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Connecticut’s Climate Change Action Plan: Building A Connecticut Campus Network

Connecticut’s Climate Change Action Plan: Building A Connecticut Campus Network. Christopher Nelson CT DEP chris.nelson@po.state.ct.us Green Campus Initiative Meeting December 10, 2004. OVERVIEW. NEG/ECP Climate Change Action Plan NEHBE / NEG Pledge CT Climate Change Stakeholder Dialogue

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Connecticut’s Climate Change Action Plan: Building A Connecticut Campus Network

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  1. Connecticut’s Climate Change Action Plan: Building A Connecticut Campus Network Christopher Nelson CT DEP chris.nelson@po.state.ct.us Green Campus Initiative Meeting December 10, 2004

  2. OVERVIEW • NEG/ECP Climate Change Action Plan • NEHBE / NEG Pledge • CT Climate Change Stakeholder Dialogue • 2004 Legislation and Executive Orders • How can state agencies help forward college and university objectives?

  3. Focus on Climate Change • While a Green Campus Action Plan will include many elements, Connecticut is currently most interested in those actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. • Energy-related initiatives (conservation, purchase of renewable energy, transportation, green buildings) are the measures in that Action Plan that will have the greatest impact on greenhouse gas reduction efforts on campus.

  4. Conference of New England Governorsand Eastern Canadian PremiersCLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLAN 2001 • Genesis of the NEG/ECP Climate Change Action Plan 2001 • Governors and Premiers identified climate change as a key regional issue • In Halifax in July 2000, NEG/ECP tasked regional environmental and energy agencies with development of a climate change action plan • Climate Change Action Plan 2001 adopted by NEG/ECP (and signed by Governor Rowland) in August 2001

  5. Conference of New England Governorsand Eastern Canadian PremiersCLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLAN 2001 • Short-term Goal: • Reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2010 • Mid-term Goal: • Reduce GHG emissions by at least 10% below 1990 levels by 2020 • Establish 5-year process, starting in 2005, to adjust goals and set future goals • Long-term Goal: • Reduce GHG emissions “sufficiently to eliminate any dangerous threat to the climate” • Expected to be 75 - 85% below 2001 levels 5

  6. Action Steps • Action Item 1 - Establish Standardized Regional GHG Emissions Inventory • Action Item 2 – Establish a Plan for Reducing GHG Emissions and Conserving Energy • Action Item 3 – Promote Public Awareness • Action Item 4 – Governments Lead by Example – Reduce Public Sector GHG by 25% by 2012

  7. Action Steps (cont) • Action Item 5 – Reduce Electricity Sector GHG – Lower CO2/MWH by 20% by 2025 • Action Item 6 – Reduce Total Energy Demand through Conservation • Action Item 7 – Reduce and/or Adapt to Negative Social, Economic, and Environmental Impacts of Climate Change • Action Item 8 – Reduce Growth in Transportation Sector GHG Emissions

  8. Conference of New England Governorsand Eastern Canadian Premiers27th Annual Conference - 2002 • The NEG/ECP Climate Change Workgroup proposes as one of four initial projects for regional implementation: • College & University Partnerships in Emissions Reductions. “This project would encourage the region’s colleges and universities to sign on to the broad goals of the Plan and work within their own institutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 10% below 1990 levels by 2012. Such an initiative could result in the reduction of 600,000 to 650,000 metric tons of carbon.” 8

  9. NEBHE / NEG Pledge • In August 2003, the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) and the New England Governors’ Conference sent a letter to the presidents of all New England colleges & universities. • Presidents were asked to sign a voluntary pledge to support the goals of the NEG/ECP Climate Change Action Plan. • 85 Colleges & Universities in New England have signed the pledge (as of April 2004).

  10. NEBHE Pledges in CT • 19 Institutions in CT have signed (as of April 2004) • Central Connecticut State University • Charter Oak State College • Connecticut College • Eastern Connecticut State University • Fairfield University • Gateway Community College • Goodwin College • Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts • Naugatuck Valley Community College • Northwestern Connecticut Community College • Saint Joseph College • Southern Connecticut State University • St. Vincent’s College • Trinity College • University of Bridgeport • University of Connecticut • University of New Haven • Western Connecticut State University • Yale University

  11. Connecticut Climate Change Stakeholders Dialog (2003) • Between April and December 2003, nearly 100 organizations, including businesses, non-profit organizations, state and local government agencies and academic institutions, worked together to develop a set of recommended actions to reduce Connecticut's emissions of greenhouse gases. • 55 Recommended Actions (RAs) developed. 38 were accepted for implementation by Governor’s Office. • RA 23 - Green Campus Initiative • Promote a “green campus” initiative with all Connecticut colleges, universities, private and secondary schools. This initiative will inform school administrators and students about how to pursue energy policies with minimal environmental impact and create learning labs to teach sustainability.

