News about the American College & University
Presidents Climate Commitment

All 50 States Now Represented in the ACUPCC!

Press Release April 22, 2008

Concordia University President Brian Friedrich chose Earth Day to sign the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). This not only makes Concordia the first signatory institution in Nebraska, but it also “completes the map” for the ACUPCC, meaning all 50 states and the District of Columbia are now represented – a fitting Earth Day achievement for the initiative. Read the full press release here.

American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment Leadership Summit
Grand Rapids, MI - June 5-6, 2008

We are pleased to announce the upcoming ACUPCC 2008 Leadership Summit in Grand Rapids, MI. This inspirational event will bring together ACUPCC signatories to review the progress that has been made to date and to explore several exciting opportunities associated with implementing the Commitment. It will include break-out sessions to discuss and create solutions to the key implementation challenges.

Presidential Institute Council of Independent Colleges January 5, 2008
The speech, "Making the Commitment to a Healthy, Just and Sustainable Society" (PDF)delivered by Tony Cortese, President of Second Nature is now available for download. The Council of Independent Colleges is the major national service organization for all small and mid-sized, independent, liberal arts colleges and universities in the U.S.

Two-Month Progress Reports Now Available
Hundreds of two-month progress reports from charter signatories are now available on our Reporting page. The requirements for this initial report are very important in demonstrating some early success- both for individual schools and for the ACUPCC as a whole. Charter signatories who have not yet submitted their two-month reporting form are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. The ACUPCC team is busy working on a flexible online reporting mechanism in time for the next ACUPCC Implementation Clock Start Date, January 15th 2008.

Greenhouse Gas Inventory Brief Now Available
The ACUPCC Greenhouse Inventory Brief, a 5-page summary of GHG inventory tools and resources is now available.  It provides an overview of common resources for conducting a GHG inventory on campus and discusses the merits and drawbacks of each.

Video of President Clinton Announcing Partnership with ACUPCC at Greenbuild 2007
The USGBC has made videos of keynote speakers from the recent Greenbuild Expo in Chicago, including the announcement by former President Bill Clinton regarding a partnership between the Clinton Climate Initiative and the ACUPCC. View the video segment about ACUPCC.

First Wave of Implementation Progress Report Submissions Begins Early
The first 2-month ACUPCC deadline (November 15th 2007) is still weeks away, and yet already the first wave of reports from Charter Signatories has begun rolling in to the AASHE office. The ACUPCC team is busy working on a flexible online reporting mechanism, and in the interim you can check out the results on our Reporting web page. Congratulations to these diligent groups and to all signatories for their leadership on this important issue!

Implementation clock starts for ACUPCC Charter Signatories
On September 15th, the implementation clock started for 403 Charter Signatories.  Their first milestone will be November 15th, when they will be reporting on the creation of their institutional structures for climate action plan development, and which of the two or more tangible actions to reduce greenhouse gases they intend to take or have already taken.  Reporting is easy – signatories simply download the ACUPCC Two-month Reporting Form fill it out, and click on a button to automatically submit it via email.

Official ACUPCC Implementation Guide Released for Use
The ACUPCC Implementation Guide is the 'handbook' of the ACUPCC. It provides more detail on the specific obligations in the Commitment, explains technical issues related to implementation, and outlines key policies. It is intended for use at several levels, including presidents and other senior administrators, sustainability committees and directors, and ACUPCC implementation liaisons, etc. A Summary Feedback Document describing the comments received and any changes made in response has also been released.

Annapolis Group Meeting June 19, 2007
The speech, "Higher Education Leadership in Reversing Global Warming and Creating a Healthy, Just and Sustainable Society" (PDF) delivered by Tony Cortese, President of Second Nature is now available for download. The Annapolis Group is an organization of the leading national independent liberal arts colleges who come together to share mutual interests and information that will strengthen their respective educational programs.

Deadline for Charter Signatory status and Implementation Clock start date moved to September 15, 2007
The implementation start date for all Charter Signatories has been set at September 15, 2007. This will allow all Charter Signatories to start at the same time and also give all signatories this summer to begin the planning work. The change also means that students will be present during creation of instituional structures to guide ACUPCC implementation. The deadline for becoming a Charter Signatory has also been changed to September 15, 2007 to coincide with the beginning of the implementation schedule, and to help encourage other presidents and chancellors to sign the Commitment over the summer.

