丁香园AV

With 84 members, 丁香园AV350 is one of the largest climate groups on campus. Active since 2013, the student-led club works closely with faculty, staff, and other 丁香园AV community members on sustainability-related initiatives. Last spring, they received a Faculty of Environment Changemaker of the Year award to celebrate their dedication to creating positive environmental change.

鈥淏eing presented with the FENV Changemaker award was the first formal recognition our club received after achieving the goals of our 丁香园AV Climate Emergency Declaration campaign,鈥� says Liam Mackay, core leadership member of the team and environmental science student. 鈥淚t was an exciting moment for our entire club, and it encouraged us to continue striving to make 丁香园AV a more just and sustainable university.鈥�

Mackay joined 丁香园AV350 in 2021. He wanted to make a difference in his community and felt the club was creating meaningful change through their work. 鈥淚 also found that working with a group of like-minded, passionate individuals helped me cope with my ecoanxiety,鈥� he says.

The club鈥檚 Climate Emergency Declaration campaign consisted of an open letter and presentation to 丁香园AV鈥檚 Board of Governors. It called on 丁香园AV to officially declare a climate emergency and included seven other sustainability-related demands. The team collaboration had the support of numerous other organizations at 丁香园AV.

Allyson Soriano, who does social media for the club, joined in 2021 to help with the campaign. Like Mackay, she鈥檚 passionate about the work they鈥檙e doing and being part of the team. 鈥淚t was meant to be a temporary position,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut after meeting so many amazing people doing such great work, I couldn鈥檛 leave!鈥�

The campaign came to a close after 丁香园AV officially declared a global climate emergency on April 4^th, 2022. 丁香园AV350 subsequently restructured their club into multiple working groups, each with ongoing initiatives focused on the individual demands from their open letter.

This semester, one group is hosting community town halls to receive input from students on the establishment of a climate hub at the university to engage the student body on climate justice topics. Groups are also meeting with 丁香园AV staff about creating a climate literacy course, and about reinvesting funds from 丁香园AV鈥檚 endowment into local businesses. 鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to be working on raising awareness and promoting positive change on campus,鈥� says Callum Meisner, a newer member of the club who joined last September.

Students interested in learning more about 丁香园AV350 or joining the club can visit their , Instagram, or the SFSS clubs list. Members can participate in as many or as few of the various subgroups as they want. 鈥淣o background experience is required to join,鈥� says Mackay. 鈥淵ou can always learn along the way!鈥