Everybody knows that hope for the future starts with youth. There's a ton of activity on campuses from elementary through higher-ed related to sustainability, environmental responsibility and social justice. Here are a few highlights from current student projects and campaigns:
The Sustainable University: The Chronicle of Higher Education published a special issue examining progress towards sustainability on university campuses in everything from the buildings themselves to the research inside them to the experimental degrees some schools are beginning to offer that place special emphasis on sustainability. There's an interactive quiz for evaluating personal and school sustainability, and includes Q&A interviews with James Howard Kunstler, Jeff Sachs, Ray Anderson, and Micheal Crow.
Focus the Nation: We announced Focus the Nation last fall during the planning stages for the organization's nationwide open discussion about climate change solutions, set for January 31, 2008. Their one-year recruitment phase kicked off on January 31, 2007, and now they plan to assemble as many teams as possible of faculty and students from colleges, universities and K-12 schools around the US to take part in the conversation. Much like the recent 2010 Imperative Global Emergency Teach-In, the culmination of the project will be simulcast nationwide so that teams can join in on the discussion from their own locations. Unlike 2010, though, this is limited to the U.S. It would be interesting to see how the conversation would go, and what different kinds of outcomes would result, from a "Focus the World" global version of this event.
Climate Neutral Ivies: On February 2, 2007, students from eight Ivy League institutions banded together to ask leaders at their schools to make big leaps toward climate neutrality on their campuses -- specifically calling for their schools to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by the year 2050.
AASHE Report: Not long after the Ivy League push, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education released their annual report showing an explosion of activity around sustainability on campuses across the US and Canada. AASHE Digest 2006 includes over 600 stories about higher education institutions leading the way to a sustainable future. It is organized into 8 chapters covering: 1) institutional change, 2) education and outreach, 3) social responsibility, 4) green building, 5) energy management and renewable energy, 6) food and agriculture, 7) transportation, and 8) waste, water, landscaping, and procurement. The Digest offers ample evidence of a broadening and deepening of campus sustainability efforts, with more institutions of all types getting involved and campuses undertaking more significant measures than ever before to improve their sustainability performance.
Presidents Climate Commitment: This isn't about president G.W.B., but the presidents of American Colleges and Universities. The commitment allows presidents at institutions of higher-ed to make a public pact to reduce their schools' greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate progress in research and facility infrastructure towards addressing the climate crisis.
Reclaim the Future: An initiative of the Ella Baker Center, headed by Van Jones, this is something we've mentioned before, but which warrants another mention in this overview of today's activities for sustainability and social justice. Reclaim the Future is a five-part teaching tool that introduces important, current themes to students in the school system. These include green economy, eco-equity and eco-privilege, model cities, and restorative justice. The website makes all the information available online, along with a teacher's guide to assist in adapting the content to fit specific classrooms and age groups.
Tribewanted's Impact Assessment: And it's time for a return glimpse at Tribewanted, the reality TV show that garnered some press last year when creators announced the intention to create a green extreme adventure reality program. Recently I received some follow-up from the crew, letting me know about some of the work that's been done to assess the impact and create a sustainability plan for the show's lifetime. A team of students from the University College London compiled a report looking at water, energy, waste, biodiversity, food, building, transport and activities on the Fijian island of Vorovoro where this is all set to take place.
* Much of this is North American and I'm eager to hear what's going on on campuses elsewhere. Please share in the comments.
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