campuses creating a sustainable future and going green: resources for you
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Campuses Creating a Sustainable Future and Going
Green: Resources for You
Debra RowePresident
ProfessorRenewable Energies and Behavioral Sciences
www.ceret.us
FounderDisciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability
Co-coordinatorHigher Education Associations’ Sustainability Consortium
AdvisorAssociation for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
www.aashe.org
Part I What is Sustainability and Greening? Part II Examples and Resources: Create
sustainability related activities and policies on campus
Part III National Trends Part IV Conclusions
Throughout this session = Next Steps for You
Today’s Topics
Sustainable Development is often defined as:
“meeting the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of
future generations to
meet their own needs”
World Commission on Env. and Development. (1987). Our Common Future. England: Oxford University Press.
HealthyEconomies
HealthyCommunities
Healthy Ecosystems
SustainableSociety
The Three Components of Sustainable DevelopmentWhat Businesses call “The Triple Bottom Line”
Education for a Sustainable Society:
“enables people to develop the knowledge, values and skills to participate in decisions …, that will improve the quality of life now
without damaging the planet for the future.”
Extend critical thinking to change agent skills
• Resilient• Optimistic• Committed• Tenacious• Assertive• Cope effectively with
change• Emotionally intelligent
• Persuasive• Empathetic• Coalition builder• Mediate and resolve
conflicts• Challenge the status
quo effectively when appropriate
Extend critical thinking to change agent skills
• See the small steps and the systemic changes needed for a more sustainable future, convert it into a tasklist and timeline, and follow through effectively.
Applied Knowledge/
TechnologicalSkills/ Values
Private Choices and Behaviors-Habits
Public Choices and Behaviors-Laws
Sustainable Communities
Sustainable Economies
EcosystemEcosystem
EcosystemEcosystem
Why Sustainability Now?
We are the first generation capable of determining the habitability of the planet for humans and other
species.
life supporting
resources
declining
consumption of life supporting
resources
rising
Global Perspective
Climate Change Effects in Our Lifetime
Climate change = = Civilization Disruption Disruption of food production and the food chain More extreme weather events Disruptions of ecosystems, including water supplies Spread of disease e.g. West Nile, Malaria Submersion of land masses –
was 1 to 4 foot sea level rise - now up to 48 feet50% of world’s population lives on the coasts
Sources: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, EPA
Plus according to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, all ecosystems
are stressed and at risk!
• Getting to the fun stuff! • Public unaware that we are exceeding the carrying capacity of the
planet. The U.S. has approximately 5% of the world’s population and is consuming 25% of the world’s resources.
Public unaware that we can build stronger economies that will produce quality of life and reduce human poverty and suffering, environmental degradation and social injustice now. A rapid shift in mindset is needed and
education to action is the key.
SHIFT OUR Institutions’ and our Society’sCULTURE AND POLICIES
You can help make sustainability “cool”!
What You Can Do –
Most Important Next Steps
What You Can Do On Campus?Sustainability film series - with discussions afterwards that lead to possible actions Sustainability speakersSustainability entertainersSustainability related community projectsClothing and other stuff swapsSustainability living contests in collaboration with residential halls
Examples and Resources from you
What will you do next? Take multiple steps each semester
Small but permanent impacts, such as signage on energy and pollution savingswork with facilities, bookstore, and graphic arts
profsuse downloadable postersustainability primer
Annual eventsFreshman pledge (www.graduationpledge.org)Sustainability living campaigns
What will you start with? Take multiple steps each semester
Add sustainability to all your eventsTrash free events, Fair trade productsCarbon neutral music and other eventsCampus Consciousness Tour www.reverb.org Green music – list of 185 artists and 277 different
songs – will be on NACA’s site soon Reach out to other groups to go green
Mayors, businesses and non-profitsDining halls – local and organic – waste sculptures
What will you start with? Take multiple steps each semester
Use the media – students have the powerCreate visuals and call the TV stations and
newspapersYouTube, Facebook and Twitter what you doEngage MTV-U to include sustainability ideasUSA Today wants your stories =
www.usatoday.com/educate/college/voices/green.htm Also upload your videos to
http://www.campussustainability.info/
The media is coming to us
• Time/CNN; • Newsweek; • Washington Post; • New York Times; • MTV; • HE publications;• Science Magazine• You can help change media – MTV story
Local Professional Development Offerings You can Use
1. “Campus Sustainability Catalyzing Days”: Targeted Meetings plus Faculty/Staff Development.
