Accelerate Your Climate Awareness.
The Implementer | October 2020
TEDxUNEP: Racing to Zero with Higher Education: Acting and Enabling Global Decarbonization
On October 13th, Second Nature and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) co-hosted a virtual program focused on higher education's role in acting and enabling global decarbonization.
This program was part of the work that Second Nature, the UNEP, and The Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education (EAUC), and others are doing to support campuses in reaching their carbon reduction goals. It was also a part of the TEDx Countdown. Panelists included University of California System President Michael Drake; representatives from the EAUC, COP26, UNEP; the Minister for Higher Education and Research for the Government of Sweden; and Chatham University President David Finegold.
Second Nature Partners with the EV Purchasing Collaborative
Image Credit: EV Purchasing Collaborative
Second Nature & TNC: Community Resilience Building Workshop
In partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Second Nature staff recently helped facilitate a virtual Community Resilience Building Workshop with the Pawtucket and Central Falls, Rhode Island communities on October 8th.
Over the course of the half-day Zoom workshop, a diverse group of stakeholders from a broad range of sectors came together to identify important vulnerabilities and strengths in the community. The group then proposed a series of near-term actions they could implement to strengthen the resilience of their community and address key climate-related hazards.
Many thanks to TNC for involving us in this workshop! And if your campus is looking for ways to strengthen the resilience of your campus and surrounding community, be sure to check out Second Nature’s Climate Resilience resources page and/or contact us to learn how you can partner with TNC to bring a workshop to your community.
Image Credit: Second Nature
*NEW* Carbon Offset Resource Available
We recently released a new resource - Co-Benefits of Carbon Offset Projects: Information for Carbon Offset Procurement that focuses on what co-benefits are, the types of co-benefits, and much more. To access this resource, click on the button below.
Announcing the Inaugural Edition of the UC3 Dispatch
In case you missed it, last week we launched the UC3 Dispatch, our new e-newsletter focused on all of the climate action that the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) members are doing on their campuses, in their communities, and even on the global scale. You can access the Inaugural Edition to the right, and you can also subscribe to the email list to receive future editions!
October Edition of Second Nature's Monthly Policy Update Available
The October edition of our Monthly Policy Update came out two weeks ago and is available to read. You can access it below, and if you still haven't yet subscribed to Policy Update email list, you can do that below as well.
Higher Ed Endowment Case Study
The Intentional Endowments Network (IEN), a partner of Second Nature's recently released a new case study - Active Ownership in the Endowment: Warren Wilson College Case Study. The case study is on how Warren Wilson College has been able to manage their financial assets in both an environmentally sustainable and a socially equitable way. The full case study is available for downloading and reading below.
Opportunity: Midwest Climate Summit
Friday, November 6th & Friday, November 20th
The Midwest Climate Summit - founded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Ohio State University, and Washington University in St. Louis - kicked off on Friday, October 2nd. The mission of the Summit is to "expand climate knowledge, accelerate climate action, and catalyze new partnerships that deepen expertise and develop a Midwestern response to the climate crisis." Second Nature is proud to be a summit partner.
Webinar: Climate Change Research at COP26 and Beyond
Monday, November 16th | 1-2:30PM EDT
In November 2021, heads of state, climate experts, and campaigners will convene in Glasgow, Scotland at COP26 to reflect on their countries’ progress towards their Paris Agreement goals, and work towards a better future for our planet. International collaboration on climate issues is more important than ever. The UK government, co-hosting COP26 with Italy, is committed to joining forces with civil society, companies and people on the frontline of climate change to inspire action ahead of COP26. This webinar will help researchers understand where their research can be most impactful throughout the COP process, as well as understand how the US and UK academic communities can work together on these important issues.
Webinar: Leading the Way: Global Universities as Living Labs and Agents of Change for Climate Action & Sustainability
Thursday, November 19th | 1-2:30PM EDT
Climate action and sustainability are growing priorities for universities around the world. Many are responding by developing strong operational sustainability goals and targets, and placing an increased emphasis on teaching and research related to climate change and sustainability. This webinar will explore the approaches that several global universities are taking to transform their campuses and position themselves as change agents in society with respect to climate action and sustainability.
