Final Episode of the Semester
Campuses across the country are finishing finals, closing "gradebooks" and transitioning to summer. Sustainability courses, climate change education and community resilience work experiences are a few ways universities and colleges have instilled actionable knowledge this semester for students' fields of choice.
Campuses have also continued demonstrating what they are teaching by a combination of projects that reduce emissions, increase energy efficiency, benefit ecosystems and inform research-based policy decisions. Higher ed climate leadership is honest work guided by intellectual candor and altruistic mindsets. Let us know about your summer projects, research and classes that are benefiting others and our planet so we can share and keep up the momentum. Watch for the Implementer still rolling in June and July.
Cross-sector Collegiate Climate Summit
University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) leaders Washington University in St. Louis & The Ohio State University are launching The Midwestern Collegiate Climate Summit for early 2020, announced by Michael Bloomberg this month. Universities have a critical role to play in fighting climate change. And Washington University is a great example – as a hub for cutting edge research, as a key partner for the city of St. Louis, and as home to students who want to put their talents to work to build a better future. - Michael Bloomberg The event will convene leaders from Midwestern universities, local government and the private sector to drive measurable, local action on climate by leveraging partnerships, innovations and talent from institutions of higher education. |
"For Colleges, Climate Change Means Making Tough Choices"
Insightful article on the climate resilience challenges facing campuses highlights Washington College, the University of California Los Angeles, and Colgate University. The writer, Lee Gardner, Senior Reporter at the Chronicle of Higher Education, attended the 2019 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit and spoke with many university and college leaders on their experiences with campus resilience struggles and progress. The watchword for many colleges is "resilience," a term that encompasses a variety of strategies and practices meant to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of proliferating, sometimes overlapping, climate-change challenges. - Lee Gardner |
The Joint Mission of Higher Ed and the Private Sector on Carbon Pricing Education
Lawmaker Education & Advocacy Day on Carbon Pricing. Second Nature supported the 75+ business leaders calling on Congress May 22nd on Capitol Hill to enact climate legislation, including a meaningful price on carbon. The Lawmaker Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) on Carbon Pricing brought businesses large and small, from sectors across the American economy, to Washington, D.C. to meet with federal lawmakers from both parties, in both the House and the Senate.
Universities are starting to set their own carbon prices & will continue to work with the private sector to tackle climate change. A national price on carbon is a key consideration in our efforts to match the scale of the climate crisis. The LEAD on Carbon Pricing day is one example of growing opportunities where private, public and higher ed sectors can contribute instructive dialogue around promising methods to help society overcome the climate issue reasonably and responsibly, together.
To learn more about the different ways universities are experimenting with carbon pricing models on campuses view the Carbon Pricing in Higher Education Toolkit.
Meeting the 2030 50% decarbonization mark by leveraging higher ed strengths and cross-sector activity for exponential climate progress.
"Better and more of it."
Unveiling Our Strategic Plan for 2019-2022
Review our 2019-2022 Strategic Plan to learn about the next phase of our work. It focuses on the imperative for exponential growth in climate progress in order to work towards 50% decarbonization in the US economy by 2030-- a percentage and timeline based on advice from the best available science. This three year plan concentrates on supporting network performance and cross-sector activity with the core of our strategy centered around the expansion of valued climate services.
Leveraging higher education’s innovative research and partnership strengths will be key to proactively treat the climate emergency.
Resources
Schedule One-on-One Support with Staff
Introducing our "Office Hours" every Thursday 3-5pm for one-on-one support for campus signatories of the Presidents' Climate Leadership Commitments. Ask for assistance with topics ranging from carbon offsets and pricing to cross-sector work with UC3 to GHG inventories. We are here to help!
Call 617-356-1698 or choose an appointment slot for a staff member by clicking on his/her office hours.
New Large-Scale Renewable Energy Resources
We are providing a set of renewable energy resources for campuses, developed by Second Nature Clean Energy Fellow Will Elmore. It includes guidance for institutions exploring large-scale renewable energy procurement and supports aggregations to move from the interest stage to the advisor RFP signing stage with more to come.
Primers Include:
-Introduction to Renewable Energy Policy Research
-Understanding Your Electric Bill
-Electricity Prices and Why They Matter
Excel Files Available for Download:
-Understanding Your Load Profile
-Sample Large-Scale Renewable Economics Model
To access the resources, email support@secondnature.org for password and visit our Renewable Energy Resources Page.
