Education and Action for a Sustainable Future

1

• Education and Action for a Sustainable Future

2

•  
• Debra Rowe, Ph.D.
• President
• U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable
  Development
• www.uspartnership.org
• Co-chair
• Higher Education Associations Sustainability
  Consortium
• www.heasc.net
• Advisor
• Association for the Advancement of Sustainability
  in Higher Education
• www.aashe.org
• Professor, Sustainable Energies and Behavioral
  Sciences
• Oakland Community College
• www.oaklandcc.edu/EST
• Thanks to John Richter and Anthony Cortese for
  some of these slides

3

• Part I What is sustainability?
• Part II What are our sustainability
  challenges?
• Part III Solutions and National Trends
• Part IV Resources for you!

4
Sustainable Development is often defined as

• meeting the needs of the present
• without compromising the ability of
• future generations to
• meet their own needs
• World Commission on Env. and Development.
  (1987). Our Common Future. England Oxford
  University Press.
•  

5
Social Well-being
Flourishing Environment
Strong Economy
Sustainable Society
Triple Bottom Line of Sustainability
6
The United Nations has declared a Decade of
Education for Sustainable Development2005-2014
7
Education for a Sustainable Society
enables people to develop the knowledge,
values and skills to participate in decisions ,
that will improve the quality of life now without
damaging the planet for the future. 
8
Ecosystem
Ecosystem
Sustainable Communities
Public Choices and Behaviors-Laws
Applied Knowledge/ Technological Skills
Private Choices and Behaviors-Habits
Sustainable Economies
Ecosystem
Ecosystem
9
Why is environmental responsibility such a high
priority?

• Freshwater withdrawal has almost doubled since
  1960 and nearly half the worlds major rivers are
  going dry or are badly polluted (New
  Internationalist, no. 329)
• 11 of the worlds 15 major fishing areas and 69
  of the worlds major fish species are in decline
  (State of the World, Worldwatch Institute)
• Climate change (global warming) exists, a major
  culprit is fossil fuels, and impacts are very
  serious. (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
  Change report Summary for Policymakers The
  Science of Climate Change)

10
4
11
U.S. EmissionsU.S. NOAA slides
NOAA Slides by Forecast Systems Laboratory.
24
12
U.S. Contributions to Climate Change

• The U.S. has 4.5 of the worlds population and
  is producing over 23 of the worlds greenhouse
  gas emissions. For decades, the U.S. has been
  the 1 polluter.

13
Effects -Climate Change

• Disruption of food production and the food chain
• More extreme weather events
• Disruptions of ecosystems and the food chain,
  including water supplies
• Spread of disease e.g. West Nile, Malaria,
  Dengue Fever
• Submersion of land masses
• 1 to 4 foot sea level rise - now up to 80 feet
• 50 of worlds population lives on the coasts
• Civilization Disruption
• Source Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
  Change

14
Why is Climate Change Important?

• It is outside of the normal variability of
  climate.
• We are the first generation capable of
  determining the habitability of the planet for
  humans and other species.
• The decisions of this generation are crucial. 

15
Why climate change and other environmental Issues
are so important

• Human presence on a global scale
• All living systems in long term decline at
  unprecedented and accelerating rate
• Unprecedented growth in population and
  consumption
• Climate change
• Our decisions will create
• more scarcity and suffering, or a future of
  greater abundance and higher quality of life

16
Global Perspective
life supporting resources declining
consumption of life supporting resources rising
17
Why is EFS such a high priority in the
U.S.?

• Much of the U.S. public doesnt know that we are
  exceeding the carrying capacity of the planet.
  (www.myfootprint.org)
• Public doesnt know we can reduce human
  suffering, environmental degradation and social
  injustice now while building stronger economies
• A rapid shift in mindset is needed and education
  to action is the key.

