After TMU — Sarah King

Why did you choose to study at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly known as Ryerson University)?

After undergrad, I worked at a consulting firm supporting a team doing environmental impact assessments — ultimately determining the scope and potential mitigation strategies of negative impacts associated with different development projects. I was interested in delving more into the world of environmental impact assessment law and policy, and that put TMU on my radar. In exploring potential thesis advisors, I came across Dr. Ron Puschak and I got really excited about the prospect of working with him. Feeling like Dr. Pushchak would be a great fit (he was!) and noting the interdisciplinary approach of TMU’s Environmental Applied Science and Management (EnSciMan) programme really sealed the deal in me accepting TMU over other universities. Coming from a geography and environmental studies background, I was looking to build on my education by gaining some practical skills and I felt like I could emerge from the programme with options for different paths.

How has your graduate degree benefited your work at Greenpeace Canada?

My graduate degree really helped me refine my research, critical analysis and writing skills. I especially enjoyed the thesis process and found the experience truly invaluable. The courses provided a solid foundation in areas of environmental law and policy, pollution prevention and environmental management approaches in Canada, which are all incredibly useful when identifying root causes and potential solutions to the planetary crises we are facing. Overall, the programme helped me look at environmental problems and system dynamics from a more holistic perspective — which is the approach Greenpeace Canada takes.

What are some skills you developed through university that are applicable to your career?

In addition to what I noted above, working collaboratively in group settings was a big part of the EnSciMan programme and is a key part of my everyday work. Distilling information, figuring out the best way to argue a point of view, and active listening were additional skills that I’m grateful to have worked on in university because I use them constantly in my current role.

What does a typical work day look like for you? 

No day is the same in my role at Greenpeace! I wear many hats in my position and that means that my job is quite dynamic, reactive and certainly never boring. Aside from the usual email inbox navigation that many of us contend with, I could be joining campaign strategy meetings, liaising with colleagues in different parts of the world working on related projects, connecting with external allies, responding to media requests, engaging with corporate contacts or government officials, going down Google rabbit holes on a topic we are investigating, and/or writing or reviewing content to be shared through traditional media, to our supporters directly or via social media channels related to my projects. It could also involve public engagement activities, participating in wider movement protests (like Fridays for Future) or nonviolent direct action, depending on how campaigns/projects are evolving. During the pandemic, I’ve been working from home like many other folks, with more computer time than usual.

What are the most rewarding parts of your work and what are the biggest challenges?

My work and my values are 110% aligned and that’s not only rewarding, it’s essential for me to be able to operate authentically and stay inspired. When I have an annoying work day I still know that my job is helping us move toward a greener and more just future, so I feel like I’m doing what I can to make a difference for our ailing planet and those most impacted by it. I feel extremely lucky to be in my position and work for an organization that is working hard to walk their talk internally and externally.

The biggest challenge in my work is that achieving our goals is no small task and the weight of it can be a lot to think about, especially now that I have a child. So many people these days feel the climate anxiety, are overwhelmed by trying to dodge plastic packaging and other products of concern, worry about the state of wildlife populations, and have deep sadness about the general state of our planet. The objectives associated with my job relate to tackling those big issues, so the stakes feel extra high to meet them! I often joke that my email inbox is like a horror film because it’s full of all the bad news of the natural world. But the good news is that it’s also full of game-changing science and the blueprints for how to solve some of the planet's greatest challenges. It’s our job to force that change.

What advice would you offer students or graduates interested in pursuing a career in the environmental/advocacy sector?

There are lots of ways to get involved in advocacy. See what feels like a good fit, both with regards to area of interest and role. If you have time to volunteer it can be a great way to get connected with an organization, learn more about the way they work and gain experience. Or if you think you have valuable skills, apply for a job in an organization that encourages those skills. People who do similar roles to mine have all kinds of backgrounds. You don’t need to have a degree in environment or science to work on environmental issues. At Greenpeace we have communications specialists, data analysts, accountants, lawyers, fundraisers, human resource specialists, sociology majors, political science buffs, history majors, philosophy majors, and the list goes on.

