Maryland's Public System of Higher Education

Week of December 26, 2011

News from Across the USM Campuses

UMCP Smart and Sustainable Campus Conference - Call for Proposals - Unlike other conferences, SSCC sets itself apart by creating a program that features in-depth discussions, dialogues and workshops. The program features: Traditional 40-minute presentations: Presentations, discussions, sharing in an interactive 40 minute session (presentation should be 30 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of Q & A); 80-minute hands-on workshops: Learning, dialogue and sharing in an interactive 80 minute session and Posters. The 2012 Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference welcomes presentation proposals linked to the 2012 conference tracks: 1. Life Cycle of the Built Environment  2. Community Connections 3. The Campus as a Learning Laboratory 4. Fostering Behavior Change 5. Strategic Implementation. Proposals must be received by January 5, 2012

Former Eastern Shore sanctuary to be preserved: Owner gives up development rights, state gets some public access to 950-acre Talbot farm (By Timothy B. Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun - Green Living, 12/21/11)

O'Malley growth control program PlanMaryland takes effect: Governor formally accepts framework for development decisions (By Michael Dresser, The Batimore Sun, 12/19/11)

USM Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Initiative

• Practices
• Programs
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• Presentations
• Climate Change Definitions
• Facilities Master Planning
• Statewide Sustainability Efforts
• ACUPCC National Benchmarking
• Useful Links and References

Sunlight-powered 'bulbs' made from plastic bottles light up homes: The Liter of Light project, launched to combat the rising cost of electricity in the Philippines, aims to provide 1 million homes with light (By Sunshine Lichauco de Leon, The [UK] Guardian, 12/23/11)

International airlines will be charged for carbon emissions, EU court rules: All airlines flying to and from EU airports will buy permits under the Europe's emissions trading scheme, from 1 January 2012 (By Reuters as reported by The [UK] Guardian, 12/21/11)

Kolskaya Rig In Russia's Sea Of Okhotsk Sinks, Hope Running Out For Survivors (By Nataliya Vasilyeva, The Huffington Post - Green Blog, 12/19/11)

Exxon Mobil navigates challenges in Iraq: Oil majors operating in Iraq are looking to beef up security and ramp up production. (By Trefis, MSN Money, 12/19/11)

Keystone Pipeline Doomed? Why the GOP's Insistance on Including it in the Payroll Tax Cut Bill May Be a Good Thing: It gives President Obama a chance to affirm his commitment to environmental and climate issues, and reject the pipeline completely. (By RL Miller, The Daily Kos as reported by Alternet.org - Environment, 12/19/11)