It has been quite some time since our last update, but we are still here.
Our Program at CSUSB has often been well... below radar, but recently we have witnessed the emerging of other green groups on campus, such as Green Living, and have been asked by other organizations to take part in several events to get the message of sustainability out. We are very excited to see green initiatives take momentum and welcome a collaboration among any group on campus! With all our work through sustainable living and energy efficiency, it is common that we forget that other students as CSUSB have not had the opportunity to be groomed and shaped in such a way. We are a very fortunate few, our team...
I, myself, am excited about the upcoming Sustainability Committee meeting that I have so graciously been invited to, among the many esteemed stakeholders on campus. I will readily report what we discuss there on August 10. I hope that the creation of the Sustainability Committee on our campus signals a new atmosphere and attitude, one where "green" doesn't imply "hippie," but instead a business professional. I hope, too, that the Green Campus Program at CSUSB does a great job at marketing and educating the program's mission to students, faculty, and staff on campus, so that "sustainability" doesn't sound like a foreign word to them.
On a state level, you might want to take a look at the new
California Climate Adaptation Strategy - Discussion Draft. Perhaps this is more proof that a Green Economy will someday be our only economy. California is making some good progress in its efforts, I think, though I am sure some would press for more strict measures, I am usually happy that any progress is being made. The
CSU system itself has recently started working on their Climate Action Plan, which I am sure you will here more about once it is in concrete form. This plan will charge each
CSU campus with the inventory of their Greenhouse Gases, as well as strategies for lowering their emissions.
CSU San
Bernardino may already be well on it's way toward such an inventory.
Shouldn't plans and actions like these be shared with students across campus? Students should know that we are working on a CAP, that we are taking inventory, that we have solar panels, that we have a Green Campus Program, and a desire to join the green movement. Transparency, it is called. But also, "promotion," right? I think a more progressive University is one that wants to sell itself as a "green" University.
Okay... what else. There are some hot new
National Teach-In events coming up. We have yet to participate in this event, but it would be SO COOL if we did! This year is focused on 350, which, in my understanding is the tipping point that most scientists are agreeing on. Here is what the site states:
Many scientists believe that we must get below a long run target of 350 ppm [parts per million] CO2 concentrations if we are to stabilize the climate at a point of avoiding catastrophe.
Basically, if our CO2 levels continue to remain passed 350 ppm, we are doomed. Unfortunately, as of June 2009 we are at 389.42 ppm, according to co2now.org. The fights is to raise awareness and create regulations and policy that will bring our emissions down and decrease our CO2 levels.
Of course the Green Campus Program's mission is to educate and instigate energy efficient practices and behaviors. The Energy Information Administration's release of 2005 data put California's electric power emissions at a generation of 42.1 million metric tons (about 92, 594 lbs.) of CO2. If we cut back our use of energy, we cut back our demand from the utilities, therefore using less coal and causing less CO2 to enter the atmosphere.
Not sure why electricity generation adds to the climate crisis? Let Duke Energy tell you how a coal fired plant creates electricity.
Needless to say, the Green Campus Program is looking forward to the upcoming year! Keep it Green, CSUSB!
