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The Implementer
September 2023
Accelerate Your Climate Awareness. Knowledge. Action. | Second Nature's Monthly E-Newsletter.
NOTABLE NEWS
Reflections on Second Nature's First Midwest Gathering
This month, Second Nature held its first Midwest gathering, Fostering Reciprocal Relationships for Climate Action, a two-day event supported by the College of Menominee Nation. In a reflection on our blog, Second Nature's Climate Programs Midwest Manager, Cami Sockow, shares how the gathering created a space for attendees from higher education institutions across the region to make connections.
Watch a video of Wade Fernandez, an internationally award-winning
Menominee musician, playing a song he created using the words from the
Midwest gathering’s participants, capturing the spirit of reciprocity, hope,
and relationship embodied in the event.
At the Midwest gathering, participants were able to dig into hard questions around cross-cultural relations, share and receive wisdom, and create an environment that honored each person present as we work to pursue climate action.
Video and photos by Nicholas Schwitzer, College of Menominee Nation Sustainable Development Institute
MONTHLY MERIT
Welcome New Climate Commitment Signatory
Carnegie Mellon University!
Carnegie Mellon University's President, Farnam Jahanian, signed Second Nature's Climate Commitment on September 21st. Steven Guenther, Assistant VP Facilities Management and University Engineer, will be the Implementation Liaison for CMU.
RAPID RECOGNITIONS
Duke University, a Second Nature Carbon Commitment signatory, continues to amplify the voices of communities disproportionately impacted by climate change, 40 years after the fight against environmental racism began in nearby Warren County.
Truckee Meadows Community College is making great strides in using green energy, and that effort has been noticed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency! The EPA recently awarded TMCC its Green Power Leadership Award in recognition of their leadership in adopting green energy to power their campus. Not only has TMCC matched 100% of its service load with green power since 2019, it also integrates sustainability into its curricula to promote student engagement.
Second Nature Carbon Commitment signatory Weber State University's 5-point Carbon Neutrality Strategy has earned recognition from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. WSU was recently awarded the 2023 AASCU Excellence and Innovation Award for Sustainability and Sustainable Development.
Pomona College, a Second Nature Carbon Commitment signatory, has released its sustainability strategic plan, which details progress made towards reaching its target date for carbon neutrality of 2030. The new strategic plan also details the ambitious steps the college is taking in several key areas, with a report dashboard updated monthly offering insight into progress in real time.
Second Nature Carbon Commitment signatory University of Massachusetts Amherst is helping to bring together Indigenous knowledges and scientific practices to develop holistic solutions to challenges posed by climate change. The recently established Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledges and Science emphasizes scientific research that is conducted in partnership with Indigenous communities. This international collaboration was awarded a five-year, $30 million National Science Foundation program award to begin its work.
RELEVANT RESOURCES
This book discussion with Dr. Ife Afriye Kilimanjaro about her new book, “Re-Membering Purpose,” was an important exercise in how those in the BIPOC community can think about their work in sustainability and climate action as the intermeshing of logic and spirituality. During this call, Dr. Ife, a writer, healer, and climate and environmental justice advocate speaks to the experiences that bring BIPOC to this important work.
Missed our recent webinar with Boston Green Ribbon Commission on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)? Watch a recording of the webinar to learn how this historic opportunity can be leveraged by higher education institutions to advance climate action. Speakers include Second Nature's Tim Carter, Nate Hausman and Ian Goldsmith of the World Resources Institute, and Francine Newsome Pfeiffer of Rutgers University.
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education's updated 2023 Sustainable Campus Index (SCI) is now available! This annual report highlights the most sustainable college and university campuses across 17 impact areas, including air and climate, diversity and affordability, energy, and investment and finance. This year's SCI includes a number of Second Nature signatories. Kudos to every campus recognized for their commitments to sustainability and climate action!
OPPORTUNITIES
Faculty and staff at higher education institutions have a role to play in helping students and their campus community find their place in the shared journey to climate action. All We Can Save is bringing its Climate Wayfinding workshops to a higher education audience during three sessions in May and June 2024. During this five-day training, you will gain courage and clarity to help your campus navigate the challenges of the climate crisis.
This is an exciting opportunity to serve in a new role to support institutions leading higher education climate action. The Climate Programs Manager with a focus on member engagement works to directly support Second Nature’s Climate Leadership Network (CLN) and University Climate Change Coalition (UC3). This individual will serve as a node of connection that drives member action, connection, and retention through engagement. Apply today, or share with someone in your network who may be interested!
Accelerate Your Climate Awareness.
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