|
|
The Implementer
|
|
Higher Education Leading on Climate
|
|
Produced by Second Nature
|
|
|
May 2017
In this issue…
|
|
|
|
2017 CLA's are Still Open!
Low Carbon USA & Open Letter
University of California Partners with Vox
Put A Price On It Campaign
Carbon Neutrality at Middlebury
|
|
|
|
|
2017 Climate Leadership Award Nominations
|
|
Deadline May 26, 2017
|
|
The 8th annual Climate Leadership Awards are here! These awards recognize innovative and advanced leadership in sustainability, climate mitigation, and resilience at signatory campuses of the Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitments. Second Nature offers these awards in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Award winners are recognized as part of the Greenbuild Leadership Awards Program
and benefit from global publicity opportunities. Learn More.
Application | Tips & FAQ's
|
|
|
Low Carbon USA & Open Letter
|
|
New Partnerships for Climate Action
|
|
Since the release of the Open Letter to the Trump Administration on December 19, 2016, over 235 senior leaders in higher education responded to the call to action. To demonstrate our alignment, the higher education sector has joined with more than 1,000 businesses under the banner of LowCarbonUSA in calling for an energy efficient US economy, powered by clean, renewable energy.
Watch | Learn More
|
|
|
University of California Video Series
|
|
In Partnership with Vox
|
|
In April, the University of California released the first of a six-episode video series, led by UCLA visiting researcher M. Sanjayan, exploring global climate change and UC's efforts to mitigate its effects through their own Carbon Neutrality Initiative. The press release and more information about the project can be found here.
Watch | Learn More
|
|
|
Put A Price On It Campaign
|
|
The Higher Education Carbon Pricing Endorsement Initiative
|
|
Over 30 colleges and universities have endorsed the Put A Price On It campaign, led by non-profit Our Climate and in partnership with the National Geographic. The campaign encourages institutions to support a student-driven initiative to endorse carbon pricing for this economy-wide approach to reducing GHG emissions. The press release can be found here.
Join | FAQ's
|
|
|
Achieving Carbon Neutrality at Middlebury
|
|
Case Study Published
|
|
In December of 2016, Middlebury College met it's ambitious goal of carbon neutrality after only nine years through a sustained commitment by students, faculty and administrators. This newly published paper describes the path they took, the methods used, and lessons learned as the College looks to future sustainablity endeavors.
Case Study | Blog
|
|
|
|
RESOURCES
|
|
NACUBO's Business Officer Magazine
|
|
Two recent articles in NACUBO’s Business Officer magazine highlight Climate Leadership Network institutions. Transfer of Power explores what’s working on campus to reduce emissions, what leaders have learned, and where they plan to focus efforts next. In Seeding Climate Leadership, Wendell Brase shares the basic principles that support the UC System’s approach to addressing climate change.
|
|
|
|
Case Study : Colorado State University
|
|
This case study by NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) examines Colorado State University’s decision to explore the solar panel market and accompanying factors which led to their purchase of alternative energy. The study of CSU is supplemented by an analysis of solar energy generated across the United States by higher education institutions, and is presented with consideration toward the campus’ pre existing sustainability efforts. Learn about the benefits and disadvantages of harnessing solar energy, and CSU’s decision-making process, here.
|
|
|
|
NREL Screens Universities for Solar and Battery Storage Potential
|
|
In this study, NREL screened 8 diverse colleges and universities in exploring the potential of solar energy. The generated data simulates the costs and effects of investing in solar panels on each campus, highlighting monetary savings and units of energy usage. The study is a relevant resource for higher education institutions in the alternative energy decision-making process. Visit NREL’s website for more information about energy planning and support.
|
|
|
|
Cities of Service
|
|
Cities of Service a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that provides resources and support to city leaders meet goals in areas of service, action, and impact. Their efforts contribute toward building stronger communities, infrastructure, and better quality of life for residents. The organization provides a wealth of resources on their website, serving all levels of government officials in addition to citizens interested in civic engagement. Visit their ‘Resources’ page to learn more about how to guide your city and initiate positive impact.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FROM THE SECOND NATURE BLOG
|
Getting to Carbon Neutrality at Middlebury in 2016: Round 1 Take-Aways
By Jack Byrne, Director, Office of Sustainability Integration, Middlebury College
|
|
In December, 2016 Middlebury achieved its goal of carbon neutrality by 2016. This goal had been established by a resolution of the Board of Trustees in 2007. Their commitment followed achievement of an earlier carbon reduction goal and subsequent urging of the College community, after significant groundwork had been done, to establish a goal and pathway for getting to neutrality by 2016. Middlebury subsequently signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment and went to work. It is the third College in the country to have achieved carbon neutrality by a certain date.
As a former Middlebury trustee remarked upon the occasion of achieving neutrality, “An awful lot of carbon neutrality is definitional....Read More.
|
|
|
Carbon Pricing as a Climate Action Tool: Experiences from Swarthmore College
By Nathaniel Graf, Climate Action Senior Fellow, Swarthmore College & Brett Pasinella, Senior Manager of Innovative Services, Second Nature
|
|
Climate change threatens to impose wide-ranging social and economic disruption on our world. Unfortunately, the fossil fuel industry and carbon-intensive sectors experience little of the global cost of their activities, and have no market pressure to alter course. Such is the conundrum of motivating the global economy to decarbonize, and the challenge that a group of Swarthmore faculty and staff grappled with in the summer of 2015.
In a shared reading group experience, they explored a popular global solution- carbon pricing. Carbon pricing is among the most powerful and effective policy tools that we have at our disposal to tackle emissions reductions at a national level....Read More.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Honor Society: Announcing Network Service
|
|
All Signatory institutions recently received their yearly dues invoice and we thank you in advance for your financial support.
Special recognition is given to signatories for their extraordinary contributions – financial and in service – to the Climate Leadership Network through the new Honor Society. Signatories in the Honor Society will receive increased recognition in the reporting platform and other vehicles throughout the year, as they will be supporting an inclusive and diverse network of campuses striving to implement climate action.
Starting in 2017, Honor Society recognition is also available through activities that have demonstrated benefit to the institutions in the Climate Leadership Network, beyond the benefit to an individual campus meeting their commitment goals. These network service activities are designed to improve connectivity and scale success.
|
|
|
We've Moved!
|
|
But not very far! In an effort to minimize our carbon footprint, Second Nature has reduced its office space by more than 75% by moving down a few floors in our Boston building. Please update your contact information for us. Our new address is: 18 Tremont Street, Suite 608, Boston, MA, 02108.
|
|
|
|
