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Lane Community College, Eugene, Oregon
Public information officer: Joan Aschim, (541) 463-5591, aschimj@lanecc.edu
News for release June 12, 2007
LCC commits to "Climate Neutral" campus
PRESIDENT MARY SPILDE JOINS HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERS NATIONWIDE TO FIGHT GLOBAL WARMING
EUGENE - Lane Community College President Mary Spilde today joined more than 250 other college and university presidents in formally committing to sharply reduce and eventually eliminate all of the college's global warming emissions. Spilde also pledged to accelerate educational efforts to equip students with the knowledge and skills regarding sustainability and climate neutrality.
The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment was adopted today at a summit of higher education leaders in Washington, D.C. Lane Community College was one of the first signatories in fall of 2006. Spilde serves on the steering committee of the initiative.
"Global warming is a defining challenge of our time," says Spilde. "Human activities are responsible for the problem, and working together, we have the capacity to solve the problem. That means taking serious action today to stop adding global warming pollution to the atmosphere. Lane is committed to leading the way."
Spilde will create a comprehensive institutional action plan to move towards climate neutrality.
Lane already has taken significant actions proposed at the summit:
- Setting green standards for buildings.
- Requiring ENERGY STAR certification for products purchased by the college.
- Encouraging public transportation through the LCC Bus Pass.
- Using renewable energy sources such as wind power and on-site solar electric installations.
- Adopting a plan to reduce energy use and increase renewable energy annually.
In fiscal year 2006, energy use was decreased by 16 percent and approximately 10 percent of the college's electricity was supplied by renewable sources.
The Presidents Climate Commitment is the first such effort by any major sector of society to set climate neutrality - not just a reduction - as its target. This undertaking by America's colleges and universities is inspired by efforts like the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, the U.S. Climate Action Partnership and other collective efforts by states and businesses.
"Colleges and universities must lead the effort to reverse global warming for the health and well-being of current and future generations," said Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University and chair of the ACUPCC Steering Committee. "On behalf of all the signatories, I welcome President Spilde to the commitment, we are honored and pleased to have her join us."
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. Under the guidance and direction of university presidents, the Commitment is being supported and implemented by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), Second Nature, and ecoAmerica.
Learn more at www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org and 2011sitearchive.lanecc.edu/sustainability.
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