The University of California joined the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment Thursday in an effort to maintain sustainability policies among its 10 campuses.
By signing the commitment, the UC pledges to decrease its greenhouse gas emissions and increase research and educational efforts to help stop global warming.
According to a report from the UC, sustainability “refers to the physical development and institutional operating practices that meet the needs of present users without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, particularly with regard to use and waste of natural resources.”
Sustainability policies have been adopted by the UC to address critical environmental issues and to create a long-term plan to reduce energy output so the UC will be “good stewards of the earth,” said UC spokeswoman Jennifer Ward.
The commitment is a formal declaration of existing UC Regents sustainability efforts, including the board’s Green Building Design and Clean Energy Standards policy, Ward said.
The UC’s current policy ““ adopted in June 2004 ““ created specifications for “green buildings” and use of “clean energy,” and requires new buildings to conform to specific energy consumption levels and use increased levels of renewable power.
“The University of California is pleased to take part in this important effort to safeguard the environment,” said UC President Robert C. Dynes in a statement, stressing the UC’s obligation as a public research university to act as a leader in the area of environmental stewardship.
Several universities throughout the U.S. have also joined the presidents commitment, including Cornell University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Jeffrey Dhungana, a fourth-year anthropology student and member of the campus organization known as E3, which stands for Ecology, Economy, Equity, said the presidents commitment ensures that the UC Regents will strengthen sustainability policies on campuses in the future, meaning the university would stop contributing harmful substances to the atmosphere.
Some students have become involved with sustainability efforts in the past few months, including lobbying the regents.
Members of E3 and its statewide parent organization, California Students Sustainability Coalition, met with several UC chancellors to discuss the commitment and inform them of student concern in response to sustainability issues, said Dorothy Le, a fifth-year environmental studies student and E3 member.
Le said the actions of the university reflect the growing awareness of UC students regarding the need for sustainability.
“This commitment is really important because now the UC is an example to other schools that haven’t made this commitment,” Le said, adding that the public statement shows that the UC wants to be known and recognized for their sustainability efforts.