University of Idaho
EN-10: Community Partnerships

The City of Moscow has assembled a sub-committee titled the Climate Action Work Group (CAWG) to address the creation of a Climate Action Plan that will mitigate local influences on climate change. Four of the fifteen committee members are affiliated with the university. The Sustainability Coordinator for UI serves as the connection point between the Climate Action Plan efforts of the city and the university, a UI faculty member serves as the scientific consultant, and two UI graduate students are completing research projects that focus on mitigation techniques that are relevant to the local community that can be included in the final Climate Action Plan.

The Palouse groundwater basin is the sole source of water for over 60,000 residents of Pullman, Washington and Moscow, Idaho and outlying areas in both Whitman County (Washington) and Latah County (Idaho).

The University of Idaho is a member of the Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee (PBAC), an ongoing partnership, along with six interstate members dedicated to the preservation and protection of the Palouse Basin Aquifer. The committee works to support water conservation and alternative water supply sources in the region. UI, a land grant university, serves the committee with two-voting members. The University is a 1992 signatory of the Palouse Basin Groundwater Management Plan and contributes $40,000 annually for research and interstate development of an alternative water supply.

The PBAC partnership simultaneously supports social equity and wellbeing, economic prosperity, and ecological health by: a) coordinating and planning to assure a long-range supply of water, b) updating and expanding a database instituted through previous studies, c) encouraging conservation to promote the life of the aquifer, d) investigating continuing and/or alternate sources of water, e) educating and advising on the quantity and quality of the public water, f) acting as liaison between the entities on water resource concerns and, g) promoting communications between the entities, the Washington Department of Ecology, and the Idaho Department of Water Resources.

PBAC is engaged in a Water Supplies Alternative project. Alternatives include, but are not limited to: reclaimed water, aquifer recharge, storm water harvesting, advanced water conservation protection, and preservation of both ground and surface water sources.

http://palousebasin.org/

In 2018, the College of Art and Architecture (CAA) was invited by Jeffery Sachs, Director of SDSN and Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General, to join the U.S. Chapter of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

The university is providing financial support for CAA professors John Anderson and Andy Kliskey to lead this partnership.

The partnerships sustainability focus simultaneously supports social equity and wellbeing, economic prosperity, and ecological health.

The SDSN USA will help to mobilize and support America’s colleges, universities, and other leading research institutions to promote the sustainable development goals (SDG) in the United States, and US’s contribution to the SDGs globally. In the opening meeting of the SDSN USA on December 4, representatives of more than 60 leading academic institutions around the nation developed a work plan for the new network, focusing on priority SDG challenges facing the United States.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. These 17 Goals build on the successes of the Millennium Development Goals, while including new areas such as climate change, economic inequality, innovation, sustainable consumption, peace and justice, among other priorities. The goals are interconnected – often the key to success on one will involve tackling issues more commonly associated with another.

http://unsdsn.org/

CAWG: Kelli M. Cooper, Environmental Education and Sustainability Specialist; City of Moscow

PBAC: Rusty Vineyard: Director of Facilities Operations

SDSN: John W Anderson, Faculty; College of Art and Architecture