The Action Plan will provide a framework for how Engineers and Geoscientists BC can better support its registrants in their professional practice and allow the association to respond to climate change issues proactively rather than reactively. Due to the complexity and breadth of professional practice amongst registrants in both industry and areas of expertise, this action plan needs to be flexible and adaptable to the unique drivers and requirements of the diverse membership base.
From February to July 2020, Engineers and Geoscientists BC is seeking feedback from registrants, industry professionals, and the wider professional community—through written submissions, webinars, and focus groups—on how the association should approach climate change issues related to the practice of professional engineering and geoscience.
The purpose of this webinar is to raise awareness about the potential impacts of the changing climate as they relate to professional practice, and to raise awareness on Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s existing tools, resources, and guidelines on climate change.
There will also be the opportunity for attendees to share challenges and opportunities they face with respect to meeting their professional responsibilities in addressing climate change. The feedback garnered from this event will be used to help develop a list of initiatives, actions, and/or areas for Engineers and Geoscientists BC to consider in order to support its registrants in addressing climate change.
- 12:00 PM–12:05 PM: Introduction
- 12:05 PM–12:30 PM: “Climate Change in BC” presentation by Dr. Nancy Olewiler
- 12:35 PM–12:45 PM: “What is the role of engineers, geoscientists, and the association?” presentation by Harshan Radhakrishnan, P.Eng., MASc.
- 12:50 PM–1:00 PM: “Climate Change Action Plan Development” presentation by Dr. Conor Reynolds, P.Eng.
- 1:00 PM–1:30 PM: Q&A Session
- Understand the potential impacts of the changing climate as they relate to professional practice in BC.
- Understand the roles and responsibilities of engineers and geoscientists in addressing climate change.
- Increased awareness about Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s existing tools, resources, and guidelines on climate change.
- Provide input into the Climate Change Action Plan by providing feedback on the issues, challenges, and opportunities experienced by registrants with respect to addressing climate change in professional practice.
Simon Fraser University
Nancy Olewiler is an economist, Director of and Professor in the School of Public Policy at Simon Fraser University. Her PhD is in economics from the University of British Columbia. Prior to coming to SFU’s Economics Department in 1990, Nancy was in the Economics Department at Queen’s University.
Nancy’s areas of research focus on public policy, including natural resource, energy, and climate policy, and regulation and risk. She has published in academic journals, edited books, provided reports for governments, has written two widely used textbooks, and teaches graduate courses in policy analysis, economics, and regulation.
Nancy has served on a number of boards of directors including BC Hydro, Powertech, and TransLink. She is currently is a member of the Climate Solutions Clean Growth Council for BC, and also serves on the board of directors for the Institute for Research on Public Policy, Technical Safety BC, Genome BC, and the Pembina Institute. She chairs the Macroeconomic Accounts Advisory Committee for Statistics Canada.
Engineers and Geoscientists BC
In his role at Engineers and Geoscientists BC, Harshan supports programs and initiatives as they relate to areas of climate change adaptation, water management, sustainability, and energy efficiency. This includes work on providing professional practice guidance to registrants on matters related to the professional practice of engineering and geoscience in BC and through Engineers Canada, nationally.
Harshan also provides staff support to the regulatory body’s Climate Change Advisory Group, Sustainability committee, and other designated committees, including the BC Energy Step Code Council and the Adaptation Learning Network Advisory Group.
Metro Vancouver
Conor is a professional engineer with two decades of experience related to the science, policy and management of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. He has a Ph.D. in Resource Management and Environmental Studies, and a M.A.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering, both from UBC.
Conor currently leads the Air Quality & Climate Change Policy team at Metro Vancouver, the regional government that delivers services, policy and political leadership on behalf of 23 local authorities. His team is responsible for the development and implementation of Climate 2050, Metro Vancouver’s 30-year regional climate action strategy, as well as the new Clean Air Plan, with will identify and prioritize actions to reduce air contaminant and greenhouse gas emissions in our region over the next 10 years.
Conor is the current Chair of Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Climate Change Advisory Group. He also Chairs the Steering Committee for Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s first Climate Change Action Plan.
