The AMS Sustainable Action Plan (ASAP) aims to create a comprehensive outline that acts as a vision for the Society to be a leader in sustainability. ASAP works to combine social, economic, and environmental factors of sustainability into an actionable vision that intersects with AMS priorities involving advocacy, operations, and student services. ASAP outlines priorities that are inclusive, with an end goal of working to create a livable, sustainable future that works for everyone. This plan serves as a comprehensive guide for future work relating to sustainability at the AMS and has been created in consultation with student leadership, staff, and faculty from across UBC.
Priority Areas:
Our key priority areas and their goals were developed in alignment with our six guiding values – equity, intersectionality, accessibility, accountability, experiential learning, and community. Within each of these priority areas, we draw upon the AMS Strategic Plan and numerous SDGs to guide our thinking and our work towards achieving the goals of a particular target. Check out the Plan to learn more about these connections!
Campaigns and Advocacy: The Society’s student leaders represent over 60,000 students, advocating to the University and all levels of government to better the educational, social, and personal lives of the students of UBC Vancouver. To ensure that we meet this mandate, the Society’s executive and their staff work to ensure that students have a voice in the University’s decisions, and that the government’s budgets meet students’ needs. The Goals outlined in this Priority Area ensure that our advocacy efforts address inequalities with an integrated approach that recognizes the systemic interconnectedness of environmental, social and economic inequality.
Leadership and Decision-Making: The values and actions outlined in this Plan should be echoed in all levels of leadership at the AMS. This Priority Area ensures that environmental sustainability, equity, and inclusion are considered in the Society’s operations, ranging from Human Resources practices to policies and strategies. These actions will make sustainability resources more accessible to staff, in turn holding staff accountable to the Goals laid out in this Action Plan.
Indigenous Relations: Although there are many Goals throughout this Action Plan that advance the Society’s efforts of decolonization, indigenization, and reconciliation, the Indigenous Relations Priority Area is separated to establish a firm commitment to our Indigenous students. We recognize that reconciliation requires an understanding of the colonial systemic barriers that Indigenous students may face, and we must create space for both representational and resource equity. This Priority Area is not intended to be an extensive roadmap for reconciliation for the Society, but a recognition that the Society can be more proactive in growing our relationships with Indigenous communities on campus. We will continue to engage with Indigenous students in identifying where the AMS can meet their needs and support their endeavors.
The Student Building: The AMS Student Nest is designed for student life. The Goals outlined in this Priority Area ensure that the Nest remains a space that meets students’ needs, from building community to improving wellbeing. This means that the Nest must be representative of all students and accessible to a variety of needs. Our spaces will continue to grow to reflect the Society’s commitment to environmental and social sustainability, as will the programs that operate out of the Nest. It is also important to highlight the existing sustainable features of the Nest such as the revolving gardens, the Interactive Sustainability Centre, and various zero-waste initiatives.
Business Operations: The AMS owns and operates numerous food and beverage outlets, including beloved spots such as Blue Chip Cafe, The Gallery, and The Pit in addition to Nest Catering and Conferences. Our business operations ensure that the Society has reliable revenue to continue supporting students, while striving to maintain affordability, sustainability, and ethical operations. AMS Sustainability and other AMS management collaborate with a variety of stakeholders to contribute towards building climate-friendly food systems on campus, including SEEDS and Campus + Community Planning. With our research partners, the Society has identified ways to continue to develop the sustainability of our operations without compromising student accessibility.
Facilities Operations: This Priority Area encompasses the environmentally responsible management of our water, electricity, and waste systems. The AMS Student Nest was built for sustainability from its conception, boasting a LEED-Platinum certification, solar panels, and infrastructure for rainwater collection. Since ASAP 2020, the Society has taken significant strides to reduce the Nest’s carbon footprint through waste audits and transitions to the UBC District Energy Grid. The action items in this Priority Area were created in collaboration with campus partners to align with campus-wide efforts in energy management and waste reduction.
Campus Engagement: Collaborations with student groups, subsidiaries, and UBC departments are vital to the Society’s operations and ability to meet students’ needs. Regular coordination with partners such as SEEDS, Campus + Community Planning, and the UBC Sustainability Hub ensures that students are represented in the University’s operations. In addition to this broader representation, the AMS must continue to foster a culture of sustainability with subsidiary groups, as the work outlined in this Plan would not be possible without the efforts of our clubs, resource groups, or constituencies.
What We Stand For 