RecycleMania Waste Minimization option added to list of short-term tangible actions
The Steering Committee has approved an additional waste minimization-related option for the menu of short term tangible actions in the Section 2 of the Commitment. The new tangible action option is to "Participate in the Waste Minimization component of the national RecycleMania competition, and adopt 3 or more associated measures to reduce waste." By increasing the list tangible actions options (from which signatories must choose two) from six to seven, this addition will provide more flexibility for signatories without adding any additional requirements. This change was made to: make it easier for schools to sign the Commitment; provide support and encouragement for waste reduction and recycling programs that have been a longstanding cornerstone of campus environmental programs; and reinforce the significant positive impacts waste reduction and recycling have on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. RecycleMania is a friendly competition among campuses to increase recycling and reduce waste that occurs every year over a 10 week period in the spring. The Waste Minimization component of the competition rewards the institution that produces the least amount of municipal solid waste (including both recyclables and trash) per person.

ACUPCC launched at DC Leadership Summit
The ACUPCC Leadership Summit and public launch on June 11-12 in Washington, D.C was a great success! We were pleased to have 70 college and university presidents and over 30 higher education association leaders along with visits by members of the US Senate and House, national and regional news media and the EPA Administrator. As you may have seen, the launch got major media attention including the New York Times, Washington Post, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and AP.

Listed below are newspaper and magazine articles that cover the Presidents Climate Commitment and its signatories. The most recent articles are listed first. To submit a news item, please send the link to niles@aashe.org.

The Greening of Johnson County
Kansas City Star (4/08/08)

McDaniel College Joins Schools in Growing Green Movement
Examiner.com (3/20/08)

Eco Friendly on Campus

USA Today Weekend (3/16/2008)

Green Planning on a Grand Scale
Inside Higher Ed (3/4/08)

Carbon Neutral U
Metropolis Magazine (2/20/08)

Western Goes Greener
La Crosse Tribune (1/25/2008)

The Greening of the U. of Minnesota
The Chronicle of Higher Ed (1/24/08)

Committee assesses UC's level of carbon emissions
The News Record (1/23/08)

Lafayette College Makes Commitment to Go Green
WFMZ-TV 69 News (1/22/08)

University of Rhode Island Reduces Energy through Performance Contracts
Reuters (1/9/08)

NKU President signs Climate Commitment
Business Courier (12/20/07)

College of the Atlantic Goes Climate Neutral
Associated Press (12/19/07)

Colleges Sign Emmisions Pledge
Worcester Telegram (10/01/07)

For New Center, Harvard Agrees to Emissions Cuts
New York Times (09/18/07)

The Green Campus
Newsweek (08/20/07)

Southern Gets Greener
Connecticut Business News Journal (08/20/07)

Getting Schools to Think and Act Green
Time (08/10/07)

15 Green Colleges and Universities
Grist (08/10/07)

SCSU president declares school carbon-neutral
New Haven Register (08/13/07)

Eco University
Philadelphia Business Journal (08/03/07)

BSU signs pact to eliminate global warming emissions
The Star Press (08/02/07)

SJU's president signs pledge for carbon neutrality
St. Cloud Times (07/20/07)

Growing a greener campus
Rosemount Town Pages (07/20/07)

CGCC increases efforts to go green
The Arizona Republic (07/18/07)

UMF chief joins peers fighting global warming
Sun Journal (07/18/07)

University joins 'green' initiative
The Beacon (07/16/07)

At Richland College, climate agreement is just the first step
The Dallas Morning News (07/15/07)

FSU leads by example on global warming, environment
The Cumberland Times-News (07/08/07)

Cedar Valley College commits to reducing greenhouse emissions
The Dallas Morning News (07/06/07)

PCC makes a commitment
The Lake Oswego Review (07/02/07)

University system signs 'climate neutrality' commitment
The Citizen of Laconia (06/30/07)

PSC joins pact to fight climate change
The Adirondack Daily Enterprise (06/29/07)

Vt. colleges plan carbon neutrality
Rutland Herald (06/28/07)

Higher Education Tackling Travel's Environmental Impact
Travel Management (06/27/07)

UW-River Falls Campus energizing with vow to go green
St. Paul Pioneer Press (06/24/07)

Steps Toward Green: JMU President, 280 Other Presidents Sign Agreement
Harrisonburg Daily News-Record (06/23/07)

