Report to Board of Regents: Climate Actions and Progress Toward Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions at USM
Adelphi, Md. (July 16, 2013) -- For decades, University System of Maryland (USM) 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.
USM 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 USM is a recognized leader in climate change mitigation, recycling, and energy reduction.
At the final meeting of the USM Board of Regents for fiscal year 2013, each USM 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 USM adopted the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, or ACUPCC, as the standard mitigation approach for all of its institutions. All of the respective USM 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 USM 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 USM institutions to move toward carbon neutrality.
Climate Actions Report to Board of Regents: Presented June 21, 2013
Contact: Mike Lurie
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: mlurie@usmd.edu