18
Solutions for climate change

• Reduce energy use
• Use renewable energies
• Stop burning fossil fuels oil, coal and natural
  gas
• Prepare to adapt

19
Why should we reduce our consumption
of fossil fuels?

• It is a national security issue causing the
  following threats to our well being
• Political Instability
• Economic Instability
• Environmental Instability

20
Political Instability Dependency on
foreign oil

• The U.S. imports 54 of its oil consumption.
• U.S. oil production has declined continuously
  since 1974.
• Comes from some countries whose policies we dont
  like

Source University of Minnesota
21
Economic Impacts

• "Paid predominantly by the US, the costs of
  protecting our Middle East oil supplies are as
  high as 15-25 a barrel - that is about a dollar
  a gallon.
• Peter Hain, UK Europe Minister

USS Stark, 1987
22
Economic Instability

• Globally, the largest item in the U.S. trade
  deficit is our importing of foreign oil
• Nationally, our economy is hampered by energy
  costs which decrease the bottom line of profits
  and economic health
• Locally, people on stressed budgets - many have
  to choose between heating and eating

23
Environmental Impacts - Disease

• power plant particle pollution causes more
  than 603,000 asthma attacks per year..
• Source Abt Associates Death, Disease, and Dirty
  Power Plants

24
Environmental Impacts - Death

• Abt Associates finds over 30,000 deaths each
  year are attributable to fine particle pollution
  from U.S. power plants.
• Source The Clean the Air Task Force

25
Global Transition Paradigm Shift

• From
• Fossil powered
• Take, make, waste
• Living off natures capital
• Market as master
• Loss of cultural biological diversity
• Independence
• Materialism as goal

• To
• Non-polluting powered
• Cyclical production
• Living off natures income
• Market as servant
• Maintain cultural biological diversity
• Interdependence
• Reduced human suffering and quality of life goal

26
Dominant Inaccurate Human BeliefsWhich ones do
you have to eliminate?

• Humans dominant species separate from environment
• Resources free and inexhaustible
• Technology the answer
• Earth can assimilate all wastes
• All human needs can be met by human means
• Individual success independent of health of
  communities, cultures and ecosystems
• Old Worldview
• vs. Updated Worldview of Sustainabilty

27
Part III

• More on Solutions and Trends

28
Potentials for Energy Conservation and Renewable
Energies

• Plan B Mobilizing to Save Civilization
• by Lester Brown
• Founder of Worldwatch Institute
• Downloadable at www.earth-policy.org

29
Potentials for Energy Conservation

• Conserve energy!!
• Can address all of our increasing demand for
  energy.
• Lighting alone can handle 12.
• Easy to save 20-40 in building energy use.
• Dont idle. Keep your tires properly inflated.

30
Potentials for Renewable Energies

• For wind energy, Stanford University team Archer
  and Jacobson
• Harvesting 1/5 of the worlds available wind
  energy would provide 7 times as much electricity
  as the world currently uses.
• U.S. Department of Energy 1991 study
• North Dakota, Kansas and Texas has enough
  harnessable wind energy to satisfy national
  electricity needs. (Given new technologies since
  then, can handle the U.S. total energy needs.)

31
Potentials for Renewable Energies

• Can we meet all our needs with renewable
  energies?
• YES

32
Table 121. World Energy from Renewables in
2006and Plan B Goals for 2020

• Source 2006 Goal for 2020
• Wind 74 3,000
• Rooftop solar electric systems 9
  1,090
• Solar electric power plants 0 100
• Solar thermal power plants 0 200
• Geothermal 9 200
• Biomass 45 200
• Hydropower 850 1,350
• Total 987 6,140
• Electricity Generating Capacity (electrical
  gigawatts)

33
Table 121 cont. World Energy from Renewables in
2006and Plan B Goals for 2020

• Source 2006 Goal for 2020
• Thermal Energy Capacity (thermal gigawatts)
• Solar rooftop water and 100 1,100
• space heaters
• Geothermal 100 500
• Biomass 220 350
• Total (electrical and thermal gigawatts) 420
  1,950

34
A Few Words on Each Renewable Resource

• Electricity Generating Capacity (electrical
  gigawatts)
• Wind
• Rooftop solar electric systems
• Solar electric power plants
• Solar thermal power plants
• Geothermal
• Hydropower

35
A Few Words on Each Renewable Resource

• Thermal Energy Capacity (thermal gigawatts)
• Solar rooftop water and space heaters
• Geothermal
• Biomass Ethanol, Biodiesel, Methane, Combustion

36

• Note Hydrogen is not a renewable energy it is
  a storage medium
• Key Renewable Energy Transportation Strategy
• Plug in hybrids!!!!

37
KEY THRUST

• Change the buildings and transportation and
  manufacturing environments operational/policy
  norms toward sustainable policies and practices.
• Where? In the personal, business and governmental
  spheres.

