Higher Education International Committee
The ACUPCC International Committee | Areas of Focus | Committee Members
Other International Initiatives Promoting Education for Sustainability
Staff Support | Contact Information
An Overview of Second Nature’s International Work
Since the launch of the ACUPCC in 2007, international higher education representatives have approached Second Nature with some regularity about expanding the ACUPCC model beyond the U.S., and we have engaged with our international counterparts in a limited scope. Today, through the ACUPCC framework, the U.S. higher education sector has become the only sector in the country to make deep and long-term commitment to climate neutrality. This effort provides an excellent model for climate action, not only in other sectors of society, but also in the higher education sectors of other countries.
The ACUPCC allows for individual institutions from other countries to sign the Commitment, in order to acknowledge their leadership, but we do not provide direct support to these institutions, we do not proactively recruit international signatories, and they do not pay membership dues. To date, four international institutions have signed the Commitment. We continue to receive inquiries from international institutions on how to get engaged with the ACUPCC. The list of International Signatories is available here: acupcc.org/signatories/international.
The ACUPCC model has the potential to be adapted for different contexts and diverse socio-political systems. For instance, the higher education sector in Peru developed a framework modeled after the ACUPCC and launched this initiative in 2010. Following are a few examples of how ACUPCC can positively inform higher education sectors of other countries.
International Initiatives Modeled After the ACUPCC
Higher education institutions in Southeast Asia have approached Second Nature for advice and expertise on advancing their sustainability efforts. Tony Cortese was invited to speak at the 2010 South Asian and Taiwan University Presidents’ Forum at the National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan in October 2010.
Another climate initiative inspired by the ACUPCC has been developed in Scotland. To date, nearly all of the higher education institutions in the country are members of the Universities and Colleges Climate Commitment for Scotland (UCCCfS). The UCCCfS is coordinated by the Environmental Associations for Universities and Colleges (EACU) in the UK. The EACU has connected with Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS) and approached Second Nature about international collaboration to support and promote climate commitments for higher education in other countries.
Finally, in December 2010, Second Nature had the opportunity to present the success and impact of the ACUPCC at a side-event of the UN’s international climate negotiations in Cancun (press release: www.campusgreenbuilder.org/node/947). We believe continuing to highlight the ACUPCC as a possible model for effective climate action in other sectors and other countries is a tremendous opportunity to leverage the success of the initiative in the U.S.
Details of Initiatives Modeled After the ACUPCC:
Universities and Colleges Climate Commitment for Scotland (UCCCfS):
www.eauc.org.uk/ucccfs
The Scottish Government has signified its commitment to improving Scotland’s natural and built environment by including Greener Scotland as one of its five Strategic Objectives and Ministers have publicly acknowledged the key role colleges and universities have to play in achieving this goal. Through the Universities and Colleges Climate Commitment for Scotland (UCCCfS), the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) has developed the most far-reaching, voluntary sector-wide commitment to tackling climate change and in response the Scottish Government has formally endorsed the UCCCfS by making signature and delivery of the Commitment by all institutions an objective of Learning for Change, its Action Plan for the second half of the UN Decade of Education.
Supporting Organization:
Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC):
www.eauc.org.uk/scotland
The EAUC is the centre of excellence for sustainability within the UK further and higher education sectors. With a membership of over 350 institutions, the EAUC is leading the way in integrating sustainability, social responsibility and environmental management into colleges and universities in the UK. A key role for the EAUC is facilitating the sharing information and best practice from and amongst the wealth of experience and skill within our membership. In addition EAUC identifies and delivers sustainability staff development and work with sector funders, governors, suppliers and professional bodies to drive sustainability deeper into all aspects of college and university operations. In Scotland, the EAUC provides secretariat support for the Universities and Colleges Climate Commitment for Scotland (UCCCfS).
Climate Neutrality Commitment - Peruvian University Presidents’ Climate Commitment:
www.minem.gob.pe/descripcion.php?idSector=12&idTitular=3114
Inspired by the ACUPCC model, the representative from Peru, Carlos Orbegozo Reto, began laying the groundwork for a climate commitment for Peruvian colleges and universities modeled after the ACUPCC. In the spring of 2010, Mr. Orbegozo invited a representative from Second Nature ¬to travel to a meeting in Peru of approximately 80 college and university representatives to share the history of the ACUPCC and the resources developed to support the network. On the second day of the meeting, the group worked together to adapt a translated version of the ACUPCC to the Peruvian circumstances. The document was further refined and vetted over the summer, and launched in the fall of 2010. To date, thirteen of Peru’s universities have joined the Commitment.
