The Implementer

June 2022

Accelerate Your Climate Awareness. Knowledge. Action. | Second Nature's Monthly E-Newsletter.
 

3 Ways to Inform Our Climate Justice Efforts

(1) Join the Climate Justice Working Group

Second Nature’s Climate Justice Working Group brings together dedicated and engaged peers from across the higher education sector to: (1) build community, (2) share best practices, and (3) develop new tools and resources to advance campus-community climate justice initiatives. 
 

(2) Contribute to the Climate Justice Toolkit

We are currently developing an online toolkit that will help colleges and universities center principles of diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and justice (DEAIJ) into their climate action plans.  Click on the button below to learn how you can contribute to the toolkit.  

(3) Provide Feedback About the Climate Justice White Paper

Chaz Briscoe, our Climate Justice Research Fellow, is authoring a white paper, The Role of Higher Education in Advancing Climate Justice for Second Nature to help shape the programs and resources we offer colleges/universities.  We cannot wait to have this as an available resource for you, and as a part of the stakeholder engagement process to inform the white paper, we would value your input/feedback! 

Every Thursday in July, we are virtually hosting Sharing Space sessions to allow you to be able to learn more about the white paper and provide your input.  

The sessions: 
July 7, 14, 21, 28 | 3-4pm ET
Registration is not required; come to one session, or come to more than one.  At 3pm ET on the Thursday(s) you want to join, simply dial into zoom:

Questions? Please contact Chantal Madray (cmadray@secondnature.org)

Website Feedback: Help Us, Help You!

Be a part of the process to make the Second Nature website work better for YOU.  

We are currently undergoing an analysis of what is working well and what is not for the Second Nature website to inform a redesign of the site (a 4-6 month process).  We view the website as a vital tool to help support the campus climate action work you are doing.  Part of this process is getting a better understanding from you on what you use the website for, how it can further support your work, and more.  
 

The deadline to submit your input is Friday, July 15, 2022.  If you have any questions, please contact Amanda Belles (abelles@secondnature.org). 

Your input is vital to the success of this process, and we thank you in advance!

New Partnership with Smart Energy Decisions

Second Nature Joins the Net Zero Forum

Smart Energy Decisions' Net Zero Forum is an event designed to accelerate the development and execution of net zero strategies.  Those who attend - buyers from commercial, industrial, institutional (higher education and healthcare), and government - do so as part of their journey to reduce their organization's carbon emissions with the goal of achieving net zero.  

The Net Zero Forum will take place September 12-14, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona.  Second Nature is proud to be a contributing partner.  

Tim Carter Participates in Climate Change Speaker Series

New Signatory: Lawrence University

America Is All In (AIAI) Updates & Resources

The America Is All In Coalition - which Second Nature is a part of - has numerous new resources related to the over $1 trillion of Infrastructure Law monies ($600 billion for transportation projects) going to states, cities, and NGOS for infrastructure investments from the federal government. 
 

Additionally, throughout the summer, AIAI will have information and technical assistance specific to sectors (including higher education) on how to make climate-friendly transportation investments. 

Current Resources:

• AIAI "All In Transportation Campaign" email list - subscribe here
• Dedicated transportation webpage - visit now
• Investing in Climate-Smart Transportation report - read and download
• Moving America Forward report - read and download
   

Latest Issue of the Monthly Policy Update

Join Us: July Community Conversation

We are happy to share that the topic for the July Community Conversation is. . .

Getting Leadership Buy-in
Tuesday, July 19th | 2-3pm ET

To date, this has been one of the most requested topics to discuss for one of these monthly peer-to-peer discussions.  Space is limited, so if you would like to join this discussion, we recommend registering as soon as possible.   

And don't forget, if you are at a higher education institution, K-12 school,  municipal/county/state governments, and/or healthcare institution, you can request the recordings and notes from previous community conversations.   

Webinar: The First Principle of Sustainability: Use Less!
Tuesday, August 9, 2022 | 11am ET

Hosted by the Better Buildings Initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy 

The focus of this webinar will be on an energy efficiency program - an effort that consists of having a 50% energy reduction goal for buildings - that has been a successful model used at the University of California, Irvine.  

Image Credit: Better Buildings Initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)