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Earth Summit: 1/31/08

George R. Blumenthal
Remarks at the 7th Annual Campus Earth Summit
January 31, 2008

Thank you, Tom, and good morning everyone.

I am delighted to see we have such a great turnout for this important event. Your presence today demonstrates UCSC’s commitment to sustainability and our urgent need to take action on climate change.

First, I’d like to acknowledge the efforts of the many individuals and organizations that have made today’s Campus Earth Summit a reality for this, its 7th year.

  • The Student Environmental Center
  • UCSC Sustainability Office
  • Food Systems Work Group

Many people have been involved. I’d like to name just a couple:

  • Aurora Winslade, our campus sustainability coordinator. Later, she’ll discuss her office and what it is doing to achieve sustainability on campus. 
  • And Tommaso Boggia, whom you’ve already met.

As a student, Tommaso led the effort that resulted in UCSC becoming carbon neutral. He was responsible for the student referendum to raise funds for offsetting carbon credits. UCSC is now ranked sixth in the nation among colleges and universities for purchasing green power.

As Chancellor, I am personally committed to sustainability. It is vital for the long term future of the campus and for the long term future of planet Earth.

Sustainability is really a way of thinking about everything that we do – meeting our present needs without compromising the prospects of future generations.

Today, we’re focusing on climate change. Today’s Earth Summit coincides with Focus the Nation events around the country. UCSC is one of more than 1,550 institutions participating in Focus the Nation. It is important that we take this time to plan real action to reduce greenhouse gases with the goal of ultimately, slowing, and then reversing,  the climate change we are now experiencing.

But we must act now.

There are short-term things we can do. And other long term actions we must do.

Ultimately, we need to move toward renewable energy – solar and wind on campus. It’s our future; it has to be. It is easy to talk about. Implementing is not so easy. Actually, it can be quite difficult. We have to find funding mechanisms, including fundraising for particular projects.

I am confident we can do it. UCSC has a long history of environmental awareness and environmental action. UCSC had one of first environmental studies departments, founded in 1970.

We established the first Ph.D. program in environmental studies in the UC system in 1994.

I’d like to mention just a few of the actions already taken:

  • The Campus Sustainability Subcommittee is overseeing implementation of the UC Policy on Sustainable Practices.
  • The first Campus Sustainability Website was launched last fall.
  • The Sustainability Office has been established as a two-year pilot program, which will hopefully make a real difference
  • Energy retrofits by Physical Plant and energy-savings competitions help increase energy efficiency.
  • TAPS launched a car share program with Zipcar.
  • Nearly 59% of person trips to campus are made using alternatives such as carpools, vanpools, the bike shuttle, buses, and bikes.
  • Dining halls purchase more than 25% of their produce from local, organic sources.
  • We’ve seen a recycling boom since the start of the academic year.
  • Residential facilities recycle used carpet, mattresses and electronic waste.
  • Construction projects are now separating construction and demolition project debris for recycling / reuse credits.
  • Physical Plant is focusing more on resource management, not only diverting more away from the landfill, but also tracking full life cycle costs of material.
  • All e-waste and monitors are recycled in the U.S.; no campus electronic waste is allowed to leave the country.
  • Fluorescent lamps are recycled at a local facility that ensures 100% of all components are reclaimed using the latest technology.
  • In 2007, approximately 21,000 lamps were recycled

We’re just starting. Today, I am very pleased to announce another step, a milestone for UC Santa Cruz. 

And that is the formation of the Chancellor's Advisory Council on Climate Change which will report to me. I am also delighted to also announce two eminent scholars have agreed to co-chair the council.

  • Professor Lisa Sloan, dean of the graduate division and a world reknown  expert in climate change.
  • And Professor Daniel Press, chair of the environmental studies department

These two people will do a great job. Their charge is to respond on three policy levels.
First is the University/City/County Climate Action Compact I signed last October. I’m going to ask them to plan three demonstration projects to guarantee immediate short-term action.

The second policy level is the UC Policy on Sustainable Practices – Climate Protection Practices. It calls for the reduction of greenhouse gas emisions to year 2000 level by 2014. And by 2020 to reduce emissions to 1990 levels.

Thirdly, is the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment – also signed last year – that calls for carbon neutrality ASAP

We also have our Working Sustainability Vision Statement

  • UC Santa Cruz strives to integrate sustainability into every aspect of research, teaching, and public service.
  • Sustainability is our way of thinking about everything we do: in planning, building design and construction, renovation, purchasing, landscape, energy, water, waste, product consumption, emissions, transportation, etc.
  • Sustainability means meeting present needs without compromising ecosystems or the prospects of future generations to meet their own needs.
  • Through its historical commitment to the environment, UCSC can be a steward of our community and a leader in advancing global sustainability.

Now, my pleasure to introduce to you a real climate change activist who gets results.

Last Spring, Fred Keeley called together representatives of local government, business, and the university, and he challenged us to take local action on climate change. The first step was the Climate Action Compact I mentioned earlier.

Fred is a longtime Santa Cruz County resident. He served with great distinction as a county supervisor and a leader in the state Assembly. He was executive director of the Planning and Conservation League.

He is currently Santa Cruz County’s Treasurer. He is also a real friend of UC Santa Cruz. We are delighted to have him speak to us today. Please welcome Fred Keeley.

Thank you.