Lynchburg College has named 2007-08 the Year of the Environment with a theme of "A Greener Tomorrow Today." The College is undertaking a yearlong campaign to make the campus and its inhabitants more aware of their impact on the Earth, and to make changes that will lessen that impact.
Part of the impetus for this focus came from LC President Kenneth Garren's signing of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/, a pledge to reverse the actions that lead to global warming. Signatories agree to develop a plan to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible, reduce greenhouse gases, and make plans and reports fully accessible to the public.
"The goal is not only to educate the campus community about environmental issues, but also to encourage people to take action by making small changes in their everyday routines and to live in a more sustainable way," said Dr. Jamey Pavey, assistant professor of environmental science, who is heading up the committee planning the year's events. "Our theme, 'A Greener Tomorrow Today,' emphasizes the hope for a more sustainable future and the immediate need to take action."
Among other plans for the fall is a new Eco-House, which will be occupied by students who are dedicated to lessening their ecological footprint by reducing their use of fossil fuels and water by 10 percent form the previous five-year average. Students will determine what type of upgrades could make the house more efficient. They will also be recycling and composting, as well as building a rain barrel to collect water for planting native landscaping around the house.
Goals
- To raise awareness about local, national, and international environmental issues
- To increase understanding of the complexity of environmental problems and of the interconnections between society and nature
- To educate members of the campus community about how their lifestyles contribute to environmental problems and about ways to minimize these impacts
- To encourage the campus community to "Think Globally, Act Locally" by providing service opportunities
Read more about the Year of the Environment, including planned events, at www.lynchburg.edu/environment .