Chancellor commits to 'climate neutral' campus
River Falls Journal (06/22/07)

Vermont colleges take lead toward carbon-neutrality
Burlington Free Press (06/21/07)

College presidents promise conservation
Concord Monitor (06/19/07)

Drury adds climate neutrality to campus goals
Springfield News-Leader (06/19/07)

Colleges say they'll become "climate neutral"
New Mexico Business Weekly (06/18/07)

NKU in effort to reverse global warming
The Cincinnati Post (06/18/07)

Foothill-De Anza pledges to combat global warming
La Voz (06/18/07)

Majoring in saving the earth
The Times Leader (06/17/07)

Walking the walk on climate change
The News-Times (06/16/07)

Frostburg State president joins leadership circle
Mineral Daily News-Tribune (06/15/07)

College signs climate commitment
The Ithacan (06/15/07)

NMSU signs pact to cut pollution
Las Cruces Sun-News (06/15/07)

IC officially signs on to climate commitment
The Ithaca Journal (06/14/07)

University to reduce gas emissions
The Diamondback (06/14/07)

Campuses Pledge Climate Neutrality
Chemical & Engineering News (06/14/07)

College Leaders Push for Carbon Neutrality
New York Times (06/13/07)

Universities pledge to go 'climate neutral'
Los Angeles Times (06/13/07)

College Presidents Pledge to Cut Greenhouse-Gas Emissions
The Chronicle of Higher Education (06/13/07)

Presidents and Their Green Pledge
Inside Higher Ed (06/13/07)

Maine colleges set to join effort on climate
Kennebec Journal (06/13/07)

OU agrees to fight global warming
The Oklahoman (06/13/07)

Colleges pledge to cut emissions
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (06/13/07)

Evergreen signs on for carbon neutrality
The Olympian (06/13/07)

CSUMB officially green
The Salinas Californian (06/13/07)

CSUMB joins others in green commitment
The Monterey Herald (06/13/07)

Colleges launch effort to be 'climate-neutral'
The Greenville News (06/13/07)

St. Ben's strives to be 'climate neutral'
St. Cloud Times (06/13/07)

Colleges Pledge to Back Climate Initiative
The Washington Post (06/12/07)

Colleges make green commitment
The Associated Press (06/12/07)

Cornell Among 280 Schools Pledging to Become `Carbon Neutral'
Bloomberg (06/12/07)

ASU rallies colleges to go greener
The Arizona Republic (06/12/07)

3 colleges join climate crusade
Deseret News (06/10/07)

FGCU sets higher environmental standard
Florida Weekly (06/07/07)

FGCU to join efforts to curb global warming
Naples Daily News (05/31/07)

McDavis' step toward reducing OU's carbon footprint admirable
The Post (05/30/07)

A commitment to the environment
The Boston Globe (05/26/07)

Green compact to make UWS more enviro-friendly
The Daily Telegram (05/15/07)

Oswego State makes 'green' pledge
The Syracuse Post-Standard (05/14/07)

FSU president makes pledge to environment
The Cumberland Times-News (05/13/07)

FLC's pledge of climate neutrality brings action
The Durango Herald (05/10/07)

Climate pledge advances Rider sustainability
The Lawrence Ledger (05/10/07)

SUNY President Signs Pledge to Address Climate Change
The Palladium Times (05/05/07)

Going Green Equals Good Business
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education (05/03/07)

Gore's speech at Hamilton prompts action by college, city of Utica
Adirondack Daily Enterprise (05/01/07)

Goshen commits to 'climate neutral' campus
The Mennonite (05/01/07)

Hocking College commits to fighting global warming
Athens News (04/30/07)

Campuses going green
Daytona Beach News-Journal (04/29/07)

Environmental responsibility one of core values at Stetson
Daytona Beach News-Journal (04/29/07)

Colleges, universities can help combat climate change
Asheville Citizen-Times (04/27/07)

UMaine gears up to go climate neutral
Portland Press Herald (04/27/07)

Wagner College takes steps to 'go green'
Staten Island Advance (04/22/07)

U., Westminster announce environment-friendly plans
Deseret News (04/21/07)

Oregon State Signs Pledge to Make Campus Climate Neutral
Salem-News (04/20/07)

Frohnmayer pledges to take environmental action and curb UO carbon emissions
Daily Emerald (04/19/07)

UO, city step up to climate challenge
The Register-Guard (04/18/07)

