Peterson looking to more carbon-neutral future for campus
CU may have to add green onto the black and gold.
In June of 2006, CU Chancellor G.P. “Bud” Peterson signed the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment, which calls for the university to develop a plan for achieving carbon neutrality.
“Basically, it’s a plan to have a plan,” Amy Harris, UCSU Sustainability Director and senior majoring in environmental studies, said.
Harris said the President’s Climate Commitment requires that Peterson have a plan in place to reduce CU’s carbon emissions by September 15, 2009.
A group called the Chancellor’s Committee on Energy, Environment and Sustainability (CCEES) was formed to start developing ideas to help the university achieve its goals of lowering carbon emissions. Harris said the Committee itself is a larger group that meets quarterly, with members including Peterson, representatives from the city and county of Boulder and a few students.
The people that are researching and discussing ways to cut carbon emissions are a part of the working group that was formed under the committee. This working group is split up into different teams of professors, researchers, administrators and others who concentrate on specified areas of concern, such as energy supply, conservation, transportation, waste reduction, policy and behavioral practices.
Harris said in between the quarterly meetings of CCEES, these teams within the working group meet to come up with the most feasible plans to improve energy use on campus, which they later present to the larger Committee.
Dave Newport, director of the environmental center and chair of the working group discussed the necessary actions of the plans.
“The important thing to consider is to do what we’ve been asked to do and that is to bring back a plan that not only targets a date by which we can become carbon neutral but also the means as to how that will happen,” Newport said. “It’s not just about counting carbon atoms, it’s about a comprehensive approach to sustainability and climate action and making the university more competitive with a desire to create excellence in all areas.”
Harris said the President’s Climate Commitment has a list of accomplishments the university must do while it is developing a plan for carbon neutrality. It asks that the school complete at least two of the options on the list.
Harris said CU has already completed several of these listed tasks, including having an Energy Star Policy, which means the university only purchases Energy Star products. CU has also had a bus pass available to students since 1991; it had the first recycling program in the nation; and it requires LEED certification, or green building codes, for renovations and new buildings on campus.
“We’re really kind of ahead of the game in terms of sustainability with a lot of these other schools and cutting down our carbon,” Harris said.
While implementing and maintaining these methods of reducing carbon, the working group is looking at other projects that can help make the university more energy conscious.
“The group is basically analyzing each project or program or possibility in terms of how much carbon will it reduce, how much will it cost, how much will it contribute to education, research, community partnerships and so forth,” Newport said.
Paul Chase, head of the behavioral sub-committee and senior majoring in environmental studies, said the group is working on improving those programs already being implemented.
“Across the board we seem to be taking kind of an inventory of what’s going on, on campus,” Chase said. “We’re looking at programs that are already in existence – looking at those programs and figuring out ways to improve them, whether that be through funding or revamping the program or more publicity.”
He went on to say that the group is also looking at new programs to get started on campus.
“That’s what the really exciting part is,” Chase said, “these new programs that will move the campus as a whole towards this carbon neutrality role.”
Harris said that another goal for the group is to improve environmental education.
“We can’t guarantee that every student that goes through CU is going to know that when they turn on a light switch, they’re basically encouraging the coal plant to continue burning coal,” she said. “Along with quantitative reasoning skills, and along with all the other skills really expected of a CU graduate, one of those skills is also being aware of the impact that you have on your climate and on your environment in general.”
Chase agreed, saying that this is “one of the key defining issues of our generation.”
“At this point climate change is one of the most important issues and the most troubling issue in the fact that it will affect every single one of us in some shape or form whether we realize or we don’t,” he said. “You need to have some formal schooling on what’s going on around you.”
Chase also said that a student voice in the issue is important.
“More student involvement in this would really open up the doors for CU to be a leader in becoming carbon neutral,” Chase said. “I think students also have those fresh, new, really progressive ideas that are going to carry this type of project.”
Chase said that he would encourage students to send an e-mail to Peterson if they have an interest in improving sustainability at CU.
He also said that interested students can contact himself or visit the environmental center for information on how to get involved with projects on campus.
Currently, CCEES is only in the beginning stages of developing their plan for carbon neutrality. Newport said the plan will be drafted by the end of this year, and will be on the Chancellor’s desk by June of 2009.
In the meantime, the working group must sort through possible projects, their financial feasibility and the interests of the CU community.
“This is a huge commitment; it’s no easy thing to come up with a plan for carbon neutrality that’s actually going to fly,” Harris said.
She also said that she’s anxious for progress to be made.
“I know these things take time, and everything else, but climate change isn’t waiting around for anybody, it’s happening now,” Harris said.
Peterson said the issue of climate change is one that will have a widespread affect.
“A large number of people recognize the importance of climate change and the impact it may have on our lives and the way we live our lives,” he said. “I think this may be one of the most important problems we as a society face.”
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Kaely Moore at kaely.moore@colorado.edu
