Abstract

John Robinson is the Associate Provost, Sustainability at The University of British Columbia (UBC) and is a professor with UBC ’s Institute for Resources, Environment & Sustainability and Department of Geography. He has been chosen the 2012 Environmental Scientist of the Year by Canadian Geographic. Although this recognition focuses on Robinson, the honour equally recognizes the pioneering work being done at UBC ’s Centre for interactive Research on Sustainability(CIRS). CIRS is designed to be a net positive and regenerative building, one that betters the environment in which we live. In recognizing Robinson’s achievement, including his leadership in establishing CIRS , the professor’s goal is not to focus on the old ways of doing sustainability—of doing less harm by sacrificing how we live—but rather to build buildings, neighbourhoods and approaches to living that actually contribute to the wellbeing of the planet and those who live in it,. Previously a Fellow of the Trudeau Foundation, he has been a Lead Author in the last three reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which won the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore in 2007 he has also received the Metro Vancouver Architecture Canada Architecture Advocacy Award for 2012.