WHEN THOUSANDS of scientists around the world agree, when George W. Bush brings himself to mention it, and especially when you can buy coffee mugs that show the land that will be underwater, you know that there actually may be an issue of concern: Global warming is a proven and immediate problem, and proven to be a direct result from the human effect on Earth.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a panel created specifically by the United Nations in 1988 to evaluate and assess the issues of global warming, released a report nearly two months ago. The thorough and well-researched report explains the severe consequences of global warming and the climate changes already seen in the world today.
This landmark report not only verified what many people already believe, but also convinced many skeptics and sparked a larger movement to address the problem.
One such movement is the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. Described on the Web site as a "high-visibility effort to address global warming," the commitment outlines an intensive plan for every signatory to follow, including an assessment of all greenhouse gas emitted and then reduction of the emissions, with climate neutrality as a final goal.
At the federal government level, the current administration still hesitates to admit a large problem. The legislative branch theoretically recognizes the issues, but solutions will get mired in the political and legislative process. Al Gore's recent visit to Congress illustrated this point. CNN reports he "pleaded with lawmakers to fight global warming" but faced some opposition. Joe Barton (R-Texas), said that Al Gore was "not just off a little," but "totally wrong." Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.) thinks it's merely a "hoax." There are too many people in the government who refuse to fight or even believe in global warming for necessary policy to come soon enough or even at all.
It is then up to individuals and individual entities (like businesses, local governments, and universities) to take a larger role in contributing to the global climate change.
At this point, there are 146 signatories of the commitment. They include public and private schools, Ivy League, large and small schools, and five in Virginia. The goal is to reach 1,000 signatories by December of 2009.
The Presidents Climate Commitment is a perfect way for the University of Virginia to take a formal stance on the issue and be held accountable. President Casteen, however, does not agree; a few days ago he formally chose not to sign.
Student Environmental Action (SEA) made a major effort during the week before spring break to make the necessity of signing and the support from students clear to President Casteen.
SEA started a petition, and in just a few days of tabling, got around 500 students' signatures. SEA President Dana Richards says there was a "great" response from students and that many "enthusiastically signed their names to the petition." Approximately 10 to 15 of SEA's "core" members sent e-mails to President Casteen, and then many petition signers sent e-mails to Casteen and members of the Board of Visitors as well.
Casteen's office responded quickly to most of the e-mails, saying that he and the Board of Visitors would come to a decision that week.
Unfortunately, while their efforts certainly sent a message to University administration, SEA could not convince President Casteen to sign. The University put out a statement to explain why Casteen did not sign and to promise "aggressive" goals in the realm of sustainability nonetheless.
Granted, the University has made efforts in the past several years toward sustainability, and surely that will continue. Remember, however, that the University received the impressive grade of D+, indicating just how effective those efforts were.
That grade is discouraging, and the University's cowardice toward signing the Commitment is disappointing. While the aggressive goals promised in the University's statement imply forward movement, the praise in the same statement of the past D+ efforts makes it hard for one to be optimistic.
Global warming has already become a major problem. Some of the harmful effects are irreversible, but the extremity of the consequences and their imminence can be fought if actions are taken now. The world doesn't have time to wait for the bureaucracy to catch up with science and then move in baby steps when it eventually does; it is decades too late for that. Instead, people need to do their part on an individual level and effect change wherever they can.
President Casteen and other University officials still have the power and influence to make this University do all that it can to change the current situation. If the Presidents Climate Commitment is really not the way the administration chooses to go, one can only hope that the University still makes the intense effort desperately needed.
Ashlee Wilkins is a Cavalier Daily Viewpoint Writer. She is a first-year student in the College of Arts and Sciences.
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