CU Environmental Center

Monthly Newsletter
March 2015

Enjoy our monthly update from the CU Environmental Center. 

Please let us know if you have ideas, input, feedback or news.

In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Food and Environmental Justice Week
April 13-18

Food and Environmental Justice Week features a series of films, speakers, a food drive and a Sustainable Foods Fair to connect the CU community with food and environmental justice initiatives at the local, national and international levels. Come and participate in the food drive, fair and events to learn how to get more involved in environmental justice issues on and around campus.


 

The mission of Food and Environmental Justice Week is to promote education and involvement of the disproportionate distribution of environmental burdens and environmental benefits based on race, socio-economic status, gender and ethnicity. In keeping with the principles of environmental justice, the food justice movement aims to change the contemporary food system so the benefits and risks of where, what and how food is grown, produced, distributed, eaten and disposed of are shared fairly. The goal is a food system in which all activities, from farm to table, are equitable, nutritious, educational, culturally appropriate and community-driven.

Food and Environmental Justice Week is a collaborative effort between the CU Boulder's Volunteer Resource Center and the Environmental Center with participants and guests from across Boulder county and local organizations. 

Detailed info coming soon!

Click here for more information.

Campus Sustainability Summit

April 17

9:00AM-1:00PM

UMC Gallery

 

The roundtable features strategic updates and inter-departmental discussion on campus sustainability initiatives.

 

What sustainability-related developments are happening in academic, engagement and operational realms?  What is new, innovative, interesting that should be shared?  


 
Please submit presentation proposals and agenda item suggestions by March 24th here.

 

To attend the event, complete this RSVP form by April 13th.

 

Sponsored by:

Office of the Provost, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Office of the Vice Chancellor of Administration, CUSG Environmental Center


 
Dedicated to the late Dr. Albert Bartlett, who regularly attended these events and infused his First Law of Sustainability:

"You cannot sustain population growth and/or growth in the rates of consumption of resources."


 

Would you like to receive info on upcoming events?  Subscribe to CU Environmental Center weekly events emails as well as other newsletter options here.
 

Sustainability Spotlight:  Elizabeth "Bets" McNie, PhD

 

CU Environmental Center staff member Taylor Cannon interviewed Dr. McNie about her life, career and passions for this issue of the Monthly Newsletter.

 

Dr. McNie is a Research Scientist with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences and the Western Water Assessment at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a Research Fellow with the Center for Science and Technology Policy Research.  She received her PhD in Environmental Studies with a Graduate Certificate in Science Policy from CU-Boulder and also served as a member of the CU Environmental Board from 2006-2008.   

 

What originally drew you to pursue a career in Environmental Science?


Some of the most intractable problems we face as humans are coupled human-environmental problems. In other words, we can't work on improving our human condition unless we simultaneously solve the environmental conditions related to them. I see working on environmental science issues as a way to solve both human and environmental problems simultaneously. I like to think that the work I do helps natural resource managers make better decisions about the resources they use, which in turns improves conditions for all of us.

What aspect of your career has been the most fulfilling?

 One of the things I enjoy most about working at a university is the chance I have teaching and mentoring young adults. They are so enthusiastic and passionate about solving problems. I think I have some answers but always come away from my work with students learning more than when I began.

How do you think we can best spread the word about the global significance of maintaining an environmentally sustainable lifestyle?

 I think some people equate environmental stewardship with sacrifice and loss, that in order to take care of the planet we have to give up something. That's not necessarily true. We can still live full and abundant lives while making better decisions related to the planet. I think this message is best spread through personal relationships and knowing people who are living with a modest environmental footprint.

Tell us a bit about your current research for WWA.

 My research focuses on how to design, implement and evaluate the production of more useful climate information to support water resources management. I'm not the expert in climate science or water, but I work with those scientists to help them make their research more relevant and influential.

Do you have any advice for aspiring Environmental Scientists?


Yes! Do something you love to do, do it well, and be sure to carve out time for work-life balance. 

Director's Column: Body Language Speaks Volumes

Written by Dave Newport

Climate change is not just about global warming.

