Caring about Climate Change

This site provides information about how the University of Vermont is addressing climate change, which is an issue of social, environmental, economic and moral concern to our community. It is under development and as the new Office of Sustainability builds out its staff in the fall of 2008, more information will become available.

Accounting for Greenhouse Gas Emissions

We are currently in the process of updating our greenhouse gas emissions inventory. It will be available from the Office of Sustainability by September 15th, 2008. President Fogel signed the American College and University President's Climate Commitment in June 2007 and preparations are underway to develop UVM's Climate Action Plan. In addition, the Office of Sustainability is working closely with other academic institutions in the Northeast to catalyze cross-fertilization of ideas and problem-solving with regards to the challenges of maintaining an accurate greenhouse gas inventory on which to base a realistic climate action plan.

Student Activism and Research

In the 2007-2008 academic year, several grassroots, student-initiated efforts created a campus buzz about climate change:

• An upper-level environmental studies course titled Managing the Sustainable Campus examined mitigation strategies for UVM's greenhouse gas emissions. This research will help with the development of the University's Climate Action Plan. Download their fianal presentation and recommendations from the course wiki.

• A group of graduate students proposed that the University adopt a policy of proactive voting on climate related shareholder resolutions at corporations in which the endowment is invested, and as a result, the Board of Trustees adopted new climate proxy-voting guidelines in May 2008 and the treasurer's office began voting in favor of resolutions asking corporations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support development of non-fossil fuel energy supplies.

• Another group of gradutate and undergraduate students proposed that the University create a Clean Energy Fund to spur the development of renewable energy technologies and sources, and their proposal was approved by the Board of Trustees in May 2008.

• A network of students, faculty and staff worked together to carry out the first annual Focus the Nation teach-in on climate change in January 2008 and their dedication earned the University national recognition for one of the most diverse and exciting Focus the Nation events this year. To learn more about Focus the Nation, click on the icon below.