, and long-term GHG reduction targets. 

Wilfrid Laurier University has different GHG emissions targets including:

• A 15% reduction by 2022 below 2009 baseline year on all campuses
• 25% reduction by 2028 below 2018 baseline year (Waterloo Regional Sustainability Initiative pledge that includes only Waterloo and Kitchener campuses)
• On all campuses achieve net-zero by 2050 below 2009 baseline year 

Laurier also plays a large part in contributing to a sustainable, thriving Waterloo Region. Last year, the Region of Waterloo and area municipalities endorsed an 80% greenhouse gas reduction target by 2050. This means all community members - youth, institutions, public, and private sectors - play a role in reaching this ambitious target!

Make sure to stay up to date with the Sustainability Office through our student or staff newsletters and be the first to know about new and upcoming projects!