Have you made changes toward a more sustainable future?

There is a Climate of Change happening right now in the world today.

Rogue Community College

Presentation to the Faculty Senate February, 2011

President’s Climate Commitment

President’s Climate Commitment is a tool specifically designed for higher education by college presidents.

Started in 2007

677 institutions have signed to date.

Signatories and text can be viewed online.

Oregon Signatories to date

Community Colleges: Columbia Gorge, Lane, Portland, Rogue

Colleges: Lewis & Clark, Linfield, Oregon College of Art and Craft

Universities: Eastern Oregon, OIT, OSU, Portland State, Southern

Oregon, U. of Oregon, U. of Portland, Western Oregon, Willamette U.

•RCC faculty was surveyed on whether RCC should sign in 2008.

• Responses: 25 positive and one negative

• Presented to RCC Board in 2009 by Green Team

•Signed by Peter Angstadt with board support in May 2010

•First milestone is due in May 2011 (in process)

First, RCC had to start work on two immediate actions for reducing greenhouse gas from a list of seven.

RCC Board chose to start work on these two actions:

◦ 1. Purchase Energy Star certified appliances whenever they are available.

◦ 2. Encourage use of and provide access to public transportation for all faculty, staff, and visitors.

Second, RCC has the following goals to meet related to a broader approach to reducing greenhouse gases.

1. Within one year: a greenhouse gas inventory is due

2. Within two years: design a plan to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible (flexible target dates).

Include actions to make sustainability a part of the educational experience of all students.

President’s Climate Commitment Mission

◦Accelerate progress towards climate neutrality and sustainability by empowering the higher education sector to educate students, create solutions, and provide leadership-by-example for the rest of society.

Achieving sustainability is first and foremost a shift in how we think. Sustainability challenges us to change and move out of our comfort zone in unexpected ways.

Sustainability creates opportunities to partner across departments and divisions.

To varying degrees, we still tend to operate in the paradigm of unlimited energy with no repercussions.

Sustainability leads toward saving money on energy costs, freeing up more resources for education.

Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Currently in process◦Data has been gathered for the year 2008.◦A report will be submitted in May 2011

- clean air cool planet- campus carbon calculator

Climate Action Plan Plan to become ‘climate neutral’ due by May 2012

Plan will set initial target dates for positive steps over a longer term.

Will RCC’s Climate Action Plan be just another document on file?

Or can we design a plan that is meaningful for the College community as a whole?

How can that unfold?

Ongoing operations result in a minimal negative impact on our natural environment.

We are actively engaged in creating ways to positively impact our environment.

Continuous learning takes place about our impact on the environment, as a college and as individuals.

Imagine

Rogue Community College with…