I wanted to pass on some exciting news that readers ofCampus Sustainability Perspectiveswill hopefully find helpful. The most recent issue of The International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education (IJSHE)  was prepared in cooperation with AASHE and with Judy Walton (Membership and Outreach Director) serving as the guest editor.Thisspecial editionfocuses on climate action planning on campuses in the US and Canada.

IJHSE is offeringlimited free online accessto this edition from August 24th to September 14th 2009. To gain access, please use these log-in details - username: ijshe300 with password: emerald

The articles included in this edition illustrate geographic and institutional diversity as well as variety in type of project – from an academic course to a university-wide initiative to a nation-wide survey of student climate initiatives.

In her guest editorial, Judy writes of the themes that emerged in this issue:

"A few themes emerge from this collection of articles. One is the critical role of student involvement in climate actions on campus, whether in conducting necessary research, leading climate campaigns, or participating in greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories. A second is the importance of community-building, engagement, and collaboration efforts in climate planning, and a third is the vital role of learning at all levels throughout the process.

A fourth and significant theme is the strategic impact of initiatives such as the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) that have ripple effects throughout the higher education system. Without commitments, such as the ACUPCC (signed by 615 presidents and chancellors as of this writing), it is exceedingly doubtful that at this point so many GHG inventories would be reported in a central place, and so many campuses – including non-signatories and even Canadian institutions – would be working on climate plans. The friendly competitions that emerge among peer groups pressure all to take action on global warming, whether or not one is ready to commit to climate neutrality as one's target goal."

Please login and let us know what you think of the articles and research. Also, please feel free to forward the login information to folks you know who may be interested in the topic of campus climate planning.