LAST WEEK, the University released a response explaining its decision not to sign the American College and University President's Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). While disappointed with this decision, Green Grounds recognizes the challenges inherent in decision-making for a large public institution. Nonetheless, we are deeply concerned with the University's public reasoning behind its decision, much of which we find unfounded, inaccurate, and inconsistent with many of the current efforts underway.
We challenge the following points of the University's statement:
1. Addressing climate change and environmental literacy are "agendas set outside of higher education."
The suggestion that addressing global climate challenges falls outside the purview of higher education is fundamentally troubling. We strongly agree with the sponsors of the Commitment that "no other institution in society has the influence, the critical mass and the diversity of skills needed to successfully reverse global warming."
2. Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction and its effect on the environment are not "scientifically verifiable."
With dozens of GHG inventory frameworks available and demonstrated leadership by respected bodies across all sectors, such as Tufts University, the City of New York and Chevron Corporation, the University is not without proven approaches. The University should also be familiar with the recent findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which states -- as reported by more than 600 scientists -- that human activity is a significant contributor to our current global climate crisis. If the University remains unconvinced, we suggest application of the Precautionary Principle: When an activity raises threats to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.
3. The Commitment is "without a clear definition ... of ... 'climate neutrality'."
The definition of climate neutrality is publicly available on the ACUPCC website: "For purposes of the ACUPCC, climate neutrality is defined as having no net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, to be achieved by minimizing GHG emissions as much as possible, and using carbon offsets or other measures to mitigate the remaining emissions."
4. Achieving climate neutrality requires understanding "the costs of implementing technologies that do not now exist."
Not one of the measures proposed by the Commitment requires technologies that do not currently exist. In fact, several of the proposed measures are already in practice at the University -- including green building standards, energy-efficiency measures, public transportation promotion, student support of renewable energy and other tangible actions identified in the University Sustainability Assessment Report.
5. These efforts are being led and supported by "environmental activists."
Labeling those concerned with the health of our global environment as "environmental activists" is considered both pejorative and passé in our present age of environmental literacy. Such depictions only serve to marginalize University members who share this concern and further legitimize the use of characterizations purported by columnists of The Cavalier Daily, like "fruit smoothie-swilling, hemp-wearing, tofu-munching 'scientists.'"
We are reasonable, educated people, keenly alert to the real and immediate threat to our health and the environment -- and we are distressed when presented with the University's seemingly disingenuous and unfounded response to what we and many others consider a critical issue.
Elizabeth Kahley and Nathan Foley are executive directors of the Green Grounds Group.
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