Report to Board of Regents: Climate Actions and Progress Toward Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions at Â鶹ÊÓƵ
Adelphi, Md. (July 16, 2013) -- For decades, University System of Maryland (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) institutions have pursued sustainability and energy conservation. With the accelerated pace of climate change, the push to advance sustainability initiatives takes on even greater urgency.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ institutions are pursuing mitigation and adaptation activities on their campuses at a level that has drawn the attention of Governor Martin O'Malley and state agencies. The Â鶹ÊÓƵ is a recognized leader in climate change mitigation, recycling, and energy reduction.
At the final meeting of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Board of Regents for fiscal year 2013, each Â鶹ÊÓƵ institution provided a report on its individual goals and progress toward greenhouse gas reductions as reported to the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment. The report can be accessed below.
The Â鶹ÊÓƵ adopted the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, or ACUPCC, as the standard mitigation approach for all of its institutions. All of the respective Â鶹ÊÓƵ presidents have signed the Commitment.
The ACUPCC standards include a national implementation program of benchmark milestones, schedules, and resources geared specifically to higher education. ACUPCC standards thus provide the ideal implementation tool to guide sustainability efforts at Â鶹ÊÓƵ institutions.
The ACUPCC includes incentives in the form of deadlines and public reporting of uniform achievement measures to help encourage all institutions to maintain their momentum, thus making it the most effective and efficient way for Â鶹ÊÓƵ institutions to move toward carbon neutrality.
Contact: Mike Lurie
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: mlurie@usmd.edu
