It’s no secret anymore the average earth temperature is increasing at an unusual rate. But what does it mean exactly? And how can we be so confident it is happening? To answer these questions I will briefly discuss how earth’s climate is measured by scientists, and how we can be confident that human activity is affecting it. JSEC BLOG For the sustainability you don’t yet know. How can we know

This article is the second part of a previous article on the blog, click here to read it first. We are required to be carbon negative to hit our 1.5 degree celsius compared to pre industrial levels. While there is some good intention for the world to hit our targets, government policies currently do not provide adequate assistance for such projects to begin to develop. In part one of this

More often than not we overlook the importance of sustainability in sports and sporting events. Not only does the actual sporting event itself emit lots of carbon dioxide emissions, the spectators making their way to the sporting event is what is responsible for emitting the most emissions at these events. In fact, according to a recent analysis, with respect to the quantity of CO2 emissions, 25.6 million spectators generated 210,000

We have all made some transition to online school and online jobs in the past two years. Remote working has many advantages over traditional office jobs, giving people more autonomy and flexibility but it also has some great advantages for the environment as well. In this article, we’ll look into what advantages have we benefited from our switch to more remote work and why we might want to keep up

Saint Patrick’s day is coming up and you know what that means…time to drink Guinness. But not in the way that you are thinking. Here is a nice hardy Guinness Stew to get you in the st. Patty’s mood.  This recipe is super easy, you  can make it using a slow cooker or just a stove top! JSEC BLOG For the sustainability you don’t yet know. Vegetarian Irish Stew with

Fun (but sad) fact: The building sector makes up nearly 40% of annual global CO2 emissions. These emissions are made from the operational carbon emissions (lighting, heating and cooling) and from the manufacturing and transportation of building materials i.e. the construction process. As Canada (and many other countries) try to build their way back up from their housing deficit, emissions from the building sector will surely surge. Unfortunately, the shortage of

On January 22, JSEC hosted the 12th edition of our Business Beyond Tomorrow Conference where we explored different topics surrounding the integration of business and sustainability through the three spheres of sustainability; social, environmental and economic. If you missed out on the event, not to worry we recorded the whole thing and you can find these on our JSEC Youtube page. Here we will outline the main takeaways from each panel and

As a coffee lover, its no secret that I will consume a cup of coffee (or two) everyday. So you can imagine my reaction when I found out there’s currently a huge shortage of our beloved coffee beans. You must be asking yourself questions like, how did this shortage occur? What does this mean for us coffee consumers? Why is it important to encourage our local coffee shops more than

This article contains spoilers from the Netflix movie: Don’t look up. You have been warned. This Christmas, we were blessed with a phenomenal movie, directed by Adam Mackay, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Cate Blanchette and Meryl Streep. Don’t look up plays out a scenario as to what would happen if an asteroid were detected less than 7 months from impact and how politicians, industries, and the public would react to this information.

As an active social media user, I have always been in awe (and jealous) of the amount of clothing Instagram influencers have at their fingertips. I scroll through their feed, and I’ve never noticed them wearing the same piece of clothing twice. Their whole platform seems to revolve around capturing their clothing in the most creative way possible to keep their followers engaged. Unfortunately, the fast fashion industry capitalized on this opportunity

As the holidays creep closer and closer with the decorations and first fall of snow, the stress around gift giving becomes almost palpable. On top of the stress on each other, gift giving can definitely stress out our wallets and our planet. According to a Stanford study, it is estimated that we create 25% more waste during the holiday season than at any other time during the year! There are ways

The name sounds great right? You’re capturing carbon from the atmosphere. So how does this miracle of a technology work and why does it attract investments from the likes of Bill Gates and Elon Musk? Let’s begin with the goal of Carbon Capture: We need a carbon deficit to stop us from reaching the 1.5-degree Celsius increase in average temperature limit. To achieve this, we will inevitably need to suck out

A recent study from the UN found that 80% of displaced people by climate change are women. Why are women and girls more affected, you may ask? Generally, women carry the overly burdened responsibility to care for their children and provide food for their families. Whether in a developed or developing country, women are often the most reliant on natural resources for food preparation and other household duties. For many

Just like you, I didn’t start university with any clue about what I wanted to pursue or work towards for a career. The one thing I was certain of was that I wanted to make a positive impact and bring people together wherever I go. It is this underlying principle that leads many people to the intersection of business and sustainability. In my situation it led me to join JSEC.

