Sustainability: Websites

For the first time, you can simultaneously view multiple sources of historical sea ice data from the oceans surrounding northern Alaska. Choose a region and time of interest and inspect a map of data collected between the mid-1800s and today, to discover how ice extent and concentration have changed over time.

The Global Freshwater Biodiversity Atlas is a collection of published and open access freshwater biodiversity maps in addition to a gateway for geographical information and spatial data at different scales. It offers dynamic online maps accompanied by short articles with background information. It also provides links to publications and data sources related to freshwater biodiversity at the global, continental and local scale.

BCIT offers a free Climate Change 101 course for faculty, staff and students. The objective of this online course is to help all members of the BCIT community understand their influence on climate, and climate's influence on them.

The School of Construction and the Environment is leading the Factor Four Initiative in the buildings it occupies at BCIT’s Burnaby campus (NE1 – NE8). The purpose is to explore whether a factor four reduction in energy and materials consumption can be achieved without compromising service levels.

Innovative research on green roof and living wall systems.

From the site:
"The Environmental Data Explorer is the authoritative source for data sets used by UNEP and its partners in the Global Environment Outlook (GEO) report and other integrated environment assessments. Its online database holds more than 500 different variables, as national, subregional, regional and global statistics or as geospatial data sets (maps), covering themes like Freshwater, Population, Forests, Emissions, Climate, Disasters, Health and GDP. Display them on-the-fly as maps, graphs, data tables or download the data in different formats."

Everything you need or want to know about hybrid vehicles, gas mileage, green house gas emissions from vehicular traffic, fuel economy ratings, and more.

A history of how scientists came to (partly) understand what people are doing to cause climate change.

Natural and man-made environmental resources – fresh water, clean air, forests, grasslands, marine resources, and agro-ecosystems – provide sustenance and a foundation for social and economic development. Data here cover forests, biodiversity, emissions, and pollution.

Worldwatch Institute focuses on the 21st-century challenges of climate change, resource degradation, population growth, and poverty by developing and disseminating solid data and innovative strategies for achieving a sustainable society

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) supports research in developing countries to promote growth and development. The result is innovative, lasting local solutions that aim to bring choice and change to those who need it most.

The World Resources Institute is a global environmental think tank that goes beyond research to put ideas into action. They work with governments, companies, and civil society to build solutions to urgent environmental challenges.

The Sustainability Project is an educational, non-profit organization that exists to collect, study, develop and teach ideas, information, technologies and customs that promote green values and lead toward a sustainable future.

Includes a 14-page PDF version of What We Know: The Reality, Risks, and Response to Climate Change can be downloaded from the site.