 

I'm not fluent in body language, but I can hear it when it's shouting.  And it is shouting to me now. I don't like what I am hearing. Here's why.

 

When I worked at the University of Florida in the '90s, the state was under assault from Ward Connerly, a former University of California Regent that was seeking to dismantle affirmative action. Connerly, who is African American, is the founder and chairman of the American Civil Rights Institute, an organization opposed to racial and gender preferences.

 

UF was in Connerly's gun sights at the time. Campus leadership opposed Connerly's efforts. Florida's Governor then, Jeb Bush, then issued an executive order called "One Florida" that changed how college admittance standards were applied. Connerly then withdrew.

 

In the midst of this I attended a conference at the University of Michigan. UM was embroiled in its own battle over affirmative action. UM president Lee Bollinger was a vocal proponent and defendant in what would become a landmark affirmative action case before the US Supreme Court, Grutter v. Bollinger. After a few years of Grutter litigation, the Supreme Court finally voted 5-4 that the affirmative action policies of the University of Michigan Law School were constitutional. 

 

Anyway, coming from UF's fairly diverse student population, 

I saw and interacted with students of color every day. I got their vibe.

 

But when I walked across UM's campus, I was struck by the much more positive body language coming from students of color. It was impressive. They clearly looked right at home and their body language belied a comfort and confidence in their learning environment.

 

I believe in part it was Bollinger's leadership that helped to create that environment by sending an important message: everybody is welcome here. And the students of color responded to that message.

 

In the legal wrangling over UM's case, Bollinger produced evidence that education works better for everyone when more diverse perspectives and life experiences are present in the mix. In short, all students got better education because of affirmative action.

 

I agree with that. I have learned things from students of color at the Environmental Center that me and my white friends and colleagues were incapable of knowing. Opened my eyes to realities that help me see and hear things with more understanding.

 

But I don't like what I am hearing now.

 

I don't like what I am hearing from students' of color body language. I don't like what they are saying verbally. I don't like what the world is telling them. It's not working, and it's not right.

 

At the Environmental Center we are sending a strong message to all students: we are all on the same team. We look out for each other. We depend on each other.  We are listening to body language and what you say. We have each other's back.We are here to help the planet, its critters, and all its people to live long and prosper.

 

In fact, social injustice is making us all sick in many ways. Social injustice drives economic systems that allow for the production and dissemination of toxins that are killing us all-but some groups more than others. It allows for exploitive cultural norms that are making societies and environments sick. And it allows and even tolerates violence against people of color as if that's OK.

 

It's not OK.  

 

It's not normal.

 

It's sick.

 

Following the fraternity issue at the University of Oklahoma, the federal reports of systematic racism in Ferguson, the fill-in-the-blank shootings of people of color in American cities, and ongoing negative messages and experiences our own students of color report in our community, it's clear that climate change is not just about global warming.

 

CU chancellor DiStefano has been clear too. He told the campus recently, "We need to be a more inclusive, welcoming campus, and a more vocal, active community in righting the wrongs we see around us."

 

Dang right. We have each other's back. I get it: Climate change is not just about global warming. A negative campus climate isn't sustainable either. And the EC is all about climate change-and covering your back because we're all on the same team.

 

I'm not fluent in body language, but I can hear it when it's shouting.  And it is shouting to me now. I don't like what I am hearing.

 

We are better than this.

 

 

Recycling Update


 

The University of Colorado Boulder reaches another near record year of waste diversion by keeping 2,358 tons, or roughly 43%, of campus waste from the landfill during the 2013-14 academic year.

 

It's important to remember the direct environmental benefits of reuse, recycling and composting 2,358 tons of material from campus last year.  These efforts lead to an estimated reduction of 8,004 metric tons of CO2.  These savings are comparable to removing annual emissions of 1475 passenger vehicles conserving 14,638 barrels of oil, or the annual energy consumption of 743 households.  "Without a campus-wide effort, the success of CU Recycling would not be possible" according to Jack DeBell, Development Director for CU Recycling.  "person-by-person and pound-by-pound, CU is making a difference".

