Emerson College
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

http://www.greenribboncommission.org/work/higher-education-working-group/ Emerson College is part of the Green Ribbon Commission, a group of business, institutional, and civic leaders in Boston working to develop shared strategies for fighting climate change in coordination with the City's Climate Action Plan. Emerson College sits on the Higher Education Working Group. HEWG Main Topic Areas of Focus The HEWG is chaired by Katie Lapp, executive vice president of Harvard University, and managed by the Harvard University Office for Sustainability. The working group focuses on the following topic areas: Green Labs Symposium 2014 and 2016 Lab facilities are often the source of the greatest energy use on our campuses, disproportionate to the square footage they occupy, so they are a key area of focus for our institutions. These two symposia convened experts in the lab arena to identify and share information on innovative best practices and best-in-class progress in reducing energy use and emissions. For meeting materials and footage of the presentations, visit the Green Labs Symposium website. Renewable energy purchasing The Higher Ed Working Group is a leading participant in the GRC’s Renewable Energy Purchasing Network and is a driving force behind a comprehensive analysis of impacts of different purchasing strategies and related communications claims. The whitepaper, Guidance for Purchasing Renewable Energy and Associated Claims, responds to the growing interest of America’s institutions and businesses in purchasing renewable energy. It offers a roadmap for potential buyers to navigate through the increasingly complex and still emerging renewables landscape. The accompanying powerpoint presentation on the right illustrates options. More information from a quantitative emissions analysis of renewable energy purchasing options will be published shortly. Institutional Carbon Pricing From college campuses to Davos, carbon pricing is a policy instrument regarded by climate scientists, economists, and political and business leaders as an important part of efforts to mitigate global climate change. The Higher Ed Working Group looks at best practices from institutions around the world with an aim to deliver options and guidance for GRC members and others in Boston.

Emerson College is a member of the Northeast Campus Sustainability Consortium. The Northeast Campus Sustainability Consortium (NECSC) was established in October 2004 to support sustainability officers in advancing education about and demonstration of sustainable systems on university campuses in the northeast and maritime region. Organized around the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, the NECSC members have committed to an annual meeting that advances campus sustainability by providing close networking opportunities, professional development, and access to the area’s vibrant and growing college and university sustainability practitioner community. With no formalized structure, the NECSC is a collaborative, participatory network serving sustainability professionals in higher education in the northeast region. Ongoing activities include monthly member-driven and facilitated calls, in which discussions focus on sustainability topics, including public policy, at the state and regional level.

Emerson College helped draft the original "We Are Still In" letter sent to the new Congress in February 2017. Since then, Emerson has participated in the growth of the movement to include governments, businesses, and NGOs. The movement's signatories commit to tackling climate change, ensuring a clean energy future, and upholding the Paris Agreement. Additionally, Emerson's president signed onto and the study body actively supports the "Put a Price on It" campaign for carbon pricing at the state and national level.

Emerson College helped draft the original "We Are Still In" letter sent to the new Congress in February 2017. Since then, Emerson has participated in the growth of the movement to include governments, businesses, and NGOs. The movement's signatories commit to tackling climate change, ensuring a clean energy future, and upholding the Paris Agreement.