Linnea Johnson
Having grown up in the years following the release of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, our generation is well aware of the climate challenges ahead. Human activity has caused climate change to take its toll on ecosystems and economies alike, and in order to avert increased devastation, we must reduce our emissions by 80 percent in the coming decades. Knowing that institutions such as The College of Wooster have massive carbon footprints, we pitch in as individuals by changing light bulbs, toting reusable mugs around campus and consciously recycling our bottles and cans. While these simple, everyday actions have small environmental benefits and attest to Wooster students’ environmental awareness, they can only do so much on their own. Right now, President Grant Cornwell has the opportunity to dedicate the College of Wooster to change on a much larger scale by signing the American Colleges and Universities Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), a pledge to form an official plan for climate neutrality while increasing and improving sustainability education.
By signing the ACUPCC, President Cornwell could put Wooster among the ranks of over 650 colleges and universities – which represent one third of the nation’s students – that have already begun reducing their carbon footprints. Humanity’s response to global climate change will likely define our era, and I hope for our college to be in the vanguard of the movement to reduce human impact on the environment, not trailing behind hundreds of other schools. While the task of making our campus carbon-neutral by a certain date may seem daunting, the ACUPCC network provides a specific, yet flexible, timeline to achieve this goal, as well as guidelines for every step in the process.
The ACUPCC offers countless benefits and opportunities for the college, for society and, of course, for the Earth. Because of its visibility and widespread recognition, the ACUPCC would improve Wooster’s competitive position among similar institutions by attracting an increased number of socially and ecologically conscious students. According to the Princeton Review, 25 percent of college applicants believe that a commitment to the environment would “very much” impact their college or university decision. Having recently experienced the college search process myself, I know that sustainability can be a make-or-break factor for students deciding between comparable schools. Many of the improvements prompted by the pledge – such as retrofitting and upgrading buildings – can lower operating costs and pay for themselves within a few years. In addition, the ACUPCC would accelerate the pace of Wooster’s environmental education and research, enabling us to be a role model not only for other schools, but also for society as a whole.
We at The College of Wooster pride ourselves upon our influence in the “interdependent global community” described in our mission statement. However, with this influence comes the responsibility of leading others in the face of difficulty, and the greatest challenge we face today is preserving the Earth’s climate for the welfare of its inhabitants for years to come. President Cornwell, for the well-being of The College of Wooster, higher education and the global community, I encourage you, with urgent sincerity, to sign the ACUPCC.