 

Zero waste at Folsom Field, led by Ralphie's Green Stampede, continues to boost the campus diversion rate and puts CU on the winner's board by taking 1st place in the Game Day Recycling Challenge.   In this national competition, CU ranked 1st place within the PAC 12 Conference for both the highest diversion rate and the best waste minimization.  Dan Baril, the Recycling Program Manager within the Environmental Center, who has his "hands in the compost" during game day operations, states that "Key partnerships including CU Athletics, Levy Resteraunts, Facilities Management, student staff, and our amazing Buff Fans, gave us the ability to break the 90% diversion goal".

 

To continue the zero waste achievements on campus, a new "Recycling Operations Center" is currently under construction and is slated to be finished by the end of June.  As this facility has come on the heels of the Athletic Deartment's Folsom Field expansion, it also comes at a time of continued campus growth where added recycling capacity is needed to reach the campus goal of 90% diversion by 2020. 

 

The new recycling center will have added capacity for collection, processing, upgrading, consolidating and expansion of new materials.  Along with traditional recycling, this LEED certified facility will also enabled recycling of a variety of "hard to recycle" materials (plastic films, Styrofoam, disk recycling, shredded paper recycling, text books, etc.) that would otherwise be cost prohibitive to collect without a recycling center.

 

CU Recycling currently employs about 40 students year-round who are responsible for processing materials, special events, and outreach/education across campus.  Jessica Bradley, Recycling Operations Supervisor, notes that, " The new facility will continue to provide meaningful student involvement opportunities from upgrading materials to internships to conducting waste composition studies for class research projects."

 

Several new zero waste initiatives have been underway, including the expansion of compost collections across campus.  Over 15 buildings across campus have public compost collections, mostly in the rest rooms to collect paper towels and office food scraps, with plans to add more buildings each semester.  Ongoing efforts to pair all trash bins with recycling bins will also support recycling efforts and help the campus reach its diversion goals.

 

Housing and Dining Services continues to help boost campus diversion, composting over 480 tons in all the Dining Centers.  Rayna Oliker, Sustainability Coordinator for Residence Life, explains that "the cooperative work during student move out highlights the truly collaborative nature of the different departments involved and has lead to a successful donation drive, diverting over 26 tons of reusable items from the landfill through local charitable organizations such as Goodwill."

 

For more information about the program, click here


 

About CU Recycling

CU Recycling operates as a Student - Administrative partnership between CU Student Government (CUSG), Facilities Management, and Housing and Dining Services.  CUSG, mainly through the Environmental Center, provides student staff for operations, outreach, and special events support.  Facilities Management is crucial to the collection of solid waste on campus and provides in-building collection services for a variety of materials from the "traditional recycling" to many "hard to recycle materials".  Housing and Dining Services creates a strong community of recycling within the residence halls and dining centers through operational strategies, outreach, and at special events.


 

 


Re-posted with permission from Union of Concerned Scientists blog.

Written by CU alumna Alexis Goggans

 

Believe it or not, I wasn't always an environmentalist. In fact, I didn't know about composting or environmental justice until I was 19 years old. I often tell people with a precarious smile that it was my undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder that turned me into the person I am today. But my journey to full-blown New Age hippy didn't start with "save the whale" protests or "save the rainforest" campaigns. It began with environmental justice.  


When I attended CU in 2004, I was one of roughly 500 African-Americans on a campus of over 30,000 undergraduates.  I remember my freshman year clearly-thousands of students in UGG boots, velour sweat pants, aviator glasses and down jackets swept the campus. And then there was me-a bright-eyed, passionately optimistic 17-year-old, desperately searching for a store that sold Black hair products and mesmerized by the concept of "trust fund hippies" and their casual display of wealth. 


Touting the line

I realized early on that the hardest thing about college wasn't the homework, but the never-ending struggle to find where I belonged. I joined the Black Student Alliance to counteract the Young Republicans' Affirmative Action Bake Sale and to celebrate Black History Month, but always felt like something was missing. Things really changed when I took a job as CU's first Environmental Justice Outreach Coordinator, and was tasked with increasing underrepresented student participation in Environmental Center activities. Little did I know, this would be the single most rewarding experience of my entire life.

