| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.66 |
| Liaison | Amber Saxton |
| Submission Date | Feb. 22, 2024 |
George Mason University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Greg
Farley Director of Sustainability University Sustainability |
Local advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:
Mason is active at the local level sustainability policy by regulary engaging and providing input to Fairfax City and Fairfax County with local transportation planning efforts. This has included partnering with Fairfax City to conduct a Bikeshare feasibility study https://www.fairfaxva.gov/government/public-works/transportation-division/cycling-in-the-city/bikeshare-study
As a result of the study, Mason has partnered on the e-scooter program and their TDM coordinator is part of our bike advisory committee. With the County and City we planned the Capital Bikeshare station expansion between campus and Vienna Metro(which now is physically in place after years of planning, carrying out the recommendations of our joint Bikeshare feasibility study.
https://engage.fairfaxva.gov/capital-bikeshare-stations
https://gmufourthestate.com/2024/04/06/capital-bikeshare-program-lands-on-fairfax-campus/
Regional advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
Mason leadership, which includes the head of parking and transportation (Josh Cantor: Director, Parking & Transportation), regularly hosts regional transportation forums to advocate sustainable transportation efforts and to foster more cohesive transportation planning in the DC region which is attended by regional elected officials as well as Mason leadership.
https://novatransit.org/2023legislativeforum/
Mason leadership is also regularly involved in regional sustainability transportation planning efforts such as the TransAction 2040 plan https://nvtatransaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/NVTA_TA2040_PlanSummary_20121120_LoRes.pdf
As a part of the TransAction 2040 plan, Mason was a part of Virginia’s first on-street autonomous transit shuttle pilot. This pilot project was a partnership between Fairfax County, Dominion Energy, EDENS (Mosaic), The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) and George Mason University (GMU).
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/autonomous-shuttle-pilot
National advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:
Lisa Patel, MD (center), executive director of Mason 4C’s Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, led a gathering with health professionals and policy makers on Capitol Hill in March 2023. The Center for Climate Change Communication is also host to the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, a program that amplifies the trusted voices of doctors and other health professionals to educate and champion equitable climate solutions that protect and promote human health. Founded in 2016, the consortium’s membership includes 50 national medical societies that represent millions of health professionals and reflects the Center’s efforts as a leader in research-to-practice in climate communication.
George Mason's Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, which is a part of George Mason's Center for Climate Change Communication, developed a letter, which was signed by 80 orgaganizations, and was sent to members of the US Congress to write in support of farm policy that prioritizes both affordable and nutritious food and clean air and water. The letter advocates for supporting both robust nutrition programs for economically challenged families and conservation programs that support soil health, air quality, and clean water.
In 2021, George Mason University endorses the urgent need for the United States to adopt a net-zero trajectory and urges the federal government to “pursue a just and ambitious approach to climate policy and economic renewal” through its participation in the “America Is All In” statement from the We Are Still In coalition. Mason President Gregory Washington joined more than 1,500 colleges, universities, businesses and municipalities in support of the “America Is All In” statement issued by the We Are Still In coalition.
International advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
Mason sent a delegation to COP 27 in 2022:
https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cp2022_inf03_part2_adv.pdf
Mason also shared at COP 28 a report that highlights the health relevance of climate change and the health benefits of climate solutions can generate support for climate action, a study from George Mason University researchers has found. This was the first U.N. climate change conference at which the human health effects of climate change are being acknowledged through an international declaration and a thematic day dedicated to discussion of the impact of climate change on health.
https://www.gmu.edu/news/2023-12/sharing-health-benefits-climate-solutions-can-boost-public-support-change
Optional Fields
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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