Unity Environmental University
PAE-24: Sustainability Policy Advocacy

Unity College students and employees engage in sustainability-related advocacy efforts in the classroom and through a myriad of membership organizations. Our Environmental Policy and other students are frequently engaged in policy debates on campus and at the statehouse. Recent advocacy at the state-level has supported an effort to remove toxins from food packaging in Maine (http://www.unity.edu/NewsEvents/News/UCStudents1110.aspx). Students also recently attended an "Environmental Roundtable" event with Maine's governor where one able to emphasize “the importance of environmental protection to Maine’s economic and public health.” (http://sustainabilitymonitor.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/unity-student-addresses-governor-lepage/) At the national level, Unity's leadership has at times supported advocacy efforts by urging legislative support for education, energy, and climate bills, including: - funding for Section 471 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 - with 6 other college and university presidents (http://sustainabilitymonitor.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/sec471funding.pdf) - a call to President Obama for a legislative response to climate change that would put a price on carbon -- with 40 college and university presidents (http://sustainabilitymonitor.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/carbon-cap-obama-june.pdf) - a call to Maine's Congressional delegation to support funding for the Department of Education's University Sustainability Program in the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill of 2011 -- with 10 other Maine private college presidents (http://sustainabilitymonitor.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/3193_30330_113251.pdf) (http://sustainabilitymonitor.wordpress.com/2010/07/29/college-presidents-support-campus-energy-and-climate-legislation/)