UMA Adopts Climate Action Plan

In July 2007 UMA joined 650 colleges and universities in a comprehensive initiative to address climate warming. All campus presidents committed to neutralizing greenhouse gas emissions generated by their institutions.   UMA has recently adopted a Climate Action Plan (CAP) that provides guidelines for moving toward the goal of carbon neutrality.

Developed by UMA’s President’s Council for Environmental Sustainability and approved by President Allyson Hughes Handley, the CAP calls for strategies to be instituted in all aspects of the daily life of the institution.

The strategies are based on UMA’s greenhouse gas inventory and include campus operations (purchased power, heating/air conditioning/ventilation, refrigeration, buildings, grounds), transportation (commuting and campus fleet), administrative policies (procurement of products, energy finance, transportation) and education (core curriculum, course integration, campus community) and financing strategies.

UMA’s GHG EMISSIONS 2008

Because UMA is a commuter institution, determining emissions generated by students as they attend classes at the Augusta and Bangor campuses or any of University College Centers, or ITV sites, presented a significant challenge. Special recognition is due Professor Daylin Butler who contributed his expertise in survey research by preparing and analyzing a commuter survey for students, faculty, and staff. Instrumental in distributing and collecting survey responses were Terry Lawson, Joan Pfaffle, June MacLeod, Pat Lynch, Bev Ludden, and Priscilla Costello. Thank you for assisting in this important data collection step.

What can you do to help reduce carbon emissions?

• Suggest ways UMA can reduce emissions by emailing the President’s Council for Environmental Sustainability
• Learn how to reduce your own emissions.  Start by calculating your carbon footprint.
• Visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s web site to learn what you can do at home and on the road.