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OPEN LETTER TO UM PRESIDENT BOLLINGER
October 31, 2001 President Lee Bollinger Dear President Bollinger, The University of Michigan has a proud history of national leadership on environmental issues, including holding the first Earth Day event in 1970. Global warming is among the most fundamental long-term environmental threat and challenge of our times. The University of Michigan can and should be a leader in demonstrating positive solutions to global warming problems. All of the undersigned are members of the University of Michigan faculty and staff who value environmental stewardship and value the leadership role that our University can play in helping to promote global warming solutions. We are writing to request that, before you depart, you commit the University of Michigan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to seven percent below its estimated 1990 levels by the year 2012. Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, are the pollutants that cause global warming. This goal follows the terms of the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, signed by 84 countries in December 1997. By doing so, the University of Michigan would join with other university, city and business leaders who are reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. In April 1999, Tufts University President John DiBiaggio publicly committed to reducing Tufts� carbon dioxide emissions by seven percent below 1990 levels by 2012. Cornell University is considering similar initiatives. BP, DuPont, IBM, Johnson and