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The Implementer

December 2021

 

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

 

NOTABLE NEWS

Save the Date!

In partnership with the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN), we are excited to announce the dates of the 2022 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit:

April 5-8, 2022

More information is coming after the New Year, stay tuned!  In the meantime, if you have not done so already, we encourage you to sign-up on our "Be in the Know" Summit email list to ensure you don't miss any updates and information.  

Sign-up to "Be in the Know"
 
 

Pro Bono Consulting Round II

In Fall 2020, we announced a new Solutions Center initiative – Pro Bono Consulting.  Thanks to the generous support of Second Nature partners, CustomerFirst Renewables (CFR) and Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D), we were able to offer this opportunity to support higher education institutions’ campus climate work.  

Due to the success of the inaugural round, we are thrilled to be able to offer a Round II*! 

For more information and to apply, please visit our Pro Bono Consulting Round II webpage.  Please direct any questions to: Steve Muzzy (smuzzy@secondnature.org).  

The deadline to apply for this opportunity is: January 5, 2022.
 

Visit the Webpage
 
Apply Here

*This opportunity to exclusive to Climate Leadership Network signatories and University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) members.  Not sure if your institution is a signatory or UC3 member?  Please contact Steve Muzzy to find out. 
 

 
 

We Are Hiring!

 
 

We are currently accepting applications for a part-time, paid ($15/hr) Climate Programs Intern position.

Know someone who may be interested (please share far and wide), or interested yourself? 

Application Deadline: December 31, 2021.  

Learn More & Apply
 

BONUS BULLETIN

 

That's a Wrap for the 2021 Pursuit!

 

With the completion of the fourth and final milestone event for the Climate Action Pursuit taking place on December 9th-10th, the year-long Pursuit has come to an end. 
 

 

To everyone who participated over this past year, thank you!  We are excited to continue working with all of you after the New Year, both as we look towards the 2022 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit, and beyond.  

Session recordings from all four milestone events will be publicly available after the New Year, so stay tuned for those, and in the meantime, you can watch recordings from the February and June milestones!
 

Watch February Session Recordings
 
Watch June Session Recordings
 
 

Build Back Better Act Advocacy

Yesterday - December 15th - in conjunction with the co-Chairs of the Climate Leadership Network, we sent a letter to members of the United States Senate expressing our support for the Build Back Better Act.  

The letter included specific bullet points for how the climate portions of the Act would benefit colleges and universities across the nation: 

  • Substantial rebates and tax credits for energy efficiency, which will reduce energy costs for colleges and universities switching to renewables.

  • The creation of a Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator, a finance entity that will use public funds to mobilize more private investment in renewable energy projects across the country, leveraging our investments in clean energy research and deployment. 

  • The Civilian Climate Corps (CCC), which will employ thousands of young people to address the threat of climate change and help recent college graduates find full-time work in clean energy deployment, resilience, and conservation.

Read Full Letter Here

Questions? Please contact us at: policyteam@secondnature.org. 
 

MONTHLY MERIT

 

In early November, the University of St. Thomas announced that they would be divesting from fossil fuels.  By doing so, they are among numerous Catholic institutions to make the commitment.  Their divestment plan will take place over the next five years.  
 

 
Learn More
 

Congratulations to the University of St. Thomas for making this commitment!
 

 

RAPID RECOGNITIONS

 
 
 

GW Launches Interdisciplinary Climate and Health Institute
Published Date: November 16, 2021
Source: GW Today

 
 

Climate Change is Making One of the World's Strongest Currents Flow Faster
Published Date: November 24, 2021
Source: UC San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

 

 
 
 
 

UMaine-Farmington’s Sustainable Campus Coalition celebrates 20th anniversary
Published Date: November 30, 2021
Source: Sun Journal

 

 
 

UW sustainability course proposes greener campus fleet
Published Date: November 30, 2021
Source: The Badger Herald

 
 
 
 
 

Statement of President Joan Ferrini-Mundy on Maine Climate Council meeting at UMaine
 Publication Date: December 1, 2021
Source: University of Maine, UMaine News

 

 
 

U named finalist for Racial Equity and Sustainability Collaboration award
 Publication Date: December 1, 2021
Source: The University of Utah, @TheU

 
 

Energy from the Sun: Collaborative Solar Facility Goes Online in Maine
Publication Date: November 15, 2021
Source: Smith College News


Three of the five New England institutions who are a part of this are Climate Leadership Network signatories!
 

 
 
 

RELEVANT RESOURCES

 

Did You Know?

 

Second Nature's Climate Justice Landing Page features case studies from colleges, universities, and cities that have incorporated diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) principles into their climate action planning processes and plans. 


Our Climate Justice Fellow, Chaz Briscoe, recently added information about a City of Cleveland racial equity tool.  Be sure to check it out, and visit this page often as tools and resources will continually be added.  Questions? Please contact Chantal Madray (cmadray@secondnature.org).  
  

 
 

Monthly Policy Update: December 2021 

 

Get caught up on recent climate policy at the state, federal, and global levels, and how these policies are relevant to higher education.  

 
Read Now

Questions about these Monthly Policy Updates?
Contact Amanda Belles (abelles@secondnature.org)

 

OPPORTUNITIES

 

Washington Oregon Higher Education Sustainability Conference
March 2-4, 2022

 

The WOHESC 2022 program is now live!  You can find it here.  

We are proud to be a community partner for the Washington Oregon Higher Education Sustainability Conference (WOHESC), taking place March 2-4, 2022 at South Seattle College (there's virtual access as well).  

Join your regional peer institutions for this conference focused on advancing your climate action efforts in the Pacific Northwest.   

 
Register Here for 30% discount.
 
 

Note: As a WOHESC community partner, we're able to offer you a 30% registration discount if you register at the button above. 

 
 

Extra

 

Thank You & See You Next Year!

From our team to you and yours, THANK YOU for your continued dedication to, and collaboration on, this crucial climate work that we have all undertaken.  As we all know, this work is not an easy feat, but it is a must, and takes all of us. 

As we look ahead to continuing this work together in 2022 and beyond, we also wanted to take a moment to celebrate some of the successes from this year.  

Please stay safe and healthy, and we look forward to seeing you after the New Year! 

 - Your Second Nature Team  

 

The Second Nature office will be closed Friday, December 24, 2021 through Sunday, January 2, 2022.  

Our office will be reopen on Monday, January 3, 2022.  

Happy New Year!

 

 

Accelerate Your Climate Awareness. 

Subscribe to our Implementer list to get this e-newsletter automatically every month if you aren't already, and you can also subscribe for some of our other lists as well. 

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