Back to the Future

Campaign Background

In the summer of 2001, a school-funded student-teacher research project calculated Lewis & Clark College's total greenhouse gas emissions in 1990 and 2000.  The study analyzed emissions from electricity consumption, natural gas and other fuel consumption, commuter patterns, college air traffic (including flights by the overseas program and the athletic department), solid waste and wastewater decomposition, and even fertilizer application.  These studies have been completed over the past three summers.  In 1990, the College was responsible for the release of about 18,150 short tons of carbon dioxide.  In 2002, the College was responsible for around 19,500 tons of carbon dioxide.  Of the 2002 emissions, 38% came from electricity consumption, 25% from commuting, 19% from air travel, 17% from natural gas consumption for heating, and 1% from other sources (with those campus safety vehicles serving as only a fraction of this 1%).  The 2002-2003 inventory is available online.

Along with the inventories, there has also been a campaign on campus.  The previous two school years, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003, a campus wide election was taken to assess student support for the use of student fees for the purchase of offsets.  Both showed overwhelming support for the initiative.  While we have not had 100% agreement with purchasing offsets, we never expected it.  As with any idea, there will not be 100% consensus, and with this in mind, the support by the student body well merits taking the actions we have.  The opposition has generally narrowed down to a few common arguments regarding politics, focusing on campus, and the loss of funding for other groups.  All of thees arguments are addressed on our Common Arguments page. 

Future Goals

We can use Kyoto compliance to set higher goals for the future.  We are committed to projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  These goals include both onsite activities that reduce emissions and the opportunity to once again purchase offsets through a partnership with the Climate Trust. Some future goals include:

• Increase student purchases of green power in the dorms by making the process easier
• Make it possible for commuters to pay to offset their driving when purchasing parking passes
• Involvement of the administration, faculty, staff, and Law school in the purchase of offsets, thus sharing the burden of such purchases
• Improving electricity usage on campus
• Biodisel for the shuttles

Fundraising

We have spent a lot of time trying to raise money to purchase offsets.  Some of the recent fundraisers include:

• Race to Stop Global Warming!

  Three SEED members, Sara Murray, Laura Matson, and Brian Erickson, traveled up to Seattle, Washington to participate in the Race to Stop Global Warming on Sept. 27-28, 2003.  The race was used as a fundraiser for the offset purchasing program.  Thanks to the generous donations of College neighbors and students, we were able to raise quite a bit of money to put towards offsets.  Congratulations go out to Sara and Brian because they both took second place in their age divisions.  Also, Laura's dedication to stopping global warming found her up and volunteering at 6:30 am on a Sunday morning!  Thanks go out to Eban Goodstein, a professor here at Lewis & Clark who let us hitch a ride up to Seattle in his Toyota Prius, a wonderful hybrid vehicle, and Liz  Fehrenbach, who generously offered her house as a place to stay and gave Brian and Laura a ride to downtown in the wee hours of the morning.

• Bake Sale

  Recently we held a bake sale in front of the library.  Students quickly bought us out of the goods.  Also, many signed a petition showing support for the purchase of offsets.  Thanks to all who donated and signed the petition. 

• Letter to Faculty

  A letter was sent to the faculty asking for donations.  There were a few faculty members who responded, all with very helpful donations, as well as Michael Sestric, who pledged to cover the remaining funds needed to purchase offsets.  Thanks faculty and staff for your help in this final stage!