November '19 Implementer
Response to the Paris Agreement Withdrawal
Earlier this month, on November 4, 2019, President Donald J. Trump informed the United Nations, that the United States would begin the year-long process to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.
The response from communities and industries across the nation who disagreed with this decision was swift; including from the higher education sector. Click here to read the joint response from Second Nature and We Are Still In, that also includes quotations from university and college presidents and chancellors.
Schools Making Their Mark
Second Nature awards Marks of Distinction (MODs) to the Climate Leadership Network signatories who set high-performance goals, lay-out plans to reach those goals, and show progress toward reaching those goals.
MODs are given out annually, and all Climate Leadership Network signatories who are in good standing, have the opportunity to potentially be awarded at least one MOD.
MODs are given out in three specific categories:
- Performance: Recognizes climate action progress based on data collected through the Reporting Platform
- Participation: Recognizes participation in a program or initiative that advances a campus’ climate action
- Goals: Recognizes institutions that have set aggressive climate action goals, going above and beyond incremental change
For more information on the MODs initiative, please check-out our 2019 Infographic. You can also find more information on the Second Nature website.
Do you want to know if your school received any MODs this year? You can find out that information here.
Second Nature Goes Global in November & December
While most may be ramping down for the Holiday Season come November and December, Second Nature is staying true to its mission of accelerating climate action in, and through, higher education, by participating in three global events.
As we speak, Second Nature's Director of Strategic Partnerships, Eric Howard, is in Budapest, participating in the World Science Forum (WSF). The purpose of the World Science Forum is to bring together members of the science community, policy-makers, society, and others, to focus on the challenges facing the scientific community. For more information, visit their website, and stay tuned for the December Implementer, as it will include a brief write-up about the event!
Now Available: Advanced Building Technologies for Climate Action
December 9, 2019, 1:00pm EDT
Second Nature will be hosting a shoulder event at the Global Congress for Climate Change & Sustainability Professionals taking place in Chicago. Our Director of Strategic Partnerships, Eric Howard, will be joined by Martin Powell, Chief Sustainability Officer, Siemens Corporation, and Kathryn Rosser, Senior Market Manager, Siemens
Smart Infrastructure, to give a presentation focused on the challenges and opportunities that exist through new and existing technologies and approaches, as buildings and infrastructure become more complex. More information can be found here, and you can also contact Eric Howard.
COP25 - the United Nations Climate Change Conference - will be taking place in Madrid, Spain in just a few short weeks. The conference is an official meeting for the Conference of the Parties, however, it is also provides for a global gathering across all sectors interested in creating climate change solutions.
A delegation representing the Climate Leadership Network and being led by Second Nature, will be attending COP25. Second Nature President, Tim Carter and Second Nature Climate Programs Senior Manager, Ruby Woodside, will be attending on behalf of the delegation. Additionally, three university/college presidents will also be attending:
- Wim Wiewel, President of Lewis and Clark College
- Mark Mitsui, President of Portland Community College
- Jill Tiefenthaler, President of Colorado College
Want to follow the Second Nature delegation on their trip to COP25? Be sure to follow us on social media (Twitter and Facebook: @LeadonClimate), because we willl be posting more information about how to do so very soon!
Early Bird Rate Is Ending
By the time you read the December Implementer, the early bird registration rate for the 2020 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit will have ended. If you plan on joining us at the conference, why pay full price? Take advantage of the early bird rate, and register NOW before it's too late. The early bird rate ends on December 16, 2019.
Summit Workshops & Tours
While you are registering for the Summit and taking advantage of that early bird pricing, be sure to take advantage of the workshop and tour opportunities that will be available to those attending the 2020 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit.
We Have Office Hours!
Did you know that Second Nature has office hours so that we can provide one-on-one support to our signatory schools? Office hours are every Thursday, from 3:00pm-5:00pm EDT. To reach one of our staff members during office hours, please contact us at: 617-356-1698.
If you have general questions, please email us at: info@secondnature.org.
*NEW* Carbon Pricing Tools
If you follow us on our Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook accounts, you have most likely seen our weekly posts
about *new* tools that were recently added to our Internal Carbon Pricing Toolkit for Higher Education. If not, those posts are included below. To round out November, we have one more social media post coming out next week that will introduce you to another *new* tool!
To be taken to each case study described in the graphics to the left, click on each correlating graphic.
For questions about the Toolkit, please contact Ruby Woodside at: rwoodside@secondnature.org.
The Higher Education sector, has always been a leader when it comes to climate action. However, over this past month there has been a tremendous acceleration of climate action on campuses across the nation. The following is a quick summary of November news stories about schools doing that work, that we highlighted on our social media during this past month. Note: The list below does not include college/university tweets that we retweeted about climate work if there wasn't a news story associated.
Want your school to be highlighted by Second Nature for the climate work that they're doing? Share a link to a news article about your school's climate action with our Communications and Marketing Manager, Amanda Belles, or be sure to tag us on social media (@LeadonClimate) if you share-out that work.
