| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 59.79 |
| Liaison | Chris Bond |
| Submission Date | Aug. 2, 2011 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Unity Environmental University
PAE-24: Sustainability Policy Advocacy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Jesse
Pyles Sustainability Coordinator Sustainability |
Has the institution advocated for federal, state, and/or local public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability, including the issues, bills, and ordinances for or against which the institution has advocated:
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/)
The website URL where information about the institution’s advocacy efforts are available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.