Interim Provost Connie Harsh participated in a roundtable discussion at the White House on November 19th to take part in the launching of the American Campuses Act on Climate Day-of-Action.
Harsh joined a select group of other higher education presidents and provosts, high-ranking government officials including EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, and Karen Florini of the State Department.
The White House is organizing this event in build up to the COP 21 international climate summit in Paris at the end of the month.
Colgate was invited to participate because of our nationally-renowned commitment to sustainability. On Wednesday, Interim President Jill Harsin reiterated our commitment to sustainability in a letter to the White House. Specifically, Colgate’s commitments include:
- Achieving carbon neutrality by 2019, our bicentennial
- Making carbon neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum and other educational experiences for all students
- Incorporating sustainable practices in all campus planning and building design from inception to implementation
- Achieving a minimum of LEED Silver standards for all new construction and major renovations
- Enhancing teaching and learning, create long-term economic resiliency, build and restore robust ecological systems, and support a healthier and more just society.
There will also be a Facebook-live session with EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, taking place at 3:00pm (EST) from the White House today (November 19). Submit questions for the session using #ActOnClimate and tweeting @WhiteHouseCEQ @GinaEPA @Ehmee.
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