38
Your Home - Facilities, Purchasing and Operations

• Residential What you can do!!!
• Environmentally and socially responsible
  purchasing www.coopamerica.org,
  www.newdream.org
• Environmentally and socially responsible
  investments www.socialinvest.org
• Caulk and weatherstrip
• Parasitic power unplug the TV, computer, etc.
  when not in use!
• Fill the freezer. Clean the coils
• Carpool or use bikes and buses
• Turn down the tank to 120 and use water
  conserving showerheads.

39
Your Home - Facilities, Purchasing and Operations

• Residential What you can do!!!
• Permaculture instead of grass
• Eat lower and local on the food chain
• Buy renewable energy locally and offsets
  (www.nativeenergy.org)
• Be an energy waste detective
• Reduce, reuse and recycle

40
SAVE MONEY

• United Way Case Studies
• 32 Energy savings
• Lighting Retrofits
• Weatherizing
• Insulation

41
Solutions

• All of us engaged as effective change agents in
  our sustainability challenges
• From apathy caring involvement.
• Know that our daily decisions affect the quality
  of life of people around the globe.
• Culture of sustainability MTVs Breaking the
  Addiction to Oil
• Push for appropriate policies

42
Skills

• 1) Teach/learn sustainable development literacy
• 2) Teach/learn optimism skills (Seligman)
• 3) Teach/learn efficacy tell stories of normal
  people making a difference
• 4) Teach/learn interpersonal and intrapersonal
  intelligences e.g. civil discourse, conflict
  resolution, emotional intelligence
• 5) Teach/learn systems thinking, futurist skills
  and change agent skills

43
The community as a living lab for sustainability
oriented practices and skill building.
Provides the models and opportunities for
practicing the changing of behaviorsBuilding
values, behaviors, and identities

• A community of learners. A community of real
  life problem solvers.

44
What is Green Design?

• Design and construction practices that
  significantly reduce or eliminate the negative
  impact of buildings on the environment and
  occupants in five broad areas
• Sustainable site planning
• Safeguarding water and water efficiency
• Energy efficiency and renewable energy
• Conservation of materials and resources
• Indoor environmental quality.

45
Why use green design?

• Save Money
• Improve Health
• Reduce Climate Change
• Reduce Financial Risk
• Community Benefits

46
US Health Care Expenditures as Percent of
GDP Projections
Heffler et al. U.S. Health Spending Projections
for 2004-2014. Health Tracking, February 23,
2005
47

• Unknowingly, the architecture and building
  community is responsible for almost half of all
  U.S. greenhouse gas emissions annually. Globally
  the percentage is even greater.

U.S. Energy Consumption by Sector SourceU.S.
Energy Information Administration statistics
48
U.S. Green Building Council www.usgbc.org

• LEED provides a roadmap for every building type.
  Specific programs include
• New commercial and residential construction and
  major renovation projects
• Existing building operations and maintenance
• Commercial interiors projects
• Core and shell development projects
• Neighborhood development

49
Green Design Does Not Have to Cost More

• Studies verify this
• Can be positive cash flow from the first month
• Use experienced professionals
• For a free publication on how to go green for no
  more money, http//www.ieice.com/portfolio/green_b
  uilding/book/book.html

50
Benefits of Green Building

• Environmental Benefits
• Reduce the impacts of natural resource
  consumption
• Economic Benefits
• Improve the bottom line
• Health and Safety Benefits
• Enhance occupant comfort and health
• Community Benefits
• Minimize strain on local infrastructures and
  improve quality of life
• Fulfills a professional responsibility
• Its the new norm

51

• Some of the previous green design slides are from
  
• Celeste Allen Novak, AIA, LEED AP
• celestenov_at_aol.com
• En\Compass Architecture
• Some of the sustainability slides are from
• Tony Cortese, President, Second Nature
• www.secondnature.org

52
What You Can Do Political Activities are
Crucial!!!

• Local Level
• 1. Take it to your community do a community
  sustainability plan/ energy audit. Get them to
  sign on to the Climate Protection Agreement
  (signed by over 600 mayors.)
• Federal Level
• Take it to your U.S. Senators and
  Representatives
• Undo the uneven subsidies Get the Wind
  Production Tax credit and the Solar Investment
  Tax Credit passed
• Pass a carbon tax (Tax pollution instead of
  income.) or a Cap and Trade system with AUCTIONED
  CREDITS
• For more info, visit the Union of Concerned
  Scientists and the American Wind Energy
  Association
• HESA and DURBIN an opportunity!!!!

