SN-TriAgency Presentation-2013 (1).pptx [Read-Only]675+ institutions 6,800,000students represented 12,000 staff working to implement 1,800 GHG inventories submitted 500climate action

Second Nature leads the American College & Universities Presidents’ Commitment, as well as capacity-building, financing, and resilience initiatives which support campuses and decision makers in higher education transform institutions and education for a more just and sustainable future.www.secondnature.orgwww.presidentsclimatecommitment.org

Higher Education

© Second Nature 2013 | www.secondnature.org

October 7, 2013 | Tri-Agency MeetingMichele Madia, Director of Financing & Policy, Second Nature

[email protected]

Climate Change Risks and Opportunities

Financing & Policy

ACUPCC

Capacity Building for

Under-Resourced Institutions

Climate Resilience

Second Nature's mission is to create a sustainable society by transforming higher education



675+ institutions

6,800,000 students represented

12,000 staff working to implement

1,800 GHG inventories submitted

500 climate action plans completed

309 progress reports on CAP progress

25% gross emissions reductionin the first 5 years



Academic Preparedness


Curriculum

161,082 graduates covered by sustainability learning outcomes112 provide faculty incentives for developing sustainability outcomes81 have included sustainability learning outcomes in Gen Ed reqs57 have included sustainability in fulfilling regional or state accreditation requirements

Research11,223 faculty members engaged in sust. research at 119 inst.137 have a program to encourage student climate/sust research115 have a program to encourage faculty climate/sust research

Financing & Policy

ACUPCC



Climate Resilience



With more and more evidence that the impacts of climate change are

disrupting human and natural systems more quickly than

suggested by early predictions,

it has become clear that in addition to maintaining efforts

to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation)

our society must develop strategies for adapting to

the impacts of climatedisruption (adaptation)

Both climate strategies are necessary…


CLIMATE CHANGE

IMPACTS

IMPACTS

IMPACTS

GREENHOUSE GASES

MITIGATE

ADAPT

ability to anticipate, prepare, recover and respond to impacts

AdaptationActions or reactions

ResilienceOngoing state or ability

What is

Climate Resilience?

CLIMATE CHANGE

IMPACTS

IMPACTS

IMPACTS

GREENHOUSE GASES

MITIGATE ability to anticipate, prepare, recover and respond to impacts

actions

state of resilience

Adaptation, or resilience?



What are the implications

For Higher Education?

preparednessopportunityresponsibility

Colleges and universities face clear and growing risks from climate disruption, and it is critical that presidents, trustees and those with fiduciary responsibility for these institutions be aware of these risks.

Addressing these risks also provides opportunity: to recreate institutions for the 21st century, equipping them to be safe and secure, actively engaged in solving real-world problems, and better able to provide the education and research needed to create and maintain a sustainable society.

Higher Education Adaptation White Paper, November 2011

Higher Education’s Role in Adapting to a Changing ClimateReport found that institutions:

Face direct risks to their operations and infrastructure from the impacts of climate disruption.

Have a critical role to play in preparing society to adapt to the impacts of climate disruption

Can serve as ‘hubs’ in their local communities for creating, testing, and disseminating knowledge about regional climate projections and resilience strategies

As a whole, have not focused on the risks of climate disruption, to date


Understand risk & impacts

Adapt systems and actions

Reduce vulnerability

1.

2.

3.

resiliencea framework for higher

education

Opportunityto reduce costs

keep doors openlivable campus

Aerial photos of the Kingsborough Community College beach before and Hurricane Sandy Left photo from Google Maps; Right photo from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Nuclear Reactors in the US

US NRC, Operating Nuclear Power Reactors, 2013

By 2050 some regions could experience 2-3X more days over 100F than is average today

Number of days of 100F

Model taken from the DRAFT 2014 National Climate Assessment, Climate Scenarios

Coolingcosts Brownouts Air Quality

Waterquality

Transportto & from

campus culture

alumni engagement

Provide research & education

Convene community

Model innovation

4.

5.

6.


education

Responsibilityappropriate education

model for society and students

be a good neighbor

ACUPCC Institutions & ResilienceThe ACUPCC has the capacity

as a network to mobile regionally, and share best-practices

nationally through the ACUPCC Reporting System, and

commitment to addressing the climate challenge & providing

education for sustainability for all students.

rs.acupcc.org675+ institutions

committed to climate action and public

reporting

ACUPCC Institutions & Resilience

The Consortium for Climate Risk in the Urban Northeast (CCRUN) funded under NOAA’s

Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) program, serves stakeholder needs in assessing and

managing risks from climate variability and change.

http://www.ccrun.org/

Aerial photos of the Kingsborough Community College beach before and Hurricane Sandy Left photo from Google Maps; Right photo from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

ACUPCC Institutions are using mitigation for

resilience

Butte College (CA) Grid Positive Solar

NYU Co-Gen

Understand risk & impacts

Adapt systems and actions

Reduce vulnerability

1.

2.

3.

Provide research & education

Convene community

Model innovation

4.

5.

6.


education


Four key action areas:

Campus and Operations

Curriculum & Research

Community Partnerships

Model Innovation(Mitigate, Adapt)


Financing & Policy

ACUPCC



Climate Resilience

• Face direct risks to their operations and infrastructure from the impacts of climate disruption.

• Have the unique opportunity to role-model solutions in their own operations

To adapt to climate change,higher education institutions:

Campus Operations


• Have a critical role to play in preparing society by providing research and education on adaptation strategies and science

• Need to increase curricular offerings on climate adaptation, in core courses and electives


Curriculum & Research


• Can serve as ‘hubs’ in their local communities for creating, testing, and disseminating knowledge about regional impacts

• Should acknowledge the inequitable distribution of climate impacts across populations


Communityand

Partnerships


US EPA State and Local Climate & Energy Program webinar (April 2013)

Poll of municipal leaders working to adapt communities & infrastructure in March 2013



• Should aim to identify adaptation strategies that also contribute to mitigation efforts

(not should, but can!) Mitigate & Adapt


Model and test operational

change

Provide necessary curriculum & research

Ensure communities adapt

and prepare

Share and accelerate innovation

accelerating learning and practice for resilience

Higher Education has a responsibility to address vulnerability, and

opportunity to increase resilience:


www.secondnature.orgScenarios of climate change for each region of the country scenarios.globalchange.gov

Higher Education’s Role in Adapting to a Changing Climatepresidentsclimatecommitment.org

Webinar Series on Climate Impacts & Higher EducationCampus Sustainability Day Webinar Oct. 23rd

AASHE, USGBC, ACUPCC Webinar Dec 2013

Intentionally Designed Endowment ConferenceHampshire College | Amherst, MassachusettsApril 3-4, 2014

CONTACT Michele [email protected]

Documents

SN-TriAgency Presentation-2013 (1).pptx [Read-Only]675+ institutions 6,800,000students represented 12,000 staff working to implement 1,800 GHG inventories submitted 500climate action