Climate commitment to improve sustainability

The University of Cincinnati formally announced its decision to "go green" Tuesday, Oct. 30 by hosting an environmental sustainability lecture, after joining the American Colleges & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).

The lecture, Climate Commitment 101, took place in the auditorium of Richard E. Linder Hall from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Faculty and students discussed the university's commitment and efforts to promote environmental sustainability.

UC President Nancy Zimpher signed the ACUPCC in April, which commits the university to plan and implement policies to reduce environmentally

harmful emissions.

The ACUPCC is a national effort to address global warming by recruiting institutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and overtime to become climate neutral.

Institutions that sign the ACUPCC must take a series of steps: develop a plan to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible, initiate at least two actions to reduce emissions during the planning process and submit the plan and progress reports to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

Over 400 institutions have signed to the commitment so far.

"This was something that we absolutely had to commit to," Zimpher said. "I think this is a matter around which Ohio's public and private institutions are going to get organized. We're definitely ahead of the curve."

This commitment continues UC's eco-friendly mentality, Zimpher said, pointing to Students for Ecological Design and the Leaders for Environmental Awareness and Protection.

The university has started creating committees to oversee the planning and initiation of programs that will lead to climate neutrality at UC.

The university is using a tool provided by Clean Air Cool Planet and data on greenhouse gas emissions to measure campus carbon emissions to determine future steps.

"[This is] an opportunity for all of us to be involved in creating this inventory that's our first step in our climate commitment," said Eric Maurer, director of the Center for Environmental Studies.

Anima Jain, a graduate student working in Campus Planning and Design, also spoke about the university's efforts to reach out to students and to encourage their participation in the process of becoming sustainable.

The newly-created sustainability Web site (www.uc.edu/af/sustainability) offers students yet another way to be informed and get involved with environmentally-conscious events on campus, as well as share their own ideas about sustainability with other students and faculty.

An hour-long presentation on climate change and sustainability from faculty members concluded the event. Thomas Lowell, professor of geology and Ken Hinkel, professor of geography gave two different perspectives on the issue of climate change.

Lowell discussed the history of climate change, and how it has affected the earth in the past compared to modern day. Hinkel gave an account on his research in the Arctic involving permafrost thawing, receding glacial ice and coastline erosion.

Daniel Oerther, associate professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, discussed the initiative, Sustainable Urban Engineering and its role in promoting environmentally sound thinking within the student body.

Another sustainability meeting is scheduled for Winter Quarter, according to Beth McGrew, university architect. The date has yet to be announced.

For more information, visit www.uc.edu/af/sustainability.