  12. Governor’s Executive Order 32 • Issued in April 2004 • Calls for the state to purchase: • 20% clean energy by 2010, • 50% clean energy by 2020 and • 100% clean energy by 2050.

  13. Public Act 04-252: An Act Concerning Climate Change • CT must do its share to help achieve NEG/ECP regional GHG reduction goals • Mandatory reporting of GHGs for largest stationary emitters of air pollutants (Title V sources) • CT must work to create a regional GHG Registry to store GHG emissions data • Finalize a Climate Change Action Plan by the end of 2004 that expands the reductions achieved by the stakeholders recommendations. 13

  14. CT’s Colleges & Universities are Part of the Solution • Recognizing this fact, CT DEP has provided some assistance already: • CT Campuses for Climate Action workshop • CT Green Campus E-mail List • Inclusion of College / University page on state’s official climate change website

  15. Connecticut Campuses for Climate Action Workshop • Held in New Haven, CT on March 28, 2003. • Workshop recognized by EPA for being the first statewide meeting of its kind. • Materials are available on Clean Air - Cool Planet website: • http://www.cleanair-coolplanet.org/information/ ccca_presentations.php

  16. Green Campus E-mail List • A CT-Green-Campus-Exchange listserve was established in June 2003 to facilitate communication between Connecticut campuses. • Join by sending an e-mail to CT-Green-Campus-Exchange@yahoogroups.com or by signing up at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CT-Green-Campus-Exchange

  17. www.ctclimatechange.com

  18. Other State Assistance • Guidance on projects (e.g., recycling) • Possibility of expedited environmental permitting for desirable projects • Green product purchasing on state contract • EnergyStar benchmarking of campus buildings • Financial incentives from the Clean Energy Fund and the Energy Conservation & Management fund • Other suggestions?

  19. Take Action, Reap Benefits • Promote cleaner air and healthier communities • Save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions • Save money • Receive recognition • DEP Commissioner’s Green Circle Award • www.ctclimatechange.com • LEED Certification • National recognition from EPA?

  20. QUESTIONS? Additional resources follow...

  21. Campus Consortium for Environmental Excellence (C2E2) • “Supporting the continuous improvement of environmental management in higher education through promotion of professional networking, information exchange, resources and tools, and the development of innovative regulatory models.” • http://www.c2e2.org/

  22. Clean Air - Cool Planet’s Campuses for Climate Action program Framework For Action • Develop a campus-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory; • Raise awareness within the campus community about the importance and feasibility of addressing climate change; • Adopt an emissions reduction target consistent with the goals of the New England Governors & Eastern Canadian Premiers Regional Climate Change Action Plan; • Develop and implement a strategic plan (polices, programs, significant actions) to meet the target; • Monitor progress over time, incorporate GHG reduction target and strategic plan into institutional planning and reporting processes. • http://www.cleanair-coolplanet.org/for_campuses.php

  23. ENERGY STAR program • US EPA has developed tools & resources designed to assist the college & university sector www.energystar.gov/highered • This website includes information on showcase dorm rooms, (computer) monitor power management, purchasing & procurement of energy-efficient products and online training & presentations

  24. Rebuild America program • US DOE’s Rebuild America program provides guidance on how to improve facilities, energy technologies & approaches, how to benchmark current & future energy performance and how to demonstrate the savings potential for individual campuses & university systems. Assistance can also be provided to make already-planned and financed projects achieve as much energy improvement as possible. www.rebuild.org/sectors/col_uni.asp

  25. US DOE Publication • The Energy Smart Guide to Campus Cost Savings available online at www.nrel.gov/docs/ fy03osti/34291.pdf

  26. Existing Campus Programs Numerous campuses have already launched substantial green campus / climate change efforts. Following are just a few examples: • Harvard Green Campus Initiative www.greencampus.harvard.edu/index.php • SUNY Buffalo’s UB Green program http://wings.buffalo.edu/ubgreen • Tufts Climate Initiative www.tufts.edu/tie/tci/TCIMenu.html

  27. National Wildlife Federation • NWF has established a Campus Ecology program designed to help transform the nation's college campuses into living models of an ecologically sustainable society www.nwf.org/campusecology • NWF also compiles a Campus Environmental Yearbook that highlights environmental initiatives being implemented at colleges & universities across the country www.nwf.org/campusEcology/dspYearbook.cfm

  28. USLF / Talloires Declaration • The Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future (ULSF) is the Secretariat for signatories of the Talloires Declaration, a ten-point action plan committing institutions to sustainability & environmental literacy in teaching and practice. Over 300 university presidents and chancellors in more than 40 countries have signed the Declaration. More information on the Talloires Declaration can be found at www.ulsf.org/programs_talloires.html

  29. GHG Inventory • Develop a campus GHG Inventory to determine where emissions are occurring and to establish a baseline from which GHG reductions can be measured • Clean Air – Cool Planet can provide software & assistance to help compile a GHG inventory www.cleanair-coolplanet.org/for_campuses.php • Information compiled can also be used to analyze energy usage on campus

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