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Olin Rice 249
1600 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
651-696-6274
Comments & questions to:
esson@macalester.edu
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Macalester College's Commitment to the Environment
Preamble
As signatories of the Talloires Declaration, we fully endorse its spirit and aims, while recognizing the need to adapt its specifics to Macalester's situation as a small liberal arts college. The Implementation Plan below identifies key steps for Macalester to pursue in signing the Talloires Declaration. We hereby commit to bringing these proposed actions before the established governing bodies of the college for consideration and advancement, as may be appropriate.
Talloires Declaration
(Pronounced TAL-WHAR)
We, the presidents, rectors, and vice chancellors of universities from all regions of the world are deeply concerned about the unprecedented scale and speed of environmental pollution and degradation, and the depletion of natural resources.
Local, regional, and global air and water pollution; accumulation and distribution of toxic wastes; destruction and depletion of forests, soil, and water; depletion of the ozone layer and emission of "green house" gases threaten the survival of humans and thousands of other living species, the integrity of the earth and its biodiversity, the security of nations, and the heritage of future generations. These environmental changes are caused by inequitable and unsustainable production and consumption patterns that aggravate poverty in many regions of the world.
We believe that urgent actions are needed to address these fundamental problems and reverse the trends. Stabilization of human population, adoption of environmentally sound industrial and agricultural technologies, reforestation, and ecological restoration are crucial elements in creating an equitable and sustainable future for all humankind in harmony with nature.
Universities have a major role in the education, research, policy formation, and information exchange necessary to make these goals possible. Thus, university leaders must initiate and support mobilization of internal and external resources so that their institutions respond to this urgent challenge.
We, therefore, agree to take the following actions:
- Use every opportunity to raise public, government, industry, foundation, and university awareness by openly addressing the urgent need to move toward an environmentally sustainable future.
- Encourage all universities to engage in education, research, policy formation, and information exchange on population, environment, and development to move toward global sustainability.
- Establish programs to produce expertise in environmental management, sustainable economic development, population, and related fields to ensure that all university graduates are environmentally literate, and have the awareness and understanding to be ecologically responsible citizens.
- Create programs to develop the capability of university faculty to teach environmental literacy to all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.
- Set an example of environmental responsibility by establishing institutional ecology policies and practices of resource conservation, recycling, waste reduction, and environmentally sound operations.
- Encourage involvement of government, foundations, and industry in supporting interdisciplinary research, education, policy formation, and information exchange in environmentally sustainable development. Expand work with community and nongovernmental organizations to assist in finding solutions to environmental problems
- Convene university faculty and administrators with environmental practitioners to develop curricula, research initiatives, operations systems, and outreach activities to support an environmentally sustainable future.
- Establish partnerships with primary and secondary schools to help develop the capacity for interdisciplinary teaching about population, environment, and sustainable development.
- Work with national and international organizations to promote a worldwide university effort toward a sustainable future.
- Establish a Secretariat and a steering committee to continue this momentum, and to inform and support each other's efforts in carrying out this declaration.
Implementation Plan
- Implementing Organization: The Campus Environmental Issues Committee (CEIC) is designated as the group with primary responsibility for effectively implementing the Talloires Principles at Macalester.
- Reporting Requirement: The CEIC will oversee the preparation and dissemination of an annual Environmental State of the College Report. The first report will be due one year after the signing of the Declaration and will include baseline data and information about Macalester's performance regarding the Talloires Principles and prioritized strategies for improving this performance. The report will include specific data regarding the impact of college practices on the environment such as paper, energy, chemical, and water use, waste disposal and recycling, and food services practices. The CEIC will work to assure that the information contained in this report is widely circulated on campus and within the broader community.
- Procurement Policy: Within one year after the signing of the declaration, the college will adopt a formal procurement policy recognizing the importance of taking environmental factors into account as college purchases are made. This policy will include formal codification of "green purchasing" practices currently being implemented on campus as well as guidance on additional practices where environmental factors are important. The details of this procurement policy will be developed by the CEIC in cooperation with those responsible for college purchasing decisions.
- Staff and Financial Commitment: The College will commit the human and financial resources necessary to make the implementation of these principles meaningful. Specifically, the College will create and fill the position of "Director of College Environmental Affairs." This person would be given the responsibility and authority to oversee the implementation of the Declaration in cooperation with the CEIC. In addition, the College will assign 2-3 work study students to the project to do research, outreach, education, etc. Responsibilities of the Director would include the following:
- Chair the Campus Environmental Issues Committee along with an Executive Committee made up of the Director of Environmental Studies and Physical Plant Director and a student representative;
- Oversee preparation of the annual report on The Environmental State of the College. This would be done in cooperation with the CEIC and others, including students in the Senior Environmental Studies Seminar or other classes with related research interests;
- Develop linkages and connections with other educational and community institutions in the pursuit of sustainability;
- Review major College decisions and decision making procedures to assess environmental impacts. Seek opportunities for cost effective environmental measure which both improve environmental performance and reduce costs;
- Undertake fund-raising activities (e.g., grants for innovative environmental practices, gifts for specific projects related to the Talloires Declaration) to further support Macalester's sustainability initiatives; and
- Identify training opportunities and educational strategies regarding sustainability practices for College faculty, staff, and students.
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This implementation plan, along with the Talloires Declaration itself, is signed by representatives of the Administration, Trustees, Faculty, Staff, Student Body, and Alumnae.
Signed on May 4, 2000, by the following:
-- Michael McPherson, President
-- Aldemaro Romero, Environmental Studies Program Director
Co-chair Campus Environmental Issues Committee
-- Mark Dickinson, Director of Physical Plant
Co-chair Campus Environmental Issues Committee
-- James Stewart, James Wallace Professor
-- Patty Pfalz, Biology Department Coordinator
-- Sarah Ullmer, Student, ’00
-- Joel Creswell, Student, ’02
-- Phoebe Vanselow, Alumni, ’99
-- Laura Phillips, Alumni, ’99
-- Susan Haigh, Trustee
-- David Ranheim, Trustee
Learn more about The Talloires Declaration.
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