The Presidents Climate Commitment at DMACC Presented By: Richard A. Ney Senior Environmental Consultant March 10, 2008

Overview of the Presidents Climate Commitment Agenda Overview of the Presidents Climate Commitment What Does ‘Climate Neutral’ Mean? DMACC Carbon Footprint Potential Strategies for Reducing GHG Moving Forward

Key Initiative The American College & University (ACU) Presidents Climate Commitment (PCC) High-visibility effort to address global warming Garner institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions Accelerate research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate

Key Initiative The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (PCC) signatories commit to Initiate the development of a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible. Initiate two or more tangible actions to reduce greenhouse gases while the more comprehensive plan is being developed. Make the action plan, inventory, and periodic progress reports publicly available by providing them to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for posting and dissemination.

Create institutional structures to guide the program PCC Requirements Create institutional structures to guide the program Select at least two immediate actions to implement: LEED, Energy Star, offset air travel, public transport, 15% renewable elec., waste minimization Submit initial reports Develop the comprehensive plan Complete an inventory of all GHG emissions Revisit at least every two years Submit reports to make them public through ACUPCC Make sustainability part of curriculum

Defining ‘Climate Neutral’ There are both sources and ‘sinks’ for GHG in the atmosphere Climate neutral means that the operation does not contribute to build up of GHG in the atmosphere Zero emissions is the absence of any emission (likely not possible) Zero-net emissions means that the emissions that are created are offset by the sinks The sinks can be your own, or you can pay others to use the ‘credits’ from their sinks

DMACC Carbon Footprint

DMACC Carbon Footprint Emissions in metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent Emitting Activity 2006 2007 Electricity 16,589 17,274 Natural Gas 2,369 3,065 Fleets/Business Travel 581 618 Air Travel 298 275 Commuting* 2,806 Agriculture (Cattle) 113 Fertilizer 54 33 Solid Waste 65 60 Refrigerants 373 717 TOTAL 23,248 24,961

Broad Strategies for Reducing GHG Improve energy efficiency to reduce the overall footprint Implement renewable energy Wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, ethanol, biodiesel Innovate in transportation Increase reuse and recycling, waste minimization Develop sinks Reforestation, prairie restoration Purchase environmental credits from others RECs and Carbon Credits ($100,000 to $1 million/year!!!)

Moving Forward Complete the footprint estimation Starting Point: Footprint Assessment Define Aspirational Goals Develop Sustainability Master Plan Implement Plan Recommendations Measure, Reassess and Adjust Complete the footprint estimation Conduct a sustainability charrette to develop broad long-term visions Analyze opportunities and costs formulate short- and long-term implementation options – create plan Implement measures from the plan Measure results, reconvene the charrette to determine if goals or plan need to be adjusted

Questions?