53
What is needed? Solutions

• Civic engagement people asking for it
• Political will legislators doing it
• Civic engagement people making sure it
  happens

54
What is needed? Solutions

• Ask to end the imbalance of subsidies.
• Account for the full cost.
• Create proper incentives.
• Pass the wind production tax credits
• Pass the solar investment tax credits
• Decrease the fossil fuel subsidies

55
Part III

• National Trends and Resources

56

U.S. Partnership for Education for
Sustainable Development Convene,
Catalyze and Communicate
Sector Teams Business, Higher Education,
K-12, Communities, Faith, Youth
57
Business principles of sustainability

• Cradle to Cradle (McDonough)
• Biomimicry (Benyas Like nature, efficient and
  not toxic)
• World Business Council for Sustainable
  Development (www.wbcsd.org)
• Natural Step (Sweden and U.S.)
• Natural Capitalism (Lovins, Harvard Business
  Review)
• Ethical Markets Hazel Henderson

58
Trends in sectors some examples

• Business - LOHAS, SOL Sustainability Consortium,
  CERES, Businesses for Social Responsibility,
  Shareholders, Investors (e.g. Goldman Sachs and
  Swiss RE)
• Communities - Mayors Climate Protection and Smart
  Growth, Grand Rapids model
• K-12 Nat. Assoc. of Independent Schools, U.S.
  Partnership resources
• Faith - National Religious Partnership and
  Interfaith Alliance, Regeneration Project
• Youth Climate Challenge, Reduce Your Impact,
  Action Campaigns

59

• Higher education is beginning to take a
  leadership role to prepare students and provide
  the information and knowledge to achieve a
  sustainable society?
• What does it look like?

60
For higher education, Sustainable Development is
being integrated into
Curricula
Research
Mission and Planning
Operations
Purchasing
CommunityOutreach and Partnerships
Professional Development
Student Life
plus legislation and public awareness
61
Sustainable Living Practices Higher Ed Leading
the Way

• Presidential Taskforce on Sustainability ACPA
• http//www.myacpa.org/task-force/sustainability/
  , including
• overview,
• learning outcomes,
• residential sustainable living campaigns
• first year experience,
• orientation,
• film series and sustainability media
  festivals,
• examples and templates for members

62
HE Sustainability Examplesmore at www.aashe.org
Annual Digest

• Systemic integration
• University of Florida
• Georgia Tech
• University of North Carolina
• University of British Columbia
• Arizona State
• Lane Community College
• Transportation
• UC Boulder
• Cornell
• Energy Climate Change
• SUNY Buffalo
• University of California System
• Western Washington University
• University of Minnesota

63
HE Sustainability Examplesmore at www.aashe.org
Annual Digest

• Curriculum
• Northern Arizona University
• University of Georgia Article in ACE Presidency
  W 06
• Comm. Colleges Article at AACC site/sustainable
• Food
• University of Montana
• UC Santa Cruz
• Green Building
• University of Washington
• South Carolina universities

64
Making sustainability an integral part of
planning, operations, facility design,
purchasing, investments, and curricula.
65

Association for the Advancement of
Sustainability in Higher Education AASHE (A
Y-shee) www.aashe.org
66
GREAT NEWS!!!Growing National TrendSeventeen
national HE associations and twenty national
disciplinary associations are creating
initiatives on Education for Sustainable
Development
67
Engaged National Associations

• 9. APPA Facilities
• 10. NACUBO Business
• 11. SCUP College and University Planners
• 12. ACUI Student Unions
• 13. ACPA Student Life
• 14. NACUFS Food
• 15. ACEED-I Events and Conference Directors
• 16. NACS Campus Stores
• 17. NIRSA Recreation
• 18. AGB Ass. of Governing Boards
• AND MORE

• 1. ACEAm. Council on Ed.Presidency Magazine
  W06
• 2. AACU Ass. of American Colleges and
  Universities
• 3. AACC Am. Ass. of Community Colleges
• 4. AASCU State Institutions
• 5. ACUHO Housing
• 6. NACAS Aux. Officers
• 7. NAEP Educational Buyers
• 8. NACA Campus Activities

