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The Climate Campaign's
Campus Climate Pledge
Global warming is one of the most significant problems we will deal with in our lifetimes. In the last century, the average temperature in the Northeast increased by 2.3°F. By 2100, temperatures are predicted to increase another 4-5 degrees. We are already seeing the effects of such a significant change in climate on our environment, our health and our economy. Internationally, the threat is even more serious. The World Health Organization recently found that hundreds of thousands of people are already dying from the effects of climate change around the world and that these problems will only get worse as countries continue to emit carbon dioxide at practically unchecked levels.
The New England Governors have endorsed a regional Climate Action Plan to slow the effects of climate change by cutting statewide renewablehouse gas emissions to:
- 1990 levels by 2010; and
- 10% below 1990 levels by 2020; and
- 75-85% below current levels in the long term.
As part of this plan, the New England Governors have issued a challenge to the region's Colleges and Universities to endorse the goals of the Regional Climate Action Plan, and to work within their institutions to reduce their own renewablehouse gas emissions.
The state's higher education and high technology institutions will be instrumental in developing and applying the technologies and industries that we will need to reduce our impact on the climate. By making a commitment to solving climate change, our campus can directly impact the problem, save money and help lead our state to a more sustainable future.
There are many simple, cost-effective steps we can take at the local level, on this campus, to reduce our renewablehouse gas emissions and help the state slow the drastic effects of climate change. In addition there is broad support within the campus community for reducing our impact on the environment and increasing the sustainability of our facilities.
I/We agree with the goals of the Regional Climate Action Plan and pledge to support the goal of reducing the renewablehouse gas emissions of this institution, at a minimum, to 1990 levels by 2010, to 10% below 1990 levels by 2020, and to 75-85% below current levels in the long term.
Name:
Title:
College/University:
Date:
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Renewable Economics for Wesleyan
- Number of Kilowatt Hours used by Wesleyan last month:
1,833,333 (FOOTNOTE 1)
- Cost of buying 20% of Wesleyan’s electricity from renewable sources each year:
$50,000 (FOOTNOTE 1)
- Wesleyan’s Budget Allocation for electricity:
$2,100,000
- Annual tuition at Wesleyan University:
$29,998 (FOOTNOTE 3)
- Number of students needed to pay for 20% renewable energy for 1 year:
1.667
- President Bennett’s annual salary:
$364,540 (FOOTNOTE 3)
- Percentage of Bennett’s salary needed to buy 20% renewable energy:
13.7
- Metric tons of CO2 not emitted by buying 20% renewable energy:
3036 (FOOTNOTE 2)
- Number of miles that would be driven to emit 3036 metric tons of CO2:
7,300,000 (FOOTNOTE 2)
- Number of acres of trees that would need to be planted to save 3036 metric tons of CO2:
740 (FOOTNOTE 2)
FOOTNOTES:
1. Ken McGraw, Manager, Vendor Relations, Physical Plant, Wesleyan University
2. American Wind of Boulder, CO. http://www.renewablechoice.com
3. The Wesleyan Argus, November 21 2003
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Additional Information