Colby College Climate Action Summit brings 124 students to Waterville to work on future of movement (centralmaine.com)
Sonoma State hosts first meeting of President’s Sustainability Advisory Council (Sonoma State University News)
Villanova nursing expert warns of climate change effects on older adults (kyw news radio)
WashU Experts on U.S. withdrawal from Paris Agreement (Mirage News)
University of Maryland Senate reviews the school’s climate action plan (The Diamondback)
UMN Medical School announces first steps to address climate change (Minnesota Daily)
University of New Hampshire and Eversource Launch Energy Efficiency Partnership (electric energy online/EE Online)
UC President Napolitano’s statement on White House exit from Paris climate accord (University of California Press Room)
Oregon Higher Ed Officials Respond To US Withdrawal From Paris Agreement (Jefferson Public Radio)
UD Takes Steps to Increase Diversity and Climate Initiatives (Flyer News)
EC Students and Faculty Join Global Climate Strike (Earlham College)
PCC President Mark Mitsui on the Paris Climate Accord (KBOO)
Higher Ed Leaders Slam Paris Agreement Withdrawal [We Are Still In] (College of the Atlantic News)
How to Study Climate Change in College (US News)
‘We need to act fast’: Statewide forum focuses on climate solutions for Arizona (AZ Central)
UCLA Health Center receives all-electric mobile medical lab (Smart Energy Decisions)
OSU Scientists Lead the Charge for Climate Action at State Capitol (The Corvallis Advocate)
"I’m very encouraged by what I saw on Friday!”
- Dr. Gary Mitchum
“Science, Strategies, and Solutions: Addressing Climate Change in Tampa Bay” – USF STEM Collaborate Climate Change Workshop
The University of South Florida STEM Collaborative was pleased to host an all-day workshop to discuss climate change resiliency in the Tampa Bay area. City and state officials, State University System of Florida researchers, scientists, experts, and the broader community convened in downtown Tampa on Friday, November 1st. The collaboration was targeted at brainstorming efforts in climate change assessment, adaptation, and mitigation strategies across Tampa Bay. With over 150 in attendance, workshop attendees listened to keynote speakers, Dr. Ben Kirtman of University of Miami and Representative Ben Diamond of District 68, along with four panels.
The panels throughout the day spanned topics such as extreme events, transportation, the built environment, and public health and social justice. Coordinators Dr. Peter Stiling—USF Professor of Biology and Assistant Vice Provost—and Dr. Gary Mitchum—USF Associate Dean and Professor for the College of Marine Science—designed the panels to represent a variety of backgrounds, maintaining a balance of both scientists and city officials. Active participation from the audience was standard for each panel.
The end result: successful discussion on resiliency efforts currently being done and plans for future collaboration between these groups to further build resiliency in Tampa Bay. It is rare for such a wide variety of experts to come together, but these are the necessary steps for actionable change at the local level. Dr. Mitchum says in a statement, “The aim of the workshop was to improve collaborations between scientists and experts, our elected officials, and the people in the government offices that need to merge science and policy to implement the best solutions. I’m very encouraged by what I saw on Friday!”
- Written and Contributed by the University of South Florida
December 2nd-13th: United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25), Madrid, Spain
The conference is an official meeting for the Conference of the Parties, however, it is also provides for a global gathering across all sectors interested in creating climate change solutions. As noted earlier in the Bonus Bulletin section, Second Nature will be leading a higher education delegation (two Second Nature staff members and three university/college presidents) to COP25, to represent the Climate Leadership Network, and the higher education sector in general.
December 3rd, 2019, 3pm-4pm EDT: How Buildings of All Shapes and Sizes Are Becoming Zero Energy Users
This webinar is focused on "a rapidly accelerating building trend" that is making buildings (including student housing) more energy efficient. The webinar is part of a Better Buildings Webinar Series (2019-2020), that will focus on various energy challenges that energy professionals are facing. To register for this webinar, and to learn more about the webinar series, click on the More Information button below.
December 9th-12th, 2019: Global Congress for Climate Change & Sustainability Professionals, Chicago, IL
Join hundreds of professionals and organizations - including Second Nature - in the sustainability and climate action industry at this summit. The focus of this summit will be on uniting forces to take action and increase the influence and urgency for climate action.
February 23rd-25th, 2020: Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit, Atlanta, GA
The Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit, presented by Second Nature and the Intentional Endowments Network, is the premier gathering of a select group of higher education leaders committed to driving our nation’s climate action. As the world looks to 2020 to update emissions reductions targets under the Paris Climate Agreement, the Summit will be an opportunity for the higher education sector to take stock of its own progress and explore ways to scale local climate leadership to meet the global goals by working across institutions and across sectors. Early Bird Pricing Ends December 16th!
In December, Second Nature's Cross-Sector Climate Action Manager, Gina Stovall, will be moving on from Second Nature to a new phase in her career; combining her passions for climate action and sustainable product design through her small business, Two Days Off.
If you have had the fortune to work with Gina, you will understand why this is bittersweet news; we are sad to see her leave Second Nature, however we are excited for her and this next part in her journey.
A tremendous THANK YOU to Gina for all of your work ensuring the growth and evolution of the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) and a new hire will be announced soon.
Gina Stovall
Ruby Woodside
We are also excited to have Melinda Robinson on-board to serve as our Cross-Sector Climate Action Coordinator.
Melinda started as an intern with Second Nature, and we are thrilled to now have her on-board as a staff member.
Melinda has, and continues to provide tremendous support for UC3 during the transition, and she can continue to be contacted for all questions related to UC3. THANK YOU Melinda!
We are ecstatic to announce that our Innovative Services Manager, Ruby Woodside has been promoted to Senior Manager, Climate Programs.
In this role, Ruby will oversee the management and strategic direction of UC3, while continuing to build our portfolio of resilience resources and services for signatory institutions.
CONGRATULATIONS Ruby!
Melinda Robinson
From our Second Nature family, to you and your families, we wish you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. While you gather with friends and family, you can still accelerate climate action through minimizing food waste at your Thanksgiving meal. Want to know how? Visit here.