68
Higher Education Associations Sustainability
Consortiumwww.heasc.net
69
Higher Education Associations

• Collaboration with national higher education
  associations on
• Rating system - STARS
• Socially and environmentally responsible
  procurement
• Presidents pledge on climate change
• Sports and Sustainbility
• Team building on campus at VP and other levels
  for sustainability
• Learning Outcomes in sustainability for all
  graduates
• Professional development for all

70
Over 20 National Discipline Associations have
become engaged!

• Political Science, Math, Religion, Philosophy,
  Sociology, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering,
  Geography, Anthropology, Communications,
  Psychology, Architecture
• Academic learning combined with real life problem
  solving for sustainability in all disciplines and
  as degree core
• www.aashe.org/dans

71
More National Organizations to assist you

• Second Nature www.secondnature.org
• Grey Pinstripes for business schools through the
  World Resources Institute - http//projects.wri.or
  g/project_description.cfm?ProjectID18
• U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable
  Development www.uspartnership.org

72
U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable
Development

• Non-partisan
• Multiple Sector Teams Business, Higher Ed.,
  K-12, Youth, Faith
• Convene, Catalyze, Communicate
• www.uspartnership.org

73
www.uspartnership.orgJoin for free Participate
in a sector or action team
74
What you can do!

• Save energy and reduce pollution and save money.
• Build or buy renewable energies systems
• Take it to work and where you buy and invest
• Take it to your places of worship
• Take it to your local and national politicians
  CRUCIAL
• Take it to your local schools and colleges

75
Possibilities for Next StepsCommit to

• Help create economic policies that support
  stronger economies via the building of healthier
  ecosystems and social systems
• Utilize the media to publicize the positive
  steps all can take to both teach and model
  sustainable development.

76

• If you feel overwhelmed or unsure, dont give
  up!!
• There are people you can talk to about how to
  create success.

77
Part IV

• Resources

78
Resources

• Electronic Environmental Resource Library
  www.eerl.org Put in energy in the search box
• Alliance to Save Energy http//www.ase.org/
• Building solar air panels www.oaklandcc.edu/EST
• American Solar Energy Society www.ases.org
• American Wind Energy Association www.awea.org

79
Additional Resources

• Greener Buildings News at www.greenbiz.com
• Energy Star U.S. Dept of Energy
  http//www.energystar.gov
• Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies
  http//www.eere.energy.gov/
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -
  http//www.ipcc.ch/
• Natural Capitalism by Lovins
• National Renewable Energy Labs www.nrel.gov

80
Careers in Energy and Sustainability

• AASHE www.aashe.org
• Green jobs on Monster - www.monstertrak.monster.co
  m/greencareers_guide/index.html
• Association of Energy Engineers
  www.aeecenter.org
• http//www.sustainablebusiness.com and click on
  "Green Dream Jobs
• http//www.homepower.com/resources/jobs.cfm
• http//www.greenbiz.com and click on "Job Link
• http//www.EnvironmentalCareer.com
• http//www.idealist.org
• www.ecojobs.com
• www.eco.org
• www.greenjobs.com
• Renewable Energy Access Jobs www.renewableenergyac
  cess.com/rea/jobs/home
• For volunteer opportunities in renewable energies
  for those in need, www.gridalternatives.org

81
Challenges and Answers

• Challenges
• Already busy outside of my job description
• Dont know this stuff
• Putting out fires, dont have time to do the
  right thing
• Issues complex and systemic
• Societal environmental impacts invisible and
  ignored
• Answers
• Dont have to know the answers. Just keep asking
  the sustainability questions. Dont try to get it
  perfect.
• Use national resources and learn from others to
  help you learn, grow and implement
• Step outside your normal job description

82
Conclusions

• The U.S. public is not educated enough about the
  energy and sustainability issues before us.
• We need energy and sustainability literacy for
  ALL.
• We need to use sustainable design for new and
  existing construction, operations, consumption
  and purchasing.
• You are creating the future with your daily
  decisions.
• Successful precedents/materials can assist you in
  the sustainability path you choose as a private
  person, as an employee, and as a community
  member.
• Climate change is the highest priority with the
  shortest time line.
• We can change consumption, investment and civic
  behaviors to create appropriate market
  modifications for sustainability.

83
Reduce Climate Change
84
The Power of What You Do

• We are leaders in the world
• We can choose a sustainable future

85
Congratulations for all you have done.

• Congratulations for all you will do in the
  future.
• Let your enthusiasm show!For more information,
  contact Debra Rowe at dgrowe_at_oaklandcc.edu