How do you personally hope to impact the single-use plastic crisis, and what can individuals do to support your work?

Greenpeace is working to stop the plastic pollution crisis at the source. We want to secure  a strong Global Plastics Treaty at the UN and bold national laws that ultimately aim to cut overall plastic production, phase out all non-essential plastics, and accelerate a just transition to systems that are reuse-refill centred by design, and are part of a plastic-free, zero waste, low carbon economy and community-centred. I like to aim high, so I personally believe I can play a role in achieving that outcome. That said, a lot of that outcome is of course not within my immediate control so at an individual level I'm really interested in changing the conversation about convenience, what’s realistic when it comes to challenging the norm, and what’s required to tackle the highly complex issue of plastic pollution. I hope to help normalize the concept of reuse and help convince corporations, governments and the public that a pivot to green and just systems is not only possible, it is happening, and we all have a role to play in accelerating that transition. Each time I have an opportunity to share my perspective publicly, I’m thinking about shifting the dominant, problematic narratives we’ve been conditioned to believe, and challenge them with a new one. If my personal impact in this crisis is that I’ve helped bust myths (eg. that plastic recycling is a solution) and redirect false solutions (eg. bio-based disposable alternatives) then I feel like I’m at least getting somewhere.

I encourage people to follow Greenpeace on Instagram (external link) , Twitter (external link)  and Facebook (external link)  to stay up to date on what’s happening and ways to get involved. Those that want to learn more and take action today you can go to greenpeace.ca/act (external link)  and support some of our live work. Plastic Free July is a great time to get involved in plastic-specific issues, so make sure to follow us then!

What, if any, career achievements or 'wins' are you most proud of?

When it comes to environmental and social justice wins, it can sometimes feel like we take a step forward and 4 or 5 steps backwards. But, each step, no matter how tiny, is key to building and maintaining momentum towards our goals. One mini win I played a role in that I’m proud of is getting environmentally and socially destructive seafood sourcing on the radar among major supermarket chains and big Canadian tuna brands and, in particular, shifting the procurement behaviour of the world’s largest tuna company. Another positive step related to plastic is getting a large, well-known company, that shall remain unnamed, to acknowledge its role in the plastic waste and pollution crisis and begin to explore reusable alternatives to its single-use plastic packaging. All the wins I’m part of are team efforts, but these stand out as ones my role had a direct impact on.

If you could start all over again, would you change any parts of your career path? Why?

I really wouldn’t! My past environmental consulting job and my time at TMU made me realize that while I was interested in EIAs, specifically related to salmon farms, I didn’t want to be working on the side trying to reduce their impact but instead on the side trying to get them out of our oceans. My growing passion for environmental advocacy during my time at TMU led me to want to test the advocacy waters. After graduation, I applied for an internship at Greenpeace where I fell in love with the work, the wider NGO culture and the organization. It’s already been 15 years working for the organization mostly on oceans issues and I have zero regrets.

Anything else you'd like to touch upon or share?

Yes! Massive institutions that procure food, energy, packaging, and other goods, services and materials, can be a great place to push for change that actually impacts wider supply chains and even public policy. For example, before the pandemic, Simon Fraser University in BC was testing an innovative campus-wide reusable container programme that not only sought to reduce single-use plastic and other single-use packaging waste and pollution but served as a pilot study for other large institutions that could provide learnings at the municipal level for larger initiatives. A growing number of universities like UofT have committed to divest from fossil fuels — something that TMU has yet to do! Cafeterias and on-campus restaurants should have sustainable and socially responsible procurement policies that ensure the university isn’t supporting destruction (overfishing, deforestation, industrial agriculture) that students may be learning about in their courses. These are all things that students can have a big impact on and I really encourage folks to join clubs or start one to push for this important change. I wish I had been more involved in that way during my time at TMU.