Call For Proposals:
Now Accepting Session Submissions for June!
What climate topics would you like to discuss with your peers at the June Milestone (June 10-11, 2021)? We are once again accepting session proposals for the Climate Action Pursuit! Share your ideas and expertise using our brief session proposal form. The submission deadline is Friday, April 2, 2021. Based on what we heard during Climate Action Pursuit sessions in February, the June Milestone will focus on workshops and action-oriented
sessions and technical solutions that cut across the themes.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the February kick-off! We left the first three days feeling excited to amplify our climate work with you, and we hope that if you attended the February Milestone, you feel the same.
Not able to join us in February? No problem! You can still register to join us June, October, and December. Plus, by registering, you will get access to all of the recorded February Pursuit sessions.
Second Nature Receives $282,000 Lumina Foundation Grant for Climate Justice Work
On March 9, 2021, we announced that we had received a grant from the Lumina Foundation that will support three areas of program development this year. The objective is to activate and mobilize institutional assets within the higher education sector to help solve the climate change crisis. The design and content of the three programs is inline with Lumina's Commitment to Racial Justice and Equity, and will contribute to that
Commitment.
Ten Higher Ed Institutions Awarded
Pro Bono Consulting
Last week we publicly announced that ten colleges and universities had been awarded pro bono consulting opportunities to help accelerate climate projects on their campuses. The ten winning schools (covering ten different states) are:
Climate Action Planning: - Carleton College (Northfield, MN)
- Lewis & Clark College (Portland, OR)
- State University of New York: SUNY Cortland (Cortland, NY) and University at Albany (Albany, NY
- The University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ)
- The University of the South
(Sewanne, TN)
- University of South Florida (Tampa, FL)
Shifting to Renewable Power - Davidson College (Davidson, NC)
- Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA)
- Miami University (Oxford, OH)
- The College of New Jersey (Ewing, NJ)
University of Lynchburg is Carbon Neutral!
In late February, the University of Lynchburg announced that they had achieved carbon neutrality! In doing so, they are the first higher education institution in the Commonwealth of Virginia to do so. Congratulations to the University of Lynchburg on this major success!
Congratulations California State University, Dominguez Hills, and welcome to the Climate Leadership Network!
Luther College Updates Their CAP
On March 8th, Luther College announced that their President Jenifer K. Ward, signed the school's updated Climate Action Plan (CAP). Luther College has a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, and their updated CAP will help them continue moving toward reaching that goal.
Rutgers University Will Divest
Earlier this month, Rutgers University announced that they will be divesting from fossil fuels. Reaching that decision involved input from faculty, staff, students, and the Rutgers Board of Governors.
Attn: Network Signatories - We Need Your Assistance!
The Second Nature Communications Team is building a database of school logos, campus photos, and president/chancellor quotations, so we have these items on hand to use on our website, in newsletters (like the Implementer), and other media. In order to accomplish this, we are kindly asking for your assistance. Please send Amanda Belles (abelles@secondnature.org) the following items: Your school logo A photo of your institution/campus that can publicly be used by others - like us. Please see the example below of Wells College (please include to whom the photo should be credited). A general quotation from your President/Chancellor that could be used in different scenarios - such as in newsletters, on our website, and more. Optional - please add Amanda Belles' email (abelles@secondnature.org) to your school's news/press release
list. This will help our Communications Team be able to keep track of anything that is climate related that we can help highlight in our newsletters and social media! If this is a major lift, please do not worry about it for now.
Some of you may recall a similar ask of you that we sent out months ago. If you have already sent us your logo, 1-2 campus photos, and a quotation, please ignore this. If you have not, we would greatly appreciate it if you could!
Photo Credit: Wells College
NDC Letter Sign-On Deadline Extended
In response to requests by some of you, we have extended the sign-on deadline for the NDC higher education letter to President Biden until next Wednesday, March 31st. As a reminder, the letter is in support of a strong 2030 U.S. climate target (a "Nationally Determined Contribution" or NDC). Specifically, the letter calls on the Biden-Harris Administration to adopt a target of at least 50% emissions by 2030 in order to place the United States on a credible pathway to reach net-zero emission by 2050.
