November 18, 2015
University of Washington signing White House climate pledge
The University of Washington has joined schools across the country in signing on to a White House climate pledge.
The pledge is part of the Nov. 19 White House and Higher Education Climate Day of Action. The White House and the State Department will bring together leaders from higher education institutions to call for action on climate change and encourage a strong agreement at the upcoming Paris Climate Change Conference of world leaders.
The UW is strongly committed to a sustainable future and a reduction in carbon emissions. UW’s Executive Order No. 13 says that the university is committed to establishing programs that excel in environmental education and guiding investments that optimize the living and built campus environments.
The UW’s Climate Action Plan calls for a 15 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2020 and a 36 percent reduction by 2035. This spring, the UW Board of Regents voted to divest from coal companies and reaffirmed the importance of the University’s wide-ranging sustainability efforts.
The University of Washington recently started a partnership with Seattle City Light which is providing funding for renewable energy work at UW, allowing the university to develop renewable energy projects, produce educational outreach materials, and create opportunities for faculty and student collaboration.
Thursday’s White House event is expected to be streamed live online. Details on how to watch will be posted on green.uw.edu when they are available. The event will also launch the Defend Our Future climate pledge students can sign to demonstrate their support.
The White House pledge language is below. For more information on the UW’s sustainability efforts, visit green.uw.edu.
Pledge:
As institutions of higher education, we applaud the progress already made to promote clean energy and climate action as we seek a comprehensive, ambitious agreement at the upcoming United Nations Climate Negotiations in Paris. Although we are optimistic that world leaders will reach an agreement to secure a transition to a low-carbon future, we recognize the urgent need to act now to avoid irreversible costs to our global community’s economic prosperity and public health. Today our school pledges to accelerate the transition to low-carbon energy while enhancing sustainable and resilient practices across our campuses.
At the University of Washington, sustainability is in our nature. The UW recognizes that environmental stewardship and sustainability are integral parts of the university’s mission, and pledges to take action to work toward a sustainable, low-carbon future. Those actions include:
- The UW is a charter signatory of the American College & Universities Climate Commitment, and our Climate Action Plan calls for a 15% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2020 and a 36% reduction by 2035.
- Through a partnership with Seattle City Light, the UW is working to develop renewable energy projects, produce educational outreach materials, and create opportunities for faculty and student collaboration.
- As expressed in UW’s Executive Order No. 13, UW is committed to establishing programs that excel in environmental education and guiding investments that optimize the living and built campus environments.
- UW is a signatory of the Washington Business Climate Declaration and encourages using energy efficiently, investing in cleaner fuels, advancing renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