Climate Change Messaging Resource
Second Nature media partner, Climate Nexus, shared a valuable resource which includes recommendations for effective methods on communicating about climate change. Based on findings from a series of polls conducted by Climate Nexus in late 2018 and early 2019, the report provides compelling evidence for which kind of targeted messaging may be most influential with nationally diverse groups of constituents.
"The most important takeaway is this: Now is the time to make a forceful case for climate action."
For example, focusing messaging around health and legacy may be a persuasive way to gain further support for climate action goals-- “80% of voters say they are persuaded by a statement that begins, ‘We owe it to our children to leave them a cleaner, safer and healthier world.’"
Also, leading with consensus solutions is another inclusive communications tactic-- “79% of voters think expanding the use of renewable energy is an important objective for U.S. infrastructure investments. Voters are nearly as enthusiastic about policies promoting clean vehicles and limiting carbon pollution from power plants.”
Solve Climate By 2030 Educational Project
In response to the urgency of the IPCC report and Biodiversity report, Dr. Eban Goodstein, Director of Graduate Programs in Sustainability at Bard College, is helping launch Solve Climate By 2030, a national educational project that with your involvement can engage 100,000 students across the country in face-to-face dialog about climate solutions next fall and spring. Solve Climate will:
1. Make it easy to bring climate solution experts to your campus at no cost.
2. Help you create a large-turnout climate education event.
3. Organize a nationwide conversation on climate solutions, Wed., April 8, 2020.
Webinars
Delivering Campus Upgrades and Carbon Reduction through Efficiency Service Agreements
Thursday, June 13, 2:00 - 3:00 EDT
Enthusiasm for sustainability and carbon reduction runs high at colleges and universities, but so do the apparent financial barriers to implementing campus-wide energy efficiency upgrades. This webinar will explore how Wells College worked with Metrus Energy to launch a project that will deliver significant energy savings and a more comfortable living and learning environment—with no upfront cost to the college. These improvements will result in approximately a 14% reduction in total electricity use on campus and a 28% drop in fossil fuel (propane and fuel oil) consumption.
The webinar will feature Robert Cree, VP and CFO at Wells College; Bob Hinkle, president of Metrus Energy; and Eric Howard, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Second Nature.
Watch the Recording
The Second Nature Climate Services webinar is available on youtube to watch and hear first hand from our staff about the range of climate action resources for sustainability teams and their campus goals.
Upcoming Events
Signatory Offer for Energy Efficiency Global Forum
As a new partner of the 2019 EE Global Forum, June 11-12 in Washington, D.C., Second Nature has been given the opportunity to extend a handful of complimentary invitations to our network whose voices are critical to a constructive conversation on energy efficiency. We have 15 slots to share with our institutions - first come, first serve.
Although last minute, we still think this is a great chance for staff at higher education institutions to connect with and hear from energy efficiency leaders and make connections to support emissions reductions and affordable and sustainable campus infrastructure projects.
Now in its 12th year, EE Global has established itself as the energy efficiency elite’s gathering place – the one event that draws together business executives, government leaders, and advocates from across sectors and continents for actionable dialogues on advancing energy efficiency.
Please let us know ASAP by emailing Eric Howard at ehoward@secondnature.org if you're interested so we can share the complementary registration code with you.
Signatory Offer for Horizon 19: September 18-20th
Attend Horizon19, a global event-driven platform that harnesses the international movement towards a clean economy. With 20,000 unique and growing contacts in the climate change space stemming from the inaugural event, the momentum to act on clean energy solutions is rapidly accelerating. Horizon19 is the platform to uniquely offer resolutions to act on climate commitments in concert with the Paris Agreement, 2030 Sustainability Goals, We Are Still In, and America’s Pledge.
Through Second Nature's partnership with Horizon19, University and college members of the Climate Leadership Network receive 2 complimentary tickets per institution and a 50% discount for additional attendees.
Email ehoward@secondnature.org for the discount codes to register.
On the Second Nature Blog
UC3 Washington University in St. Louis: Campus, Students and Community Leading Together on Climate Action
These are the voyages of the UC3 Enterprise
Follow along as we share how research universities are connecting with local businesses, governments & communities to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future in a UC3 blog series. Next up is Washington University in St. Louis...
"Washington University in St. Louis is committed to being a national leader in sustainability. This core priority is threaded through all aspects of the university’s community, operations and work as an exceptional teaching and research institution..."
Have a great start to summer.
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