Draft Faculty Senate Resolution on Sustainability

Whereas the degradation of Earth’s ecosystems threaten humanity’s future, and

Whereas the United Nations has declared the period 2005-2014 as the United Nations of Education for Sustainable Development so that education will play a prominent role in seeking sustainable solutions to problems such as climate change, illiteracy and poverty;

Whereas, by signing the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment established by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), President Miller has committed CCSU to exercise leadership by modeling ways to eliminate global warming emissions and to provide the knowledge its graduates need to achieve climate neutrality;

Whereas AASHE defines sustainability as encompassing human and ecological health, social justice, secure livelihoods and a better world for all generations; 

Whereas an understanding of global sustainability must therefore involve knowledge of the interrelationships of human patterns of production and consumption, pollution, poverty and social equity;

Whereas the Sustainability Council and the Global Environmental Sustainability Action Coalition are working to educate all students, faculty and staff about their ethical responsibility to eliminate human contributions to the global climate change crisis; 

Therefore, be it resolved that Senate calls upon all academic and administrative departments to play an active role in confronting this unprecedented challenge to civilization by promoting sustainability in all aspects of CCSU’s academic life – from governance and strategic planning to facilities management – through education, communication, research and professional development.