2. Capturing the Shifting Campus Culture on Video to Promote More Positive Change - put in the recreational buildings/union/MTV-U
What will you start with? Take multiple steps each semester Be part of the national events:
National Teach-In on Climate Change – show the webcast www.nationalteachin.org
Powershift – www.powershift09.orgRecyclemania – www.recyclemania.org/
Campus Ecology and National Campus Chill Out – www.nwf.org/campusecology/chillout/
Create your own at www.thinkMTV.orgCampus energy wars MN- www.teammn.org/mcec.html
Building self-concepts in staff and students:
You can help change society!!Imagine students and staff literate in the real world sustainability challenges and
engaged in the solutionsProvide the models and opportunities for
practicing the changing of behaviors and policies
www.playagreaterpart.orgImagine a country where all college students get
involved in helping to solve our societal problems through their academic assignments
and residential/student activities.
What will you start with? Take multiple steps each semester
Bring in entertainers and events that can also teach sustainabilitySustainable Waves
www.sustainablewaves.com/ Sustainable Living Roadshow
www.sustainablelivingroadshow.org/
Eco-info zone Solar stage Conscious carnival midway Renewable fuel vehicles Green market place Green film festival Green educators
Environmentally aware entertainers/managers/events…
Umphrey McGee organization, Native Energy, etc.
Campus GreenGame - players come up with actions, plans, and policies that lead to lowering the campus footprint and that reduce operating costs - www.bigpicturesmallworld.com/colleges/greengame.shtml
ACPA Presidential Taskforce on Sustainability
“Tool Kit” for Creating a Better World: Ideas for Campus Activities that Support and Educate About Sustainable Living
http://www.myacpa.org/task-force/sustainability/docs/Tool_Kit_Campus_Activities.pdf
ACPA – Residential CurriculaCulture Making and Legislative Activities:
Each student participating in a campaign as a freshman, and then organizing a campaign.
Ex. – UNC ICARE, Fair Trade, Campus Climate
Challenge, Political Campaigns, Student
Green Fees, Divestment (ex: Sudan), Nike
(tell the stories!)
Climate Change We can’t have watered down legislation
Civic engagement – Feed in tariffs or auction the credits!
Take out paper and pencil and make some choices – I’ll scroll through
Then let’s share what we’re creating!
NACA listserv under Blogs and Forums!
Join us as in the national work!
Part III National Trends
More possibilities
U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development:
Convene, Catalyze and Communicate
Sector Teams: Business, Higher Education, K-12, Communities, Faith, Youth…
The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
Leverage for action!
Select examples internationally in higher education:
ESD is a guiding principle in the
European Union.
A requirement for all graduates in Sweden.
World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics
Sustainability is smart business:
Cradle to Cradle (McDonough) – clean factories Biomimicry (Benyas – Like nature, efficient and not
toxic) – Butterflies and snail wisdom World Business Council for Sustainable
Development (www.wbcsd.org) Natural Step (Sweden and U.S.) – building
agreements Natural Capitalism (Lovins, Harvard Business
Review) – negawatt Ethical Markets – Hazel Henderson Mid-Course Correction – Ray Anderson – no toxic
legacy
Trends and resources in sectors – some examples
Business - LOHAS, SOL Sustainability Consortium, CERES, Businesses for Social Responsibility, Shareholders, Investors (e.g. Swiss RE)
Communities - Mayors Climate Protection and Smart Growth, Grand Rapids model
K-12 – Nat. Assoc. of Independent Schools, U.S. Partnership resources
Faith - National Religious Partnership and Interfaith Alliance, Regeneration Project
Youth – Driving the changes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1. National higher education associations and disciplinary associations are creating initiatives in education for sustainable development.
2. Three national networks with resources for you!
GREAT NEWS!!! We’ve created a National Trend in higher education
For higher education, Sustainable Development integrated
into the above areas.
Curricula
Research
Operations
CommunityPartnerships
Student Life
Professional Development
Mission andPlanning
Purchasing
LegislationSocietalOutreach:
Media
Alumni
www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org (c) 2007 Presidents Climate Commitment. All rights reserved.
1. The Initiative
• Signed by over 600 presidents & chancellors
• Goals:– model climate neutrality for society– contribute research & educated students to solve
climate crisis and help create a sustainable society
Engaged National HE Associations to assist you.
