WHAT IS THE ENVIROLAB?
The Envirolab is a series of thematic labs that engage youth aged 18-30 from a variety of backgrounds—cultural, academic, professional and lived experiences—to dive deep into pressing urban sustainability challenges and create projects that address them. Over 11 weeks, the cohort learns from and works with community organizations, local governments and communities to identify current opportunity gaps and create projects that address them.
Participants don’t need to be climate change experts to apply – we’re looking for youth with a wide range of lived experiences, interests and backgrounds to make up this cohort! Whether you consider yourself a sustainability keener, an artist, an entrepreneur, a beginner to climate action, or are simply just curious about the challenges and opportunities in the space of urban sustainability, we’d love for you to participate! The Envirolab is facilitated in a process that places YOU at the intersection of learning, relationship building and solutions design.
Summer 2021 | Lab 4: Climate Adaptation
We are excited to announce the theme and opening of applications for our fourth lab: Climate Adaptation!
What is Climate Adaptation and why is it important to Metro Vancouver?
Climate impacts are becoming an increasingly urgent reality.
Wildfires throughout BC (and around the globe) are happening more frequently and are becoming more extreme.
The risk of flooding and sea level rise is of concern in low-lying coastal areas throughout Metro Vancouver.
The social implications of climate change are more prevalent and visible than before, and the impacts of climate change are not felt evenly across our society and have to be examined with a lens on race, class and gender.
And as former UN Chief Ban Ki-moon once said, “We are the last generation that can change the course of climate change, and we are the first generation that then has to live with the consequences.”
Climate adaptation measures look to reduce the vulnerability to the effects of climate change. To adapt to climate change is to acknowledge that there is no going back, only forward. We must seek to find a balance in our relationship to the earth that centres health, equity and resilience at the forefront of these conversations. Climate adaptation happens in cycles; we PLAN > ACT > OBSERVE & LEARN while simultaneously ADJUSTING along the way.
Since these declarations are largely symbolic, we ask:
- Who is missing from conversations around climate adaptation and how do we embed a strong equity lens within this work? How can we centre those who are most impacted as we design solutions
- What opportunities are there for environmental, economic and social interventions when we think about climate adaptation?
- How can youth voice their concerns and meaningfully engage with local governments to put forth innovations that create change at the local level?
- What opportunities are there to develop climate adaptation plans that are responsive to ecological, social and economic needs in realms like health and food systems?
These questions drive the theme of our fourth Envirolab cohort, where we’ll explore the challenges and opportunities for cities across Metro Vancouver to proactively work with youth to think creatively about ways we adapt our ecological, social and economic systems. By learning with local knowledge keepers and from experts in the fields of food systems, local governance, economics, sea-level rise, community engagement, landscape and ecological restoration, and more, you’ll feel equipped to design projects, actions, and/or products that address the urgency of our community to rethink and refocus what it means to develop climate adaptation initiatives.
Session Dates
The 13 sessions will be hosted over 11 weeks beginning May 20th through July 29th virtually on Tuesday evenings between 6-9pm and occasional Thursday evenings between 6-8pm PST over the following timeline:
Cohort Welcome + Community Building
Session 1: Welcome Night – May 20th
Inspiration & Knowledge (diving deep into the subject area)
Session 2: Deep Dive pt. 1- May 25th
Session 3: Deep Dive pt. 2 – June 1st
Ideation & Innovation (understanding the problem space towards solution building)
Session 4: Addressing the Problem Space – June 8
Session 5: Building your Vision + Solution Building – June 10
Session 6: Ideating – June 15
Session 7: What’s your Impact? – June 22
Session 8: World Café & Mentor Night – Jun 24
Session 9: Project Framework – June 29
Implementation & Action (project development)
Session 10: Defining your Success – July 6
Session 11: Pitching your Work – July 13
Session 12: Practice Pitch Night – July 20
Session 13: Peer Feedback Night – July 22
Final Event Nights (public community presentations)
Tuesday July 27th & Thursday July 29th
HOW TO APPLY
The Envirolab is open to youth ages 18-30 who have deep connections to Metro Vancouver. Priority will be given to those who currently live in the Metro Vancouver area as this is crucial to building deep connections with other youth as you develop solution driven projects. Apply using the link at the top of this page to complete a written submission, or click here to complete the application and include a 3-5 minute video component.
CityHive is committed to fostering safe, inclusive and accessible spaces for all youth, especially those from communities experiencing social, economic and other barriers. This includes (and is not limited to) Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, new Canadians, LGBTQS2+ persons, and those living with disabilities of any form. Please feel free to email info@cityhive.ca to further discuss our programs and how we can best support your climate action journey.
Envirolab Program Structure
With generous support from the Lawson Foundation and Vancity Community Foundation, CityHive is hosting 5 labs in the span of 3 years between 2019-2021. The first lab in Fall 2019 focused on Lighter Footprint, and the second lab in Spring 2020 on Climate Emergency, the third lab in Fall 2020 on Zero Waste & Circular Economies. As our team at CityHive adjusts to the COVID -19 pandemic, these sessions for Lab 4 will be hosted virtually until further notice. We continue to monitor provincial health guidelines and will seek to introduce in person learning and social opportunities when it is deemed safe to do so.
CityHive would like to thank our Steering Committee partners for their support and guidance. Our Envirolab themes have been developed and selected with great support and insight from our Steering Committee partners. The themes represent some of the most relevant and pressing environmental gaps, opportunities and challenges existing within Metro Vancouver.