2007 Climate Commitment

President William G. Durden signs the pledge to cut greenhouse emissions.

 Higher Education Leaders Sign Climate Commitment

At a Washington, D.C., summit of higher-education leaders, President William G. Durden '71 formalized the college’s commitment to combat global warming through enhanced campus environmental sustainability. The pledge, which the college committed to last winter, is the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).

"Colleges and universities must lead the effort to reverse global warming for the health and well-being of current and future generations," said Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University and a founding member of the ACUPCC Leadership Circle. "On behalf of all the signatories, I welcome President Durden to the Leadership Circle and the commitment. We are honored and pleased to have Dickinson College join us."

This undertaking by America’s colleges and universities is inspired by efforts like the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, the U.S. Climate Action Partnership and other collective efforts by states and businesses. The ACUPCC currently has 312 institutions supporting this effort with a goal of 1,000 by 2009.

The ACUPCC is a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate. Under the guidance and direction of the Leadership Circle of presidents, the ACUPCC is being supported and implemented by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), Second Nature and ecoAmerica.

Learn more about the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment.

President Durden (back row) poses for a photo with other signers of the pledge.