The ASUM Sustainability Center serves as a resource to help promote, develop, and implement sustainability efforts and activities at the University of Montana. The center’s main projects currently involve working to complete the Climate Action Plan, working with the Sustainable Campus Committee to ensure UM activities meet the American University and College President Climate Commitment, and educating students across campus about climate change. Get involved and help green UM!
What does the number 350 stand for? Visit www.350.org to find out.
October 24th, 2009 is Global Climate Action Day and millions of people are taking action by forming the number 350 all over the world and hosting events. Join UM Climate Action Now!, ASUM Sustainability Center, and the Climate Change Studies Minor in UM's Climate Action Week
Students form the number 350 in Griz Stadium
Schedule of Events:
October 19th, 7:00-8:30 pm. UC Theatre. "Climate Change Across the Curriculum: A Panel Discussion" Professors from forestry, ethics, geography and law as well as the Missoula organization Clear Sky Climate Solutions will be discussing their work on climate change and the interdisciplinary nature of this topic. Open discussion to follow panelists speakers.
Dr. Steve Running, Professor of Ecology, Dr. Joel Harper, Professor in Geosciences, Irma Russell, Dean of the Law School, and Dr. Dane Scott, Professor of Ethics discuss their work on climate change.
All images c. Matt Riley 2009
October 20th, 7:00 pm. UC Theatre. "Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai" This documentary film tells the dramatic story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, protect human rights, and defend democracy-a movement for which this charismatic woman became an iconic inspiration.
October 21st, UM FLAT will host a letter writing and video making night. Get involved with the American clean energy and security act by writing letters of support to Senators Tester and Baucus.
October 22nd, on the Oval UM CAN will take part in a dumpster diveto show how much recycling really ends up in the trash.
October 23rd on the Oval, 10:00 am-2:pm, Day of Climate Action, There will be a rally with speakers discussing climate change while campus student groups and environmental organizations from Missoula have booths out all day. It should fun, with games and prizes. A great way to learn what actions UM is taking to address climate change.
Take Back the Tap is a national campaign that encourages students to use refillable water bottles instead of buying bottled water. This year the ASUM Sustainability Center continues its efforts to promote tap water use while discouraging the UM Bookstore and UC Market to sell bottled water.
Here are some facts from takebackthetap.org about why choosing tap water over bottled water is a good decision:
Your Wallet: Each year consumers collectively spend hundreds or thousands of dollars more per gallon for water in a plastic bottle than they would for the water flowing from their tap. While bottled water ranges from $0.89 to $8.26 per gallon, most Americans pay about $2 per 1,000 gallons for municipal water service.
The Environment: Producing the plastic bottles uses energy and emits toxic chemicals. Transporting the bottled water across hundreds or thousands of miles spews carbon dioxide into the air, complicating our efforts to combat global climate change. And in the end, empty bottles are piling up in landfills. Manufacturing the 28.6 billion PET water bottles in the United States takes the equivalent of 17.6 million barrels of oil.
Your Health: In a study by the Natural Resources Defense Council, 47% of respondents said they drank bottled water because of what they saw as health and safety problems with tap water. But the idea that all bottled water is pure is a marketing myth. Bottled water generally is no cleaner, safer, or healthier than tap water. In fact, the federal government requires far more rigorous and frequent safety testing and monitoring of municipal drinking water
Waste: About 86 percent of empty plastic water bottles in the United States land in the garbage instead of being recycled. That amounts to about two million tons of PET plastic bottles piling up in U.S. landfills each year.
Take Action!
When you go to Take Back the Tap you can pledge not to buy bottled water and use a refillable water bottle instead. You can also sign the petition to show your support a Bottled Water Free Zone on campus.
Read the Take Back the Tap Report to learn more.
The Renewable Energy Loan Fund (RELF) is a campaign aimed at starting a campus-wide fund to help pay for energy saving and waste reduction projects. With a loan fund like RELF, the University sets aside money to implement projects, and then pay off the loan with the energy savings. From renewable energy generators to solar water heating systems to new lights, there are tons of ways that campuses can make money and be more sustainable at the same time.
Currently the RELF committee is being formed. Students will be encouraged to submit project proposals later this semester. Stay tuned for more details.
The UM FLAT is an experiential live-in resource (house) for UM students (3-5) demonstrating the practicality of sustainable living. Currently the FLAT is renovating its garage to become a resource space for classes, students and the community. Visit the UM FLATwebsite to learn more.
Watch the new video!
UM Climate Action Now!
Students For Real Food
Step It Up: November 4, 2007. UM Students, Faculty, Staff and Administrators joined at a Griz football game for a “local” tailgate.
Focus the Nation: Governor Schweitzer participated in UM’s Focus the Nation event.
Focus the Nation: Phil Condon, Assistant Professor of EVST and member of UM’s Sustainable Campus Committee, spoke as a panelist at UM’s Focus the Nation event.