As humans, we understand that clothes are an important necessity to living, but we often purchase these items overlooking what each item represents. We see clothes everywhere and we are able to recognize the different brands and stores, but we tend to associate more importance to what these clothes physically look like rather than where, how and under what conditions they are made. With lots of light shining on the

The leaves are changing colours, the pumpkin spice lattes are being advertised, the dollar store has halloween items on display. What does all this mean…..FALL IS BACK PEOPLE!  To celebrate, Chef Sarah is finally back on the blog and is becoming Barista Sarah for a second!  What is more fall than….PUMPKIN SPICE LATTES! Yes, it’s fun to be basic sometimes and with this recipe, it can be cheaper than buying

Continuing with our HOW TO series is the 8 tips for a greener kitchen! There are many ways to turn your kitchen into an eco-conscious one, but we have listed our top 8 tips that we think can be easily implemented today! Here we go: Buy local Supporting local businesses is very sustainable for the environment. Buying local means your food doesn’t have to travel as far to get to your

The first ever Campus Sustainability Month is finally here! Throughout October, The Concordia Office of Sustainability is hosting online and in-person events, challenges, giveaways and free lunches! If you are looking to expand your knowledge about sustainability, join a group or simply meet new people, here is your chance! Every week has a different theme and challenge for you to explore!  JSEC BLOG For the sustainability you don’t yet know.

JSEC BLOG For the sustainability you don’t yet know. Picture the following, the roof of the home in which you live is lined with photovoltaic solar panels, there are also photovoltaic panels on the sides of the home, meanwhile your home is passively designed, meaning your homes uses natural sources of thermal energy such as the sun and the cool breeze to heat and cool your home respectfully. Moreover, your

We always see labels on the back of food items, electronics, coffee but do we really know what they stand for? Using these labels as a basic guideline can make a great impact on the transformation of market practices. At the end of the day, it is the producer that identifies the needs of their consumers through their buying habits.   Here is a basic guide to these common labels to

We have seen an exponential growth in the Environmental, Social, and Governance aspect of investing. A large attention from the ESG market are bonds. Bonds are fixed income instruments representing a loan made by an investor to a borrower (typically corporate or governmental). These loans then pay investors interest depending on the rating of the investment, so if a bond is considered high risk (junk bond), then the premium paid

The environment might not be the number one thing most students spend time thinking about but the truth is that wherever there are people, local ecosystems are affected even on our campuses. So, how can you incorporate a little green-mindedness into your daily student life, and help to create a more sustainable campus? Here are a few ways to get started. One of the biggest sources of waste are disposable

With in-person classes starting up again this week, Concordia students will be back in the city. It’s no secret that there will be many sleepless nights studying (umm, more like partying, for now anyways). That being said, one thing students in general live off of, especially for those next day 8:30 am classes, is coffee. Luckily, there are a lot of great coffee shops in close proximity to both Concordia

As someone who loves computers and reading about cutting edge technologies, I wanted to believe that technological progress will be what saves us from climate change. However, I have come to realize that it won’t and instead might help escalate the problem. According to a study from Lancaster University, the overreliance on promises of new technology to solve climate change is enabling delay and increasing the issue. JSEC BLOG For

Because you’ve seen it on Netflix or seen the meme “it should have been called conspiraSEA”, Seaspiracy is all the rage right now. Directed by Ali TabriziIt, Seaspiracy tackles the very real problems of deep sea fishing ranging from ecosystem tragedies to the exploitation of human rights. Watching it was shocking to say the least. This documentary exposes the fishing industry to its core. Despite the accurate depiction of environmental

Stop chasing a linear path, and focus on your zone! I was six years old when I knew that I would be involved in the environmental movement. I had gathered my toys, including prized Archie comics, and set up a garage sale in my parents’ driveway to raise money for the World Wildlife Fund. I do not recall how much my sister and I raised that day, but I do

You love snacks and want to make it healthy ? Hummus is for you! Chickpeas are a great source of proteins and will help you to lower your consumption of animal proteins. If you are used to buying it at the store you’ll be amazed by how easy it is to make it!                                   

