USG voted to support a statement of position regarding UConn’s Climate Action Plan at their meeting Wednesday night. After some lengthy debate over the proposal’s wording, the senate eventually decided to pass the measure, adopting the proposal as USG’s official position on the Climate Action Plan.
The statement of position, co-authored by Senator Skyler Marinoff and EcoHusky vice president and environmental policy intern Catherine Pomposi, was written with the purpose of demonstrating to the UConn Board of Trustees that the student body wants to see more initiative taken to meet the commitment to carbon neutrality made by UConn President Michael J. Hogan when he signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Change Commitment.
“I chose to write this because it is an issue I feel very passionate about,” said Marinoff, a 2nd-semester undecided major.
On March 25, 2008 Hogan signed the ACUPCC, committing UConn to developing a plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
To make good on this commitment, he formed the eight-member Climate Action Task Force to investigate how UConn’s carbon footprint might be reduced. The task force, in turn, developed the Climate Action Plan – a 200-page document that can be read in full on the Ecohusky Web site.
Retrofitting existing buildings to run on clean energy, establishing a car sharing program and incorporating renewable energy displays into campus events are several examples of suggestions outlined in the plan.
So far, little has been done to incorporate these suggestions into university policy because the plan has not been approved by either the Board of Trustees or Hogan.
Although senators unanimously supported the statement, some worry that their resolution might not be enough to encourage progress.
“It’s a good first step, I just hope that it’s not the last step,” said Sam Felice, an 8th-semester English major.
“I think it’s of the utmost importance that the University of Connecticut enact the Climate Action Plan,” said Kaitlin Tyrol, a 5th-semester public and community engagement major.
A representative of USG, along with representatives from many other student groups who have taken similar positions on the issue, will attend the next Board of Trustees meeting to voice their support for the Climate Action Plan.
“It’s a good first step, I just hope that it’s not the last step,” said Sam Felice, an 8th-semester English major.
“I think it’s of the utmost importance that the University of Connecticut enact the Climate Action Plan,” said Kaitlin Tyrol, a 5th-semester Public and Community Engagement major.
A representative of USG, along with representatives from many other student groups who have taken similar positions on the issue, will attend the next BOT meeting to voice their support for the CAP.
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