Menino, Aoun pledge green Hub
Northeastern News (04/18/07)

OU signs on to protect environment
The Post (04/18/07)

Dennison starts Earth Week with climate pledge
Montana Kaimin (04/17/07)

As Earth Week begins, OU prez to announce global-warming commitment
Athens News (04/16/07)

Macalester to lead nation-wide environmental movement
The Mac Weekly (04/08/07)

Georgia's gowns go green
Marietta Daily Journal (04/08/07)

4Cs Leads Commitment to Combat Climate Change
Cape Cod Today (04/04/07)

UC commits to climate policy
The Daily Bruin (04/03/07)

A new, green campus in SPSU's future?
The Sting (04/01/07)

Cascadia, UW-Bothell make the grade for environmental protection
Bothell Reporter (03/31/07)

Albrecht signs sustainability initiative
The Utah Statesman (03/30/07)

UC's climate vow
Sacramento News & Review (03/29/07)

UM joins global warming coalition
Missoulian (03/28/07)

WWU to curb its emissions
The Bellingham Herald (03/26/07)

5 Ariz. colleges join pact to cut greenhouse gas
The Arizona Republic (03/17/07)

Rowan pledges to fight warming
Gloucester County Times (03/17/07)

ASU joins universities' drive to 'go green'
Business Journal of Phoenix (03/15/07)

UH works to reduce greenhouse emissions
Honolulu Star-Bulletin (03/11/07)

UC Promotes Earth Friendly Practices, Energy Efficiency
Daily Nexus (03/09/07)

UA pledges sustainability on campus
The Arkansas Traveler (03/08/07)

SBC Goes Green: President Muhlenfeld Signs American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment and the Green Gets Greener
The Voice (03/08/07)

UCCS climate change attack heats up
The Colorado Springs Gazette (03/02/07)

Luther to reduce greenhouse emissions
Chips (03/01/07)

On this green campus, Crow pushes for no emissions
The State Press (02/28/07)

CU will lead on sustainability
Boulder Daily Camera (02/24/07)

Skorton Commits C.U. To Climate Neutrality
Cornell Daily Sun (02/23/07)

Cornell's Skorton to sign climate-change commitment
The Ithaca Journal (02/23/07)

College signs climate pact
The Ithacan (02/23/07)

Three VA Presidents sign to reduce carbon emissions
Collegiate Times (02/23/07)

CU in full swing to go green
The Campus Press (02/22/07)

Ithaca College to join national group focused on energy efficiency
The Ithaca Journal (02/21/07)

Drury joins nationwide efforts to fight global warming
Springfield Business Journal (02/20/07)

President commits to carbon emission reduction
Daily Vanguard (02/20/07)

Winona going green: City, county, WSU leading the effort
Winona Daily News (02/18/07)

70 College Presidents Sign Commitment to Limit Carbon Emissions on Their Campuses
Chronicle of Higher Education (02/16/07)

UNH joins climate commitment
Foster's Daily Democrat (02/16/07)

Sellars signs "climate neutral" agreement
The Mirror (02/12/07)

Western joins efforts to fight global warming
The Western Front (02/09/07)

Penn president signs sustainability pledge
The Daily Pennsylvanian (02/07/07)

Haeger fights global warming
The Lumberjack (02/07/07)

Penn makes climate commitment
Philadelphia Business Journal (02/05/07)

Campuses must lead efforts to address global climate change
The Herald-Sun (01/28/07)

The Gold Standard of Green Standards
Inside Higher Ed (01/26/07)

College signs on for climate commitment
Asheville Citizen-Times (01/26/07)

Universities and global warming: UK activist calls for emissions reduction
The Courier-Journal (01/21/07)

Zingg makes a commitment to the climate
Chico Enterprise-Record (01/19/07)

Colleges warming to climate-change commitments
Daytona Beach News-Journal (01/13/07)

Machen signs pledge to make UF more ecofriendly
The Independent Florida Alligator (01/11/07)

UF’s green pledge (Editorial)
Gainesville Sun (01/05/07)

University Presidents Promote Higher Education Climate Commitment
Treehugger.com (01/04/07)

UF commits to fight global warming
Gainesville Sun (01/04/07)

Dye Makes Pledge: Climate Neutrality
The Oberlin Review (11/17/06)

Machen: UF will be one of first to join climate pact
Gainesville Sun (10/26/06)

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