PCC to take steps to curb global warming

College is 7th in state to sign climate commitment

By Toby Van Fleet

The Portland Tribune, Jun 20, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (4 Reader comments)

Portland Community College has become the seventh college in the state to formally commit to taking steps to curb global warming.

The changes are coming from the top as higher education leaders across the country are responding to concerns about climate change.

So far, 291 college and university presidents have signed the climate commitment, including the president of the University of California, which includes 10 institutions.

For its part, PCC is expected to develop an in-depth plan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions through specific choices including adhering to LEED building standards, purchasing Energy Star-certified products, getting at least 15 percent of its power from renewable resources and purchasing carbon offsets.

There is no cost for signing on, although costs may be incurred in order to comply with the guidelines of the commitment.

The climate commitment was launched in October 2006 and is supported by a coalition of three nonprofits. Two of them, SecondNature and Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, are focused exclusively on the reducing the carbon footprints of colleges and universities. The third, ecoAmerica, works to increase public engagement in environmental issues.

Lewis & Clark College and Portland State University also have signed the commitment.

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