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Environmental Sustainability & Climate Change: An Integrated USM Initiative

Environmental Sustainability & Climate Change: An Integrated USM Initiative. October 11, 2007. Environmental Sustainability: Including Global Climate Change.

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Environmental Sustainability & Climate Change: An Integrated USM Initiative

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  1. Environmental Sustainability & Climate Change:An Integrated USM Initiative October 11, 2007

  2. Environmental Sustainability:Including Global Climate Change The objective of this initiative is to focus, accelerate and integrate the University System of Maryland’s contributions to environmental sustainability in the 21st century, particularly society’s response to the challenge of global climate change.

  3. Three Integrated Pillars Concept Programs Undergraduate Graduate Research K-16 Priorities Practices Sustainability GHG reductions Energy efficiency Community leadership Policies Climate Change Smart Growth Bay Restoration

  4. Policies Facilitate the effective contribution of USM expertise to the development and implementation of public policies that ensure environmental sustainability.

  5. Policies • State Commission on Climate Change • Statewide goals and working groups • Chesapeake Bay Restoration • Maryland Smart Growth • USM leadership and expertise • Research and policy development

  6. Programs Focus and enhance instructional and research programs that provide the human resources and knowledge required for environmental sustainability.

  7. Programs • Curricular offerings for undergrads • Specialized graduate programs • Web-based research inventory • Systemwide coordinating body (research and instruction) • Attracting/enhancing Federally supported research funding

  8. Practices Undertake two parallel tracks of activities, one at the System level and one at individual institutions. Tailor mitigation efforts to the steps recommended by the ACUPCC.

  9. Practices: Integrated Response • System-wide efforts • Institutional efforts • Coordination activities

  10. Practices: System-wide • USM Strategic Plan • Greenhouse gas emissions/carbon footprint reduction • State Climate Change Commission findings • Systemwide Workgroups to focus on • Overall policies and strategies for mitigation • Principles of responsible development • Target dates and milestones • Actions for educational and research opportunities • Mechanisms for accountability • Implementation, reporting, evaluating, updating

  11. Practices: System-wide (cont’d) • Coordinated response • System office • Institutions • System-wide Councils • SHRC • Admin. VPs • Students • State relations • Others • System office coordination • All units involved

  12. Practices: Institutional • If not already, sign the ACUPCC • Integrate GHG emission reduction & carbon footprint strategies into Strategic Plan • Committee or taskforce (with adequate staff support and top-down leadership) dedicated to Sustainability & Climate Change Mitigation • Take immediate steps, including • Inventory of GHG emissions • Target date and interim milestones • Immediate (short-term) actions in identified areas

  13. Practices: Institutional (cont’d) • Integrate climate change mitigation and smart growth in the Facilities Master Plan • (More on this later today) • Create mechanisms for institutionalization and accountability • Prepare budget requests (capital & operating) that reflect GHG reduction plan • Organizational costs • Operating-scale improvements and capital projects related to climate change • Implement, report, evaluate and update

  14. Practices: Coordination • Capital programs • Master planning • Construction & renovation • Human resources/SHRC • Telecommuting & flextime • Union contracts • Procurement • Construction materials • New equipment

  15. Practices: Coordination (cont’d) • Finance • Relations with Wall Street/bond rating agencies • Budget (operating & capital) • Planning & Accountability • Integrate into strategic plan • Progress reports/StateStat • Education & research • New environmental programs • Research initiatives

  16. Practices: Coordination (cont’d) • Public Affairs • Website • Updates on progress & new projects • Advancement • Private foundation grants • State relations • Board of Regents • Policy changes

  17. Discussion

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