Campuses Creating a Sustainable Future and Going Green: Resources for You

Campuses Creating a Sustainable Future and Going

Green: Resources for You

Debra RowePresident

dgrowe@oaklandcc.edu

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!!!!!!!!!!!

dgrowe@oaklandcc.edu

Let your enthusiasm show!

Questions or Comments?

Debra Rowedgrowe@oaklandcc.edu

Let your enthusiasm show!