Lucas Fraser is a JMSB alumni graduating in 2019 with a Bcomm in  Marketing. During his last year at JMSB, he was JSEC’s Director of Business Development. After graduating he created his own firm, Circle Environmental Solutions to help firms implement sustainability in their work. Lucas, passionate about sustainability also gave a Ted Talk in 2018 to share his thoughts about environmental issues. He also participated in our BBT event

Recently, I’ve been thinking about the idea of recycling and a product’s full life-cycle. How many times can something really be recycled?  Recycling is seen as a better alternative than just throwing trash in the garbage but at one point that material does end up in the landfill – that is if it even does get recycled. Right now, it is said that 85% of glass doesn’t even get recycled in Quebec.

Oh October…  who doesn’t love your crisp leaves and cozy weather. But, it also reminds us that winter is right around the corner and we need to get stronger to face a long winter! With our YUMMY lentil salad, you get full of veggie protein to help you stay healthy and strong! Did you know that meat production is one of the most polluting activities? From feeding the cow to

Who doesn’t like burgers? Surprise your friends with these vegan and delicious eco-friendly burgers made from pinto patties and let us know what you think about them! Recreate this recipe yourself and send us a picture! We will repost your creations on our stories!                                                       

In March of 2019, Mariya Chugay the incoming President of JSEC at the time asked to meet with me. As we sat on the 5th floor of JMSB she explained to me her vision for the committee for the coming year and how she thought I would fit in with the team. After this meeting I decided to apply for JSEC. I was hired as the Director of Speaker Relations

“Ohh baby, this Sheperd’s pie is my personal favorite. We are going a bit more complex compared to our other recipes but oh man it is worth it! This Shepherd’s pie will trick all your meat loving friends with its hardiness! This how you make it :)”  –Chef Sarah                                             

In this article, written by William A. Haseltine, we explore the unfortunate consequences developing countries are facing in wake of Covid-19. In the aftermath of the pandemic, all nations, irrespective of economic size, have suffered. However, developed countries suffered an especially serious crash. Many of these nations depend on foreign assets and tourism. Since tourists are now homebodies for safety reasons, they are on the verge of an economic crash. 

The snow has fallen and the cold settles in. What now? Time to make this super easy, healthy, belly warming soup! This carrot ginger soup has that balances of sweet and sour, while being vegan!  Fun fact: Carrots are not only meant to give you good vision but also a good source of beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1 and antioxidants. -Chef Flore                 

Answering the call with a warm smile, I see Mariya Chugay on the other side of the screen. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Mariya for about 1 year now. Speaking to Mariya, the past president of JSEC, she is always lively, the conversation flows with ease as she is always up for thought-provoking topics. I first met her at a JSEC meet and greet in 2019, where my curiosity

Are you looking to get involved at Concordia? People’s Potato is always looking for volunteers to help out in Concordia’s very own vegetarian soup kitchen! They deliver free meals for 400 students every day from 12pm to 3pm during fall and winter semesters. This is really helpful because many students are not be able to pay for meals every day. All meals are vegetarian!  JSEC BLOG For the sustainability you

Did you know that squash are full of vitamins and minerals and they are so many types of squash that you’ll never get tired of them? At least one of those things is a fact. Also, did you know that you could reuse the seeds of your squash? Clean them, dry them, and roast them with some oil and seasoning in the oven for a great snack. -Chef Flore   JSEC

Successful entrepreneur and current stay at home mom, Chantal Forgues, uses her empathy and determination to move forward in her success. Within the past year, she left her position as Program Coordinator at District 3 to open her own sustainable consulting firm, LYRIA, and started homeschooling her daughter. JSEC BLOG For the sustainability you don’t yet know. A Talk with Chantal Forgues: SME’s Shift in Response to COVID-19 Written by:

For business students, the question of how to be sustainable while creating a business is not always easy to answer. This is why we wanted to present the firm helios for you to start thinking about how we can rethink the current banking systems! Helios is a French firm with a goal to be « a banking alternative for a sustainable future ».  How do they proceed? When you place