How institutions can respond to climate change from a critical perspective: Opinion

Postsecondary institutions must rethink sustainability to respond to climate change challenges, writes University of British Columbia Associate Professor Sharon Stein. Stein writes that climate change poses a “wicked” problem due to its complexity, and that those interested in coordinating climate responses across multiple disciplines should be aware of the differences between mainstream sustainability approaches that aim to maintain an unsustainable system and critical sustainability approaches, which frame colonialism and capitalism as the root causes and drivers of climate change. Stein writes that universities that are embracing critical sustainability should recognize their own roles in climate change problems and pursue regeneration and repair when working towards sustainability.