Note: this opportunity is for higher education institutions - name only - to sign onto the letter. If you are planning on signing on behalf of your college/university, you must have permission from your institution's leadership to be able to do so. By completing the sign-on form, you are confirming that you do.
Reporting Due Date Quickly Approaching
A friendly reminder to all Climate Leadership Network signatories, that the deadline for the Annual Progress Evaluation and other reports is May 1, 2021. If you have already submitted this information to us, thank you!
As you are aware, you can submit GHG data from whatever 12 month period you most recently have available; there is no need to wait for the current school/fiscal year to be over! If you will require an extension, please let us know.
Additionally, as signatories, you are required to review and revise (if necessary) your Climate Action Plan (CAP) every five years. For more information on reviewing and potentially revising your CAP, please visit this page. Please contact us (reporting@secondnature.org) if you need a new draft CAP. Also, please do not hesitate to reach-out to Second Nature Staff members for one-on-one reporting assistance. We are here to help!
More Funding for Campuses Coming Soon!
We are excited to let you know that a second round for the Acceleration Fund will be announced soon! Please stay tuned for the big announcement coming in the beginning of April and will include information on eligibility, how to apply and more! In the meantime, be sure to learn more about the first round of the Acceleration Fund!
COVID-19, Climate Change, Racial Justice & Higher Education
In early February, Tim Carter, Second Nature President and Wim Wiewel, President of Lewis & Clark College, had a commentary article they had co-written together published in Sustainability and Climate Change, Vol. 14, No. 1. The article - "Coronavirus, Racial Justice, Climate Change, and Higher Education: Six Principles to Inform the Future" - focuses on six proposed theoretical concepts for consideration by the higher education sector to be continued leaders in global crises (like COVID-19) while also being leaders when it comes to advancing climate action.
Webinar: Non-Federal Engagement U.S. Climate Target and Biden Summit
March 31, 2021 | 1:00 PM EDT
Hosted by America Is Still In, this webinar will focus on relevant information about the U.S. climate target and engagement around the virtual Climate Summit that President Biden will be hosting on April 22-23.
Global Dialog: Fifty Countries/One Hundred Universities
Launching April 6, 2021
The Center for Environmental Policy at Bard College has arranged for climate-focused webinars to happen simultaneously - one in every U.S. state and one in 50 different countries. These "global dialogues" launch April 6th. The objective is to support the global effort to solve climate change by 2030.
Webinar: Managing Organizational Change For Transformational, Deep Decarbonization Initiatives On Campus
April 15, 2021 | 2-3 PM EDT
This webinar will examine the importance of managing cultural and process change to support the implementation of deep decarbonization initiatives on campus - focusing on the critical roles of stakeholder engagement and internal processes and policies as enablers along the net-zero pathway.
Virtual Event: USGBC + Higher Education: Strategies for Transformation
April 28, 2021 | 2-3:15 PM CST
Hosted by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), this online one-day event, will focus on tools and resources that are available to higher ed campuses to help make them more green, as well as provide information to students who may be interested in careers in LEED and green building. Join this event to learn how the USGBC can and does work with higher education institutions.
Monthly Policy Update | March 2021 Issue
In case you missed it, the March Issue of our Monthly Policy Updates is available to read.
New E-Book Available to Download
Island Press recently released a new e-book, Resilience Matters: Reimagining the Future in a Tumultuous Year that is available for download.
*New* EV Tool Available for Use
Learn About Standard Delivery Renewable Energy
On March 16th, CRS hosted a webinar called, Clean Energy Accounting Project: Standard Delivery Renewable Energy, which is now available for viewing. You can also read the coinciding report: Accounting for Standard Delivery Renewable Energy.
Accelerate Your Climate Awareness.
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