 

While working as Environmental Justice Coordinator, I had the privilege of working with a group of wicked smart peers that would become lifelong friends. I spearheaded a three-part Environmental Justice Roundtable entitled, "Privilege, Accountability and the CU Community." I also organized concerts for the national Climate Change Teach In and discovered my passion for conservation, resource management and community building. Most importantly, I started eating better, exercising regularly and began exploring my spirituality more deeply.

I spent the next two years touting the line between the Black Student Alliance and the Environmental Center. Which means to say, I spent a lot of time hiking, biking, recycling, participating in protests and taking the bus down to Denver to buy Black hair products.

 

Finding the "us" in environmental justice

The more I learned about environmentalism, the more I understood why the Environmental Center needed an Environmental Justice Coordinator. Not only was I almost always the only African American at environmental events, even my understanding of environmentalism was closely rooted to climate change and pictures of polar bears standing on melting icebergs.

 

Later, a friend introduced me to Van Jonesand Majora Carter, whose thoughts on the "Green Economy" and "Greening the Ghettos" radically changed the way I conceptualized environmentalism. Their work demonstrating how solar panel training and green roofs can combat incarceration rates, decrease unemployment and increase access to healthy food was a no-brainer to me. Not only did this realization solidify my identity as both an African-American and an environmentalist, I quickly shifted my conversations with students from polar bears to Eskimos and from recycling and organic food to job creation and sweat shop labor.

 

I realize now that environmental justice is part of a larger discussion on racism and that similar to how war, poverty and sexual violence are often perceived as affecting "others" who live "over there," environmental justice is rarely discussed as an issue affecting the 7 billion of "us," who live "here." I think about it this way-similar to a drop of water being absorbed into the water table or captured as runoff by a reservoir, toxic waste dumped in underserved areas poses a threat to surrounding communities and to those hundreds of miles downstream. This becomes an environmental justice issue when those who can afford to live in gated communities have the resources to purchase bottled water or move, while those living in the ghetto lack cars to transport bottled water and face housing discrimination when searching for a new home. Thus begins the vicious cycle of environmental injustice that can be difficult to break.

 

Get comfortable being uncomfortable

So what's my advice for scientists, politicians, environmentalists and activists looking to heal the wounds of environmental injustice? Quite frankly, get comfortable being uncomfortable! Engage in meaningful interaction outside of communities in which you self-identify and don't be afraid if you lack the vocabulary to have politically correct conversations. In fact, that probably means you're on the right track. Know that sustainable solutions are built in partnerships founded on respect, transparency and trust. Most importantly, understand the spectrum of privilege and where you fit in it.

Do this and the environmental movement will become what it should have been all along-a movement to create ecological, economic and social justice for all of us on Earth.

 

 

March Eco-Tip: Every Drop Counts!

 

Written by Drew Searchinger

 


 

I've lived in Colorado for my entire life, and it's true what they say: each winter feels more erratic and inconsistent than the last when it comes to weather. This year seems to be especially snowy, and it's hard to imagine a drought could be looming. According to Colorado Snow Survey Supervisor Brian Domonkos, snowpack accounts for 50 to 80 percent of Colorado's average annual water supply. I can think back to summers growing up when we weren't allowed to water our lawns, and summers when I've witnessed sprinklers drenching sidewalks on the hottest days in July. Every spring the snowfall determines how much snow melt will be stored in reservoirs, and how much water we'll have to use in the coming year. Unfortunately, according to the Colorado Climate Change Vulnerability Study released in February, snowpack has been largely below average in all major river basins in Colorado since 2000. Here's the scary part: Colorado's water demand is projected to outpace supply by the year 2050, according to the Colorado Water Conservation Board. So, looks like we've been living a little toolarge when it comes to water usage... it's time to start practicing conservation!


