The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment has all the makings of a big success story. Now over 600 colleges and universities have signed this pledge to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible. And none too soon. 

Leading climatologists like NASA’s Jim Hansen have warned that we – as a species -- have a very limited amount of time to reverse current greenhouse gas emissions trends and demonstrate a commitment to significant cuts in fossil fuel use or else we will be unable to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. 

Hansen, sometimes called the grandfather of climate change, described himself as a real grandfather who is concerned about his grandchildren and the world they will inherit in a letter he and his wife Anniek recently sent to Barack and Michelle Obama. This past Sunday Hansen was quoted in the UK Observer stating that Obama’s first term is our last chance to avoid climate catastrophe. 

So not only are the stakes high but also the time is short. Fortunately, the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment provides a crucially important mechanism for our schools to set an example and provide the motivation and momentum that is so desperately needed at this time. But let’s be clear: climate neutrality is no small undertaking. 

 

Recognizing the problem and making an initial commitment are important first steps. But getting there is not going to be easy – especially when the “there” is effectively eliminating reliance on fossil fuels. 

On many campuses, as the meaning of climate neutrality sinks in, there undoubtedly is a lot of hand-wringing and head-shaking going on about how to meet this commitment. And this is understandable. Creating educated minds may be your school’s most important product but you may become convinced that your most voluminous product is greenhouse gas emissions after seeing the results of your first greenhouse gas inventory.

The Presidents Climate Commitment addresses our primary addiction – our near total dependence on fossil fuels. The majority of colleges and universities burn natural gas for heating, buy electricity which is generated in large part by burning coal, and are populated by students, faculty, and staff who burn gasoline (oil) to travel to and from campus. These activities – plus virtually every other thing we do on campus -- produces globs of carbon dioxide and to a lesser extent other greenhouse gas emissions, fueling global warming and climate change. 

 

So it’s reality check time. Eliminating our school’s carbon footprint is huge! It is going to be quite a challenge. But its worth it!

 

On a weekly basis, this blog or column will be at your service, assisting you and your campus develop a climate action plan (CAP) that will get you to climate neutrality.   Next week I will discuss some excellent CAP resources and after that begin to get into the nuts and bolts of preparing your CAP. When you get a chance, please let me know what your CAP needs are.

 

‘till next week

 

Walter Simpson

enconser@buffalo.edu

 

Walter Simpson, CEM, LEED AP, retired 26 year University at Buffalo Energy Officer and director of UB Green, is working with AASHE and the American College & University President’s Commitment to develop a climate action plan wiki which is expected to be initially posted in February 2009.