Smith Joins National
Pact to Tackle Climate Change
Smith College has joined forces with 448 colleges and
universities -- including 41 in Massachusetts -- to commit to reducing their
carbon emissions. The agreement, called the American College and University Presidents
Climate Commitment, is an effort to address global warming by reducing the school’s
net greenhouse gas emissions. It is modeled after a similar pact made by mayors across
the country.
Over the next two years, Smith will catalog its sources of carbon emissions and lay out a timetable for
achieving carbon neutrality -- defined as having no net greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon neutrality
is achieved both by minimizing emissions and by offsetting emissions with renewable sources of energy
and campus plantings to neutralize some of the carbon dioxide.
“Smith’s commitment to sustainability is grounded in its educational mission,” says
President Carol Christ. “The college recognizes its responsibility to produce environmentally responsible
citizens and leaders and to demonstrate the values of environmental sustainability in our daily operations.”
In addition, Smith, in conjunction with colleges, universities and high schools across the country, held
teach-ins about “Global Warming Solutions for America” on January 31 to focus the nation’s
attention on the issue of global warming. For more information, and a link to the Focus the Nation Web
site, go to www.smith.edu/green/focus.php.
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