William Paterson University took a stand against global warming when they formed the Climate Action Committee. The Committee was born with the help of several faculty members during the last fall semester. Consisting of approximately eight core members and a number of participants, the CAC was created to bring awareness of the climate crisis to the WPU community.
Although the CAC is one of the newer organizations on campus, WPU has been aware of the concerns the climate crisis brings.
President Speert signed a pledge in 2006 to become carbon neutral with the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.
Greg Mattison, a multimedia specialist at WPU and head of the committee, explained that because there isn’t a widely publicized initiative, the CAC wants to make it easier for students and faculty to participate in the change.
The CAC helped start WPU’s first student-only environmental club, Earth First. With steps such as the reduction of printing, “Think before you Print” campaigns and recycling signs, the CAC encourages WPU students to join the cause.
With the start of the CAC, certain departments, such as Facilities, have already taken steps towards the change. These include using motion sensor light switches, using natural gas instead of oil heating and even using electric cars, Mattison said.
“These initiatives have saved the campus roughly $10 million and lowered our carbon emissions,” Mattison said.
The committee has several goals, according to Mattison.
“We want to bring awareness of the climate crisis as well as reduce our carbon footprint as a campus community,” he said. Some of the steps students and faculty can take toward that goal include “Recycling, energy efficiency and less waste overall,” Mattison said.
Mattison will be giving a lecture entitled “Green Faith” on April 22, Earth Day in the student center multi-purpose room between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Be the first to comment on this article!