Presidents and Community Climate Commitments

Presidents Climate Commitment

President Michael S. Roth has enthusiastically signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. The Sustainability Advisory Group is therefore tasked to implement all the stipulations of the Commitment in order to achieve compliance. This will include:

• Before November 16, 2008, complete a comprehensive inventory of all greenhouse gas emissions (including emissions from electricity, heating, commuting, and air travel) and update the inventory every other year thereafter.
  
• Before November 16, 2009, develop an institutional action plan for becoming climate neutral, which will include:

1. A target date for achieving climate neutrality as soon as possible.
   
2. Interim targets for goals and actions that will lead to climate neutrality.
   
3. Actions to make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum and other educational experience for all students.
   
4. Actions to expand research or other efforts necessary to achieve climate neutrality.
   
5. Mechanisms for tracking progress on goals and actions.
    

Wesleyan Community Climate Commitment

Members of Wesleyan's Environmental Organizers' Network, in conjunction with the Sustainability Advisory Group, have also presented to the Wesleyan Community the Wesleyan Community Climate Commitment, an individual sustainability pledge, accessible through your electronic portfolio, that all members of the Wesleyan community are encouraged to sign.

This commitment form suggests eleven small actions that we can take as individuals that will collectively make a difference -- things like recycling, using refillable bottles instead of bottled water, carpooling, and turning off unneeded lights. The commitment form asks the entire community to select at least five of these actions, and then click the button at the bottom to agree to the pledge. You will have the opportunity in the future to revise your commitment. This pledge form is available now in your Employee or Student portfolio:
  •  Employees, in the "personal information" section on the upper right side
  •  Students, in My Student Portfolio, in the "Student Life at Wesleyan" section
 

To learn more about how you can reduce your own impact on the environment in accordance with the Community Climate Commitment, click here!