Climate Action Plans and Energy Strategies EVPP 490 / 692 / 991 January 28, 2009 Dann Sklarew Course website:

Outline This course aims to draft George Mason University's first Climate Action Plan (CAP) for approval by GMU President Alan Merten (with implementation launched within 1 semester thereafter) and to provide participants with skills, knowledge and experience to become champions for greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions on campus and beyond. ACUPCC commitment, timeline, recommended approach, Other approaches Local CAPs - Maryland, MWCOG, Montgomery County; Climate Culture challenge

ACUPCC American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC): recognize the need to reduce the global emission of greenhouse gases by 80% by mid-century at the latest, we believe that there will be great short-, medium-, and long-term economic, health, social and environmental benefits, including achieving energy independence for the U.S. as quickly as possible. Sep President Merten signed Oct 2007 – Mason hired Lenna Storm as Sustainability Coordinator and established a Sustainability Office Jan – May 2008 – Mason Sustainability Office collected data for Greenhouse Gas Inventory for years FY02 – FY07

ACUPCC Recommended Approach 1.Develop comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible. 2.Implement institutional structure to achieve 3.Complete GHG Inventory (GMU – Dec 08) 4.Develop Institutional Action Plan (CAP) to achieve climate neutrality. Plan includes: a)Target date b)Interim targets for goals and actions leading to climate neutrality c)Actions to integrate climate neutrality and sustainability into the curriculum and other student experiences d)Actions to expand research or other efforts necessary to achieve climate neutrality e)Mechanisms for tracking progress on goals and actions

Other Approaches EH&E – 7 Steps to Developing a CAP for a Reduced Carbon Footprint Montgomery County Climate Protection Plan (Jan09) National Wildlife Federation Guide to Climate Action Planning Clean Air Cool Planet (CACP) Climate Action Toolkit

Other CAPs Bolded plans have been formally adopted by the institution: 1.Brown University 2.Calvin College 3.College of the Atlantic 4.Middlebury College 5.Oberlin College 6.University at Buffalo (UB) 7.UC Berkeley 8.UCLA 9.University of Colorado – Boulder 10.University of Florida 11.William and Mary College 12.Williams College 13.Yale Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

Local CAPs Montgomery County Climate Protection Plan (Jan09) University of Maryland

Climate Culture Challenge

CHAMP C REATE THE TEAM: Forge a climate action community of practice at Mason, including key decision-makers, implemementers, "GHG sources," and other interested stakeholders to realize this CAP and lead in refining future iterations of the CAP. H ELP CHAMPS: Instill in participants the wisdom, skills and commitment to be "climate action champions" in their professional careers and personal lives. A CTIVATE FOLKS: Inform and involve larger communities in generating, demonstrating and testing potential solutions for reducing Mason's net GHG emissions. M AKE THE PLAN: Formulate Mason's initial Climate Action Plan (CAP) to reduce and, as soon as feasible, eliminate net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from all activities over which GMU has responsibility, authority or influence. P LANT SEEDS: Prepare recommendations to lay the institutional groundwork for perpetual biennial iterations of the CAP refinement process hereafter.

Next Steps Most up-to-date syllabus, background documents, all assignments (including deadlines), submissions and professor's presentations and notes will be posted to this site Resources