DSU joins other universities in fight against global warming

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September 15, 2009

Delaware State University has joined a coalition of universities and colleges that have committed to take steps aimed at reducing and eventually eliminating all global warming emissions that come from their institutions.

The DSU pledge came with the University’s Acting President Claibourne D. Smith signing of the American Colleges & Universities Presidents Climate Commitment, joining the leaders of 650 other institutions across the country.

“DSU understands that global warming is one the greatest environmental challenges of our time,” Dr. Smith said. “Because human activities are responsible for the problem, it will now takes humans to work together to solve it. Serious actions are necessary to halt pollutants that are causing increased global warming, and DSU is committed to playing a vital part in this work.”

Dr. Smith has established a “Going Green” Task Force which is creating a comprehensive action plan to move towards climate neutrality. The Task Force, chaired by Carolyn Curry, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, is working towards establishing green standards for DSU’s campuses.

The Presidents Climate Commitment is the first such effort by any major sector of society to set climate neutrality – not just a reduction – as its target. This undertaking by America’s colleges and universities is inspired by efforts like the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, the U.S. Climate Action Partnership and other collective efforts by states and businesses.

"Colleges and universities must lead the effort to reverse global warming for the health and well-being of current and future generations," said Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University and a founding member of the ACUPCC Leadership Circle. "On behalf of all the signatories, I welcome DSU’s Dr. Claibourne Smith to the commitment, we are honored and pleased to have him join us."

The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment is a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate. Under the guidance and direction of the Leadership Circle of presidents, the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment is being supported and implemented by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), Second Nature, and ecoAmerica.

Learn more at: www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org