A History of the World Student Environmental Summit (WSES) and the International Student Environmental Network (ISEN):
In June of 2008, Jill Doucette and Chantal Orr were privileged to represent Canada at the first annual World Student Environmental Summit in Kyoto, Japan. The summit involved over 50 student representatives from the G8 countries, China, Korea, and India created a unique student proposal to enter dialogue at the Hokkaido G8 Summit in Toyako, Japan.
During the discussion sessions at the 2008 WSES, a common precondition for effective student engagement was discovered amongst all countries; all expressed a need for an international student network that could facilitate information sharing and cooperation towards creating global solutions to climate change. As a result, the International Student Environmental Network was formally launched at the closing ceremony at Doshisha University in Kyoto. The ISEN will act as a hub for student action in lobbying international governance bodies, create international solutions to climate change, and break the cross cultural barriers to campus based collaboration.
“Participating in the 2008 WSES and being chosen to Co-Chair the Organizing Committee for the 2009 WSES has been an amazing experience so far. Since August, we have been working steadily to bring a unique student summit to Victoria. With financial support from the University of Victoria, help from various faculty and staff, and commitment from six team coordinators the project is well underway. The demanding nature of our leadership role has provided us with a valuable skill set that will greatly contribute to our academic and career goals. This will be an experience that we will remember for a very long time.”
- Jill Doucette & Chantal Orr (Co-Chairs)
To facilitate engaging dialogue, the 2009 WSES used the Three C’s principle (create, conserve and collaborate) created at the previous Summit in Japan 2008. A proposal will be formulated which will contain implementable solutions for both local and international levels. This proposal will be submitted to the 2009 UN Conference on climate change in Copenhagen.
The 2009 Summit stimulated change that benefited both the local and global communities. It has developed solutions to climate change while moulding student skills and promoting local initiatives. The Summit built international relationships, exhibited the University of Victoria’s sustainability achievements, and promoted campus change. The innovative project Wiki Earth was launched at the Closing Ceremony of the Summit.
To learn about the environmental profile of the 2009 WSES Click Here
"We are monumentally distracted by a pervasive technological culture that appears to have a life of its own, one that insists on our full attention, continually seducing us and pulling us away from the opportunity to experience directly the true meaning of our own lives."
- Al Gore
