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Press Releases 2007
CONTACT: Mary Planding, Director, Marketing & Communications
(831) 479-6158
mary.planding [at] cabrillo.edu
July 7, 2007
Cabrillo College President Commits to a ‘Climate Neutral’ Campus
Dr. Brian King Joins Higher Education Leaders Nationwide to Fight Global Warming
APTOS, CA —Cabrillo College President Brian King today joined over 250 other college and university presidents in formally committing to sharply reduce and eventually eliminate all of Cabrillo’s global warming emissions. King also pledged to accelerate research and educational efforts to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate.
The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment was adopted at a summit of higher education leaders in Washington, D.C. this past June.
“Global warming is a defining challenge of our time,” said King. “Human activities are responsible for the problem, and working together humans have the capacity to solve the problem. That means taking serious action today to stop adding global warming pollution to the atmosphere. Cabrillo is committed to leading the way.”
King will create a comprehensive institutional action plan to move towards climate neutrality. In addition, in the short term, Cabrillo will immediately take the following concrete actions:
- Adopt green standards for buildings;
- Require ENERGY STAR certification for products purchased by the university;
- Offset emissions due to air travel;
- Encourage public transportation;
- Purchase energy from renewable sources; and
- Support climate and sustainability shareholder proposals through their endowment.
The Presidents Climate Commitment is the first such effort by any major sector of society to set climate neutrality – not just a reduction – as its target. This undertaking by America’s colleges and universities is inspired by efforts like the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, the U.S. Climate Action Partnership and other collective efforts by states and businesses.
“Colleges and universities must lead the effort to reverse global warming for the health and well-being of current and future generations,” said Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University and chair of the ACUPCC Steering Committee. “On behalf of all the signatories, I welcome Dr. King to the commitment, we are honored and pleased to have him join us.”
The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment is a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate. Under the guidance and direction of university presidents, the Commitment is being supported and implemented by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), Second Nature, and ecoAmerica.
Learn more at: www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org.
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