President Rozanski signs the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment. He is surrounded by members of Rider's Energy and Sustainability Committee (from left) Barry Janes, Julie Karns (chair), Phil Voorhees, Barry Truchil, Carol Kondrach, Matthew Hanson and Laura Hyatt.

Rider University President Mordechai Rozanski has taken a leadership role on behalf of Rider University on the issue of global warming, one of the defining challenges of the 21st century, by joining the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) initiative.

As a signatory to this national “climate commitment” initiative, President Rozanski has committed Rider to participate in the development of a long-range plan for institutions of higher learning that will reduce and ultimately neutralize greenhouse gas emissions on the nation’s campuses, and to accelerate research and educational efforts to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate.

The Commitment has gained extraordinary momentum in the academic community. More than 160 presidents of U.S. colleges and universities have signed the Commitment, and are joining the first collective effort by any major sector of society to set a long-term goal of climate neutrality – not just a reduction in emissions.

“Rider University will demonstrate leadership on this pressing worldwide issue by serving as a model for minimizing global warming emissions in our community and by educating our students to achieve climate neutrality,” President Rozanski said. “This fits squarely with our educational goals and social responsibilities.”

President Rozanski added that Rider has already taken steps to address this issue by creating an Energy and Sustainability Steering Committee comprised of students, faculty and staff.

The committee, chaired by Julie Karns, vice president for finance, began its work in February 2007. Members of the committee reviewed the requirements Rider would undertake in making the Climate Commitment, and recommended participation to President Rozanski. The Committee intends to incorporate the Climate Commitment content into Rider’s “Energy and Sustainability Master Plan,” which will establish the mission, policies, principles and goals for the University’s energy and sustainability programs.

“The work of this committee is very important because its recommendations will form the foundation of our energy and sustainability programs for years to come,” President Rozanski said. “I greatly appreciate the committee members’ dedication and valuable advice.”

Tony Cortese, president of Second Nature, and Judy Walton, director of strategic alliances of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, are co-organizers of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment initiative.

In a letter of invitation, they wrote, “Tomorrow’s architects, engineers, business leaders, scientists, urban planners, policy analysts, cultural and spiritual leaders, journalists, advocates and politicians – more than 17 million of them – are currently attending our institutions of higher learning in the United States. They will need new knowledge and skills that only we can provide on a broad scale.”

“This effort will also help presidents and chancellors meet their responsibilities as leaders of their own institutions,” they continued. “Schools that lead on this issue will have an advantage in the quest to recruit top students, faculty and staff, to attract new sources of funding, and to maximize the support of alumni and local communities.”

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