Supporting Organization:
Peru - Ministry of Energy and Mines:
www.minem.gob.pe/
Mr. Orbegozo works for the Ministry of Energy and Mines, and has built support internally for this initiative. The Ministry leadership has been supportive of the initiative and recognizes that it is an effective strategy to meet their goals of reducing energy demand in Peru.
Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability Association (ACTS):
www.acts.asn.au/
ACTS is a not-for-profit incorporated association that serves as the umbrella body for sustainability initiatives in the Australian and New Zealand tertiary sectors. ACTS’ mission is to promote sustainable development by equipping practitioners with the resources, knowledge and developmental opportunities they need to develop their campuses and ensure that education for sustainability is integrated into further and higher education. ACTS serves members of the further and higher education community from all institutions including universities, colleges, polytechnics and technical and further education institutions (TAFEs). It supports everyone, from academics looking for creative and innovative ways of teaching to environmental managers whose primary focus might be on reducing an institution’s environmental impact. Currently, ACTS is working on the development of a framework modeled after the ACUPCC.
http://www.climatechangeaction.ca/statement
In March 2008, six university presidents from British Columbia came together to create and sign the Climate Change Statement of Action for Canada. Around the same time, the Canadian government launched a comprehensive provincial program with the goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emission through British Columbia’s public sector; the region achieved carbon neutrality in June 2011. Since then, both initiatives have sparked more actions across Canada, with 23 nationwide Statement of Action signatories, of which 22 are public universities and one private. Along with the Canadian government, these institutions have collaborated with both the public and private sector to provide leadership and take the steps necessary to address climate change and other sustainability issues. Inspired by the ACUPCC model, the signatory institutions commit to “advance towards sustainability through teaching, researching, demonstration and accelerating societal solutions beyond campus.”
Supporting Organization:
The Research Universities’ Council of British Columbia (RUCBC):
http://www.rucbc.ca/index.php
RUCBC provides leadership as well as coordinates a platform for its members to address public policy and other interests of the university system in British Columbia. Its four member universities (University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria, and University of Northern British Columbia) are also the creators and founding signatories of the University and College Presidents’ Climate Change Statement of Action for Canada. Blair Littler, Vice President of RUCBC, serves as the primary contact for the network.
The ACUPCC International Committee
Second Nature will convene a Higher Education International Committee to develop a proactive strategy for addressing the international impact of the ACUPCC and evaluate higher education’s role in global climate action. The Committee will be made up of 5-10 experts and leading thinkers on climate change and/or higher education.
Second Nature will coordinate a series of conference calls of the Committee, and an in-person meeting at the ACUPCC Climate Leadership Summit at George Washington University in Washington DC, on June 24, 2011. Through this process, ACUPCC International Committee will provide input and guidance on how the ACUPCC network should engage with international groups and support international efforts modeled after the ACUPCC. This input and guidance will inform a strategy for international engagement to be proposed to the full ACUPCC Steering Committee. It will also inform Second Nature’s efforts on international activities, so we are well prepared to respond to the growing international inquiries about and interest in the ACUPCC, to broaden the influence of the ACUPCC beyond the U.S. borders, and to strategically catalyze an international effort fueled by the domestic success of the initiative.
Areas of Focus
The Committee will determine the areas of focus for this process and the resulting guidance document based on their expertise and experience. Some initial areas of focus will include:
- Direction in conceptualizing ideas and laying out strategies to advance the ACUPCC internationally
- Development of an appropriate response mechanism — a set of guidelines — for international interest in the initiative
- Connection with international peers and colleagues of the signatory presidents to generate dialogue
- Guidance on fundraising for Second Nature’s international work
Through this process, the group will develop a guidance document charting out strategies that emerge from the Committee meetings and present this strategic overview at the ACUPCC International Committee’s in-person meeting at the 2011 ACUPCC Climate Leadership Summit to stimulate further discussion.
Committee Members
- Jacquie Johnson, Chancellor, University of Minnesota-Morris
- Mitch Thomashow, President, Unity College
- Wim Wiewel, President, Portland State University
- Mary Spilde, President, Lane Community College
- Mary Spangler, Chancellor, Houston Community College
Other International Initiatives Promoting Education for Sustainability
- Alliance for Global Sustainability (AGS): globalsustainability.org
- International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN):
www.international-sustainable-campus-network.org/ - UN Decade of Education for SD: www.desd.org
- Parlez-Vous Green Campus: parlezvousgreencampus.com
- Global Higher Education for Sustainability Partnership (GHESP): webapps01.un.org/dsd/partnerships/public/partnerships/71.html
- Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future (ULFS): www.ulsf.org
Staff Support
Georges Dyer, Vice President of Programs, Second Nature
Ashka Naik, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Development, Second Nature
For more information, contact:
Ashka Naik, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Second Nature
617-722-0036, anaik@secondnature.org
