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All Photo Credits: Jim Terrinoni Over 50 concerned citizens attended GreeningUSA’s Annual Meeting on Earth Day, Wednesday April 22, 2009, featuring presentations from three Syracuse area colleges. Attendees included Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney and Syracuse Common Councilor and Mayoral candidate, Stephanie Miner.
Presenters included Eric F. Spina, Vice Chancellor and Provost for Syracuse University, Mike Kelleher, Director of Renewable Energy Systems for SUNY ESF, and David Wall, Director of Corporate and Public Partnerships, Workforce Development for Onondaga Community College. Each college provided a short summary of their progress to date on achieving the goals of The American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/. According to their web site, The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment is a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate.
Presidents signing the Commitment are pledging to eliminate their campuses’ greenhouse gas emissions over time. This involves: • Completing an emissions inventory • Within two years, setting a target date and interim milestones for becoming climate neutral. • Taking immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by choosing from a list of short-term actions. • Integrating sustainability into the curriculum and making it part of the educational experience. • Making the action plan, inventory and progress reports publicly available.
After their presentations, the college representatives answered questions from attendees and continued the conversation long after the meeting concluded. Their passion for leading Central New York toward sustainability was very clear. Thanks, again, to our breakfast sponsor:
James Farrell, President, Pella of CNY, Inc. Diane Brandli |