1. ACE–Am. Council on Ed.2. AAC&U – Assoc. of
American Colleges and Universities
3. AACC – Am. Ass. of Community Colleges
4. AASCU – State Colleges and Universities
5. AGB – Governing Boards
6. ACUHO-I - Housing7. NAEP –
Educational Buyers
8. APPA – Facilities Officers
9. NACUBO – Business Officers
10. SCUP – College and University Planners
11. ACUI – Student Unions12. ACPA – Student Affairs13. NACA –
Campus Activities14. NACS – Campus Stores
AND OTHERS
2. Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium –
www.heasc.net – resource center
• Professional standards and resources for your staff!• Sustainability is part of everyone’s job!• Shared professional development,• Shared publications, • Sustainable practices/policies,• Informing the public about higher education’s
commitment to sustainability.
Governance & Management
Presidents & TrusteesAASCU’s Public Purpose Magazine; Sustainability Article in ACE’s The Presidency Magazine; Sustainability Panel at AGB Conference; AACC’s Education for Sustainable Development Website – monthly conference calls
Student Services – help educate the staff – connect them to HEASCHousing ACUHO-I, Student Life - ACUI’s “Why Sustainability” Page, NAEP’s Sustainable Purchasing Page
Governance & Management
Planning & Management
Association Publications: Business Officer, Facilities Manager, Planning for Higher Education, and many more
Governance & Management
Planning & ManagementCollaboration – HEASC Resource
CenterArticles online, Professional Development, including Campus Sustainability Day, Business Case for Alternative Energy book from APPA, NACUBO & SCUP.
Student Affairs – www.myacpa.org
Primer, list of possible campus activities, and chart of learning outcomes, including change agent skills!
3. Disciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability – DANS
www.aashe.org/dans • American Psychological
Association• Sociology• Religion• Philosophy• Math• Broadcasting• Architecture• Engineering (civil,
mechanical, eng. ed.)• Business
• Ecological Economics• Chemistry• Biology• American Association
for the Advancement of Science
• Computer Research• Humanities• Women’s Studies• Political Science• Anthropology………• NCSPOD
DANS – Infusing sustainability into:1. Curricula, including cross-disciplinary approaches 2. Promotion and tenure and accreditation 3. Legislative briefings4. Informing the public5. Professional identity as an academic Very exciting – share with your faculty and help them
bring sustainability challenges and solution building into their classroom! Every discipline has a unique and important role to play and most academic disciplines are already involved.
National Professional Development Offerings You can Use
1. Campus Sustainability Day (CSD) – Oct
2. HEASC, DANS and PCC faculty and staff oriented webinars
3. Faculty Development Offerings• AASHE
• U.S. Partnership
• Contact me for more info on the above
Curricular Initiatives
• In General Education Core
• Infused Throughout Curriculum
• Programs, Degrees, Institutes, Centers
Changing the norms!Changing the norms!If we don’t use the voice and the If we don’t use the voice and the
credibility of higher education to help credibility of higher education to help create positive visions and actions, create positive visions and actions,
we will not create a sustainable we will not create a sustainable future. You are in an important future. You are in an important
position to catalyze education for position to catalyze education for sustainability. sustainability.
What You Can Do – Build on the Trend
1. Point to the national trend.
2. Provide the “obedient middles” with resources to act.
3. Build toward the critical mass. Be inclusive.
4. Multiple entry portals.
5. Post accomplishments and tell the stories!
What You Can Do –
Engage faculty and students PLUS: facilities, purchasing, community
partnerships, bookstores, planners, IT…everyone!
Ask for their help! Toot their horns!
1. “You have unique and important contributions to make to help create a sustainable future. We can’t imagine doing this without you!”
2. “We have all these resources for you.”
3. “How can we help you with your sustainability initiatives?”
4. Follow up and nurture them.
We have seen increased involvement and resistance break through across the institutions!!!!!!!
Key Phrases to get Participation
Resources Used
• AASHE Bulletin (weekly, free)
• AASHE Digest (annual digest of stories by topic) – www.aashe.org
• www.heasc.net/sustainablefuture
Conclusions so far1. The U.S. public is not educated enough about
sustainability issues and solutions.2. We need sustainability literacy and engagement for
ALL. We all need skills to change consumption behaviors and policies.
3. Use the national trends to shift attitudes on campus.4. You are in a unique and important position. It is
important to be a systems change agent. We can help you.
5. Share what you are doing with our national and international networks. Set precedents for others.
If you feel overwhelmed or unsure, don’t give up!!
There are people you can talk to about how to create success
What do you need to institutionalize year long social and environmental responsibility?s.
The Power of What You Do
We can choose a sustainable future
Congratulations on all you have already done.
Most importantly, congratulations on what you will do next!!!!!!!!!!!
Let your enthusiasm show!