Call For Papers Opportunity: JSPG & UK Science and Innovation Network
Submission Deadline: Sunday, January 10, 2021
The Journal of Science Policy & Governance (JSPG) and the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Science and Innovation Network (UK SIN) launched a Call For Papers international competition at the end of September, which the focus being on climate change solutions. The timing is in conjunction with COP26 which will be hosted in the United Kingdom and Italy in November 2021. For more information, please click on the button below.
Exciting & Well Deserved Recognition
Sierra Club's magazine Sierra recently published their "Top 20 Coolest Schools 2020" list, which ranks schools based on their commitments to the environment. We were excited to see that of the "Top 20", fifteen of the schools are Climate Leadership Network signatories! Congrats to these signatories on the well deserved recognition for all of their climate action!
The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges
On October 20th, The Princeton Review® released the 2021 edition of their Guide to Green Colleges list, and it's great to see many Climate Leadership Network signatory schools and University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) member schools on the list! Congratulations to all of the schools for making the list, and a major shout-out to signatory College of the Atlantic for being named
#1!
Green Power Partnership Top 30
We have very bittersweet news to share. Batrisyia Jamal Affendy, who has been our Climate Programs Intern since last Spring (pre-COVID-19), will be ending her internship with us at the end of this month. It's bittersweet, because she is moving on to a great opportunity, and we can't be more excited for her! However, she will greatly be missed as a part of the Second Nature team. Her contributions to various projects over these past many months have been unmatched in numerous ways. A tremendous thank you and good luck to Batrisyia!
Thank You for Helping Us, Help You, Accelerate Your Climate Action. The colleges and universities listed below are Climate Leadership Network signatories and/or University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) members that financially reaffirmed their commitment to climate action this month. Second Nature is thankful for their financial support that allows us to offer the resources, relationships, credibility and knowledge to accelerate climate action in, and leverage the strengths of, colleges and universities.
Agnes Scott College
Arizona State University
Augsburg University
Carleton College
Colorado College
Dallas College (Formerly Dallas County Community College District)
Jamestown Community College
Kankakee Community College
Morehouse College
San Diego State University
University of California
University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Santa CruzUniversity of Dayton
University of Florida
University of Maryland Global Campus
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Vassar College
Vermont Law School
Western Michigan University
Xavier University
Join the Race to Zero Today; Tomorrow is Too Late
Higher education has always taken a lead in science, research, and public health. And now higher education is taking a lead in responding to climate change. Now is the time to accelerate that even more; join the global Race to Zero. What Is Race to Zero?
Race to Zero is a global campaign to mobilize leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, higher education, and investors for a Healthy, Resilient and Fair, Zero Carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth. Those who have already signed onto the campaign include businesses, cities, regions, higher education institutions, investors and 120 countries. The objective of the campaign is to accelerate momentum leading up to COP26. All members have committed to the same overarching goal to be carbon neutral by 2050.
What Are the Criteria to Join?
There are four criteria to be a part of this campaign:
1. As a leader at your institution, pledge that your campus will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest.
2. Prior to COP26, have a detailed plan in place explaining how your school will accomplish your carbon neutrality goal.
3. Proceed with your climate action plan (i.e. put your plan into action!).
4. Submit and publish your progress annually. Higher education institutions that are part of Race to Zero are tracked in the Second Nature Reporting Platform.
Higher education is about the generation of now, and the generations to come. Climate action is about taking action now to ensure a habitable world for the future to come. There is no other option.
Image: Race to Zero Campaign
Accelerate Your Climate Awareness.
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Make Your Voice Heard.
Make Sure to Vote November 3rd.
Whether by mail, in-person (masked up and socially distant), or by whatever ways are available to you for voting within your state, make a plan to vote so that your voice is heard.
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