COLLEGE CAMPUSES are the site of social change once again, and while combating global warming by lowering greenhouse gas emissions may not be as exhilarating as burning bras or picketing against war, it is as important.
Colleges across the nation are signing The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment. More than 240 have signed since December, and the number of committed schools is growing rapidly, demonstrating that both college students and presidents believe climate change must be addressed immediately.
The plan, signed by about 30 colleges in Massachusetts, accomplishes more than similar initiatives because it requires schools to become climate neutral. This means schools must have net zero greenhouse gas emissions, as opposed to just lowering them.
For instance, if a school lowers its emissions by 90 percent, it must then offset the remaining 10 percent. It can do this by investing in renewable energy, planting trees, or financing energy-efficiency projects in local public schools and housing, among other things. Each school has two years to create a plan and set a timeline.
Schools have set varying goals based on their situations. New York University plans to become climate neutral by 2050, whereas Middlebury College is aiming for 2015. In the meantime, all schools must adopt at least two ways of lowering their emissions, such as by buying Energy Star certified products or purchasing at least 15 percent of energy consumption from renewable sources within one year.
This commitment makes higher education the first sector of society to commit to becoming climate neutral. It also does more than just battle global warming. It requires schools to educate students about global warming, and fund research for ways to reverse climate change.
Joseph Aoun, president of Northeastern University, said in an interview, "It is very important to me that we look at our university not only as a mirror of what society is, but as a model of what society can do. That is the beauty of the university. We educate, we create knowledge, and we are engaged in society. It's a leadership approach. Whatever we do here, it's not only going to impact the students, staff, and faculty here, but also the next generation."
Anthony Cortese, co-director of the initiative, anticipates that schools will educate through student groups on campus, specific classes about climate change, and the integration of climate change education into regular classes. The combination of climate neutrality, research, and education is what makes the initiative so unique.
What makes this commitment so important is that it is being endorsed nationwide by university presidents.
The commitment comes at a perfect time. Student awareness of global warming is high, campuses are becoming greener, and society has largely accepted that global warming is the result of human activity. It is raising awareness that a change in government policy is not the only way to reverse global warming; change can also begin in apartments and on campus.
Students have started making behavioral changes in addition to advocating a greener campus. Students at the University of Colorado at Boulder voted to raise their student activities fee so they could make new buildings more environmentally friendly. At Northeastern, the student-led
Climate change is not simply an environmental issue; it is a huge social, economic, and political problem as well, and will affect all professions. This is what makes educating college students about climate change essential.
Massachusetts, as one of the leading states in higher education, is obligated to take the lead in reversing climate change. Jack Wilson, president of the University of Massachusetts system, has signed the commitment, along with all of the Massachusetts community colleges. The state schools have shown great leadership in this regard, and the private schools are beginning to follow. Massachusetts should be the first state to have all its colleges and universities sign.
The most devastating effects of climate change will impact today's students and their children, and it is time to take action against it. This commitment is the best way.
Courtney Brooks is a journalism and international affairs major at Northeastern University. 
