Kyle Aben is the Pacific Institute of Climate Solutions (PICS) UNBC Campus Coordinator. PICS was established in March 2008 by a $90 million endowment from the BC Ministry of Environment, the single largest endowment to a university in Canadian history. Hosted and led by the University of Victoria, PICS is a unique collaboration among BC’s four research-intensive universities (University of British Columbia, University of Northern British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, and the University of Victoria). PICS harnesses the Province’s intellectual resources to develop innovative climate change solutions, seek new opportunities for positive adaptation, and lead the way to a vibrant low-carbon economy.

In his position with PICS, Kyle is tasked with maintaining a profile of all climate-related activities at UNBC, supporting the work of the UNBC faculty members, assisting in research, organizing PICS related activities and outreach, and fostering a network of climate researchers in Northern British Columbia. 

Kyle has worked in British Columbia for several years preparing carbon footprints and consulting for GHG project validation and verifications. Kyle has also worked as the Senior Greenhouse Gas Analyst for Canada’s 5^th largest accounting and professional services firm, BDO Dunwoody.

While earning his Masters of Arts in International Studies at UNBC Kyle achieved a grade point average of 3.93 and his thesis work, Deciphering the source of technology change: greenhouse gas emission reduction in the British Columbia forest industry 1990-2005, is soon to be published in Technology in Society; an international journal devoted to a range of interdisciplinary fields. A focus common to all these fields is the role of technology in society and the social forces that shape technological decisions and the choices that are open to society with respect to the uses of technology.

While earning his Bachelors of Business Administration from Thompson Rivers University Kyle was selected to the 1999 Canadian Student Leadership Conference in Ottawa hosted by Queens University, and was a delegate and writer for the 1998 Summit on Economic Development B.C. Interior. Also in 1998, Kyle was active on SPEAC, a university environmental group nominated for the British Columbia Environmental Award for its work on campus and in Kamloops.

Kyle has also taken the full set of climate change courses offered by the Canadian Standards Association including: ISO 14064 – 1 Greenhouse Gas Inventories, ISO 14064 – 2 Greenhouse Gas Projects, ISO 14064 – 3 Greenhouse Gas Validations (Certified 2008), ISO 14064 – 3 Verifications (Certified 2008).

Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions:  http://www.pics.uvic.ca/