Degrees That Matter Urban and Industrial Environments Series editor: Robert Gottlieb, Henry R. Luce Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy, Occidental College For a complete list of books published in this series, please see the back of the book. Degrees That Matter Climate Change and the University Ann Rappaport and Sarah Hammond Creighton The MIT Press Cambridge, Massachusetts London, England © 2007 Massachusetts Institute of Technology All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from the publisher. MIT Press books may be purchased at special quantity discounts for business or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail
[email protected] mit.edu or write to Special Sales Department, The MIT Press, 55 Hayward Street, Cambridge, MA 02142. This book was set in Sabon by SNP Best-set Typesetter Ltd., Hong Kong. Printed and bound in the United States of America. Printed on recycled paper. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Rappaport, Ann. Degrees that matter : climate change and the university / Ann Rappaport and Sarah Hammond Creighton. p. cm.—(Urban and industrial environments) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN: 978-0-262-18258-4 (hardcover : alk. paper)—978-0-262-68166-7 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Climatic changes—Environmental aspects—United States. 2. Greenhouse gas mitigation—United States. 3. Global environmental change—United States. 4. Science—Study and teaching—United States. 5. Universities and colleges— United States. I. Creighton, Sarah Hammond. II. Title. QC981.8.C5R367 2007 363.738′746071173—dc22 2006030105 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 To William R. Moomaw, friend and mentor. Bill’s generous spirit and creativity have inspired generations of students. His willingness to take action to protect the planet is an inspiration to us all. Contents List of Tables, Figures, and Boxes Foreword by Lawrence S. Bacow Acknowledgments xvii xi xiii 1 A Time for Action 1 Our Imperiled Planet 1 The College and University Climate Change Imperative How Colleges and Universities Can Make a Difference How You Can Use This Book to Plan and to Act 10 Summary 12 3 3 2 Climate Change Basics and the University 13 Climate Change Basics for Decision Makers and Advocates Subnational Initiatives for Climate Change 21 The Role of Wealth 22 Sources of Heat-Trapping Gases 28 Summary 31 3 The Campus Inventory and Climate Goals 33 Emission Sources and the Emissions Inventory 33 Goals for Action 42 Monitoring Progress toward Goals 48 Summary 49 4 Climate Actors and Climate Advocacy 51 Understanding the Actors 51 Organizing and Advocating for Climate Action University Decision Making and Climate Action Summary 74 64 71 13 viii Contents 5 Strategy and Tactics for Climate Action 75 Types of Climate Action 75 Tactics for Climate Action Advocates 77 Determining Strategy 85 Determining Priorities 93 Funding Climate Action 95 The Challenges 101 Developing a Climate Action Mindset 103 Summary 108 6 Buildings and Climate Change Action 109 Why Buildings and Facilities? 110 Applying Climate Change Action in University Facilities Decision Making for Climate Change 119 New Buildings 125 A Case for Action in Existing Buildings 140 Summary 142 111 7 Tackling Emissions at th