 

Let's hop into a time machine and travel back to the moment when you first opened your eyes this morning. How long was it before you turned on a faucet? Did you take a shower? Did you leave the water running while you brushed your teeth? According to WaterSense, the average American family uses more than 300 gallons of water per day at home. Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day, and toilets account for 30% of an average home's indoor water consumption. In fact, older, inefficient toilets use as much as 6 gallons per flush. Our water usage isn't reflective of our supply: we're overusing water. But take a deep breath, there's a lot we can do to turn things around with just a little effort! Since your toilet might be guilty of wasting water, look into installing a water-efficient toilet. Low-cost installs are available from the Center for ReSource Conservation! Start taking shorter showers, and if you're feeling competitive time yourself and try to cut your shower time down every day. Turn off the water while you're shaving or brushing your teeth... there's no need to water your sink! You can significantly decrease the amount of water you waste by fixing leaks and drips, and celebrate Fix a Leak Week March 16-22! Lastly, when you're on campus and see a drip or leak, be sure to report itand help CU conserve water.


 

We're so fortunate to have easy access to safe water, but it's a privilege we can no longer afford to wash down the drain. Start by decreasing how much water you use at home, and in no time at all you'll be using less water without even thinking about it!

 

 

 

 

Written by Jackson Lombardi

 

When I agreed to speak at Boulder City Council I didn't really realize what I was getting into. Having never voiced my opinion in such a forum I was anxious to find out what it was all about. Would it matter I was there? Would I make a difference? Questions ran through my head at an alarming rate. I was merely going to voice my experience with recycling collection at my apartment complex. Which, I may add, has been a major pain in the (fill in the blank here).

 

As of now the city does not require waste haulers to provide recycling and compost at Multi-Family Units (MFUs), also known as apartment complexes. I had first gotten involved in the discussion by reaching out to Eco-Cycle for assistance in getting these services at my MFU. With the info they provided and a little bit of grit I was able to rummage up a working system. So when they asked me to voice up at a City Council meeting, how could I say no?

My maintenance guy informed had me that in his years of working at my complex, I was the first to get a working recycling system up, and it wasn't easy. If I did my job right, perhaps I could help future recyclers avoid the hoops I had jumped through. I also an ace up my sleeve: A recent (2014) survey of incoming freshman at CU revealed an awesome trend. 92% of the incoming students said they wanted to make a change to be more sustainable in their life.  NINTEY TWO PERCENT! In comparison, only 60% of Americans believe in evolution. So I had my story and I had my stats, and now all that was left was to speak at the meeting. A task easier said then done.

The first thing I noticed when I arrived at the city council building was the mass of green shirts...everywhere. From the parking lot to the council chambers it was overwhelming. Eco-Cycle had called up the ranks and provided so many supporters that an overflow area had to be established outside the council chamber. With the murmur slowly dying, the meeting began and voice after voice was heard. Among those shirts was my co-worker Rosie Briggs. She had a stinger of a conclusion at the end of her two minutes. After stating that she "would rather have recycling than a roof terrace", she left to applause. Mayor Appelbaum wasn't happy with the noise and reminded the crowd not to interact with the speakers. Such ruckus wouldn't be tolerated in the dead air of the council room.  

As testimonies continued, not one speaker was there against the measure. Unfortunately, the sheer number of people placed me as #28 on the list, meaning I wouldn't speak until almost three hours into the meeting.            

Although the wait was frustrating, I kept my statistics as my motivation to hang in there. I had also given my word that I would voice my opinion, and I planned to keep that promise. By the time I was up, the chambers were almost empty. A few Eco-Cycle employees were the only green shirts left and everyone was looking fatigued. Surprisingly, I hadn't been nervous to speak until I reached the podium. Eye to eye with the mayor, I felt my heart rate spike, creating a powerful pounding in my ears. With only one way out of the situation I began to speak.


 

Despite leaving my notecards at home I nailed my points and got all the statistics right. As I walked away I felt my nervous system begin to relax and my calm returned. Trekking into the cold night I replayed the moment over in my head, mainly just to figure out if I had made any mistakes. As the next day's video footage would confirm, I hadn't. Thank God.           


 

Twenty notecards, 2 nights of worried sleep and a grueling 3-hour meeting later, I had done my job. Although boring at times it was a fun endeavor. The lights, the cameras and the council had all brought what felt like minimal importance to those two minutes. Eventually, the council supported the measure, and Eco-Cycle is currently working to draft the law. I can't claim to be the reason the measure found support, but I can claim that I did what I could, and sometimes that's as good as it gets.  

 
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