Press Release by York U Media Relations, also released by YFile.

TORONTO, January 19, 2012 – Invasive alien species are on the move in response to a warming climate but Canadian policies designed to manage the problem rarely consider how climate change is ratcheting up the risk, according to York University research published today in the journal Environmental Reviews.

“The interactive effects of climate change and invasive species are expected to have profound consequences for environments, economies and societies worldwide, says lead author Andrea Smith (pictured). “For example, many new infectious diseases will likely spread to theArctic, and coordinated circumpolar disease monitoring and targeted healthcare planning will be needed to handle this new pressure. Yet, these two drivers of global change are rarely considered jointly in policy and management initiatives.”

Smith, now a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Biology atYorkUniversity, conducted the research review while a senior fellow atYork’s Institute for Research and Innovation in Sustainability (IRIS).

Should the human rights responsibilities of companies arise, in part, from their “leverage” – their ability to influence others’ actions through their relationships? Special Representative John Ruggie rejected this proposition in the United Nations Framework for business and human rights.

During the next instalment of the McLaughlin College Lunchtime Talks, taking place today at noon, Osgoode Hall Law School Professor Stepan Wood (left) will argue that leverage is a source of responsibility where there is a morally significant connection between the company and a rights-holder or rights-violator, the company is able to make a contribution to ameliorate the situation. Wood will argue that it can do so at modest cost and the threat to human rights is substantial.

In such circumstances, posits Wood, companies have a responsibility to exercise leverage even though they did nothing to contribute to the situation.

The following appeared in the Tuesday, January 10th 2012 edition of YFile.

York University has ranked first among Canadian universities in a global campus sustainability survey and 14th in the world. This is the second year in a row that York has ranked No. 1 in Canada.

The 2011 UI GreenMetric Ranking of World Universities rated participating universities in 42 countries based on criteria such as energy consumption, commuting practices, waste and water management, percentage of green space on campus, and the application of eco-sustainability policies and efforts.

“York University continues to strive to be at the forefront of sustainability strategies,” said York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri. “Our first place ranking in Canada by the GreenMetric World University Ranking demonstrates that we are committed to enhancing our environmentally and socially responsible practices for the benefit of all members of our community.”

The University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom placed first overall in the ranking, while Northeastern University and the University of Connecticut from the United States placed second and third.

From 2006 to 2011, York University has met or bettered its sustainability targets, all while increasing enrolment and adding new buildings to both the Keele and Glendon campuses.

The following appeared in the Wednesday, January 11th edition of YFile.

In December, two York graduate students attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa as non-voting delegates with observer status.

On Thursday, Ewa Modlinska, an MES student in environmental studies, and Alex Todd, an MA candidate in geography, will share their observations on the COP 17 Debrief panel, in 120E Stedman Lecture Hall from 3 to 5pm.

Right: York delegates, from left, MES student Ewa Modlinska, Curtis Kuunuaq Konek and Jordan Konek from the Arviat Youth Project, and MA student Alex Todd

The COP 17 Debrief panel is hosted by York’s Institute for Research & Innovation in Sustainability, which successfully applied for delegate status to the conference on behalf of York University in 2009, and sponsored Modlinska and Todd.

Modlinska will speak about the importance of listening at international climate change conferences. It is the topic of her fourth and final blog posted about the conference.

The following appeared in the Thursday, December 8, 2011 edition of YFile.

For a chance to win $50,000 and fund 75 better-planet projects at schools across Canada, York-based Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF) has entered its EcoLeague program in Shell Canada’s Fuelling Change competition. Now it needs your vote.

EcoLeague is one of 14 entries vying for four $50,000 prizes in this competition. So far, it is in fifth spot and needs more online votes to push into the top four.

Through Fuelling Change, Shell Canada is granting $1 million to support environmental projects and organizations selected by voters that improve and restore Canada’s environment. This is the second competition in two years.

EcoLeague was established in 2006. It is one of several school-based sustainability action programs supported by LSF, a nonprofit Canadian organization housed at York’s Institute for Research & Innovation in Sustainability (IRIS) – and celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.