White House Act on Climate Pledge
Overview
On November 19th, 2015, the White House and the State Department will bring together leadership from higher education institutions, including school administrators and student leaders, to collectively call for action on climate change while encouraging a strong agreement in Paris that ultimately sets a viable path towards a low-carbon, sustainable future. Students and school leadership will join high-level government officials, celebrities, NGOs, and businesses leaders in a multi-layered event that facilitates meaningful dialogue on climate change solutions and activates an ambitious energy and voice among young people.
Participating colleges and universities will have already signed a White House Act on Climate Pledge [working title] demonstrating their commitment to carrying out their own sustainability goals and supporting strong action on climate change by world leaders. This live-streamed day-of-action will also launch the Defend Our Future climate pledge students can sign to demonstrate their support.
The Pledge
The pledge is modeled after theAmerican Business Act on Climate Pledgeand seeks to complement any previous pledges or commitments (e.g. the Climate Leadership Commitments) your institution might have.
How to Follow Up
Signthe pledge below, editing the template with your individual commitments. We included template language that frames this pledge within the context of your Climate Leadership Commitment. We think it is important to communicate to the White House that, as a member of the Climate Leadership Network, your institution has committed to action in a bold, catalytic way. Please send the completed pledge , cc’s soon as possible.
[TEMPLATE - Please send the completed pledge , s soon as possible. Language in italics should not be modified. Please use your university’s letterhead.]
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.
We put forth our pledges as follows:
UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE _XXX______
As a signatory in one of Second Nature’s three Climate Leadership Commitments, [X University] is part of a robust network of over 600 college and university presidents and chancellors who have committed their institutions to take bold and catalytic climate actions. These Climate Leadership Commitments are a key driving force for transformative change on our campus. As part of our Commitment we will:
- Achieve carbon neutrality by XXX date and create thresholds for increasing climate resilience
- Make carbon neutrality and climate resilience a part of the curriculum and other educational experiences for all students
- Expand research in carbon neutralityand climate resilience
- SAMPLE PROGRAM [e.g. Expand the impacts of University’s Solar Strand, including the rows of photovoltaic panels mounted on campus facilities that generate enough carbon-free energy to power approximately 700 student apartments and also create naturally-lit classrooms for pre-K through post-graduate students.]
- SAMPLE PROGRAM [e.g. Bring young students from within the surrounding community to tour the strand and learn about solar energy as well as what is means for a sustainable future.]
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Signature
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Title, School
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Date