April 18, 2007
University of Miami President Commits to Campus Sustainability
Coral Gables, Fl (April 18, 2007) -- The University of Miami announced today a major commitment toward environmental sustainability on campus by signing the Talloires Declaration of the Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future and the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. UM President Donna E. Shalala signed the Declarations alongside student leaders of Sustainable U and EarthAlert. This historic signing is part of the Green U campus initiative at UM.
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The Talloires Declaration (pronounced Tal-Whar) is a ten-point action plan committing institutions to sustainability and environmental literacy in teaching and practice. Over 320 university presidents and chancellors in more than 40 countries have signed the Declaration. Member universities can develop their own course of action with the goal of achieving greater environmental sustainability and awareness on campus.
The Presidents Climate Commitment is a project developed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), to which the university belongs. The commitment provides a framework and support for America’s colleges and universities to become climate neutral. As a member of the elite Leadership Circle, President Shalala is one of the original signatories.
“The University of Miami is recognized for preparing students to be environmental thinkers and responsible citizens of the world,” said Donna E. Shalala, UM president. “Now we are making a commitment to a sustainable future by broadening our approach to educating students on environmental sustainability and by fostering a culture of environmental awareness at the University.”
In 2006, students from the Sustainable U organization, including leaders Josh Braunstein, Matt Hoffman and Jenny Burrows presented President Donna E. Shalala and Provost Thomas J. LeBlanc with the Talloires Declaration and asked on behalf of the student body for the university to join the effort.
"We felt strongly that UM should be a part of the global effort toward sustainability," said Josh Braunstein an undergraduate in the School of Business and Sustainable U president. "The administration was really supportive of our ideas on how to create a culture of sustainability on campus."
In 2006, student leaders founded Sustainable U to educate faculty, staff and students at UM about the benefits of engaging in activities on campus that sustain, rather than deplete, the environment. Student have implemented Recycle Canes, a comprehensive recycling program on the Coral Gables campus, got hybrid vehicle owners a 50 percent discount on parking passes and work closely with university administration to plan and implement future sustainable efforts.
Through its Green U initiative, the University of Miami established a university-wide goal to be a community leader in becoming more sustainable, a goal that requires active participation of the entire University community. The University is home to the first high-rise in South Florida --residential or commercial-- that was designed and built for energy efficiency and sustainability. The new Clinical Research Institute is home to clinical trials and other medical research at the UM Miller School of Medicine. The Biomedical Research Institute currently under construction will be LEED certified. To learn more about UM’s Green U initiatives, visit: www.miami.edu/greenu
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The University of Miami’s mission is to educate and nurture students, to create knowledge, and to provide service to our community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud of the diversity of our University family, we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world. www.miami.edu
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Media Contact:
Annie Reisewitz
305-284-1601
a.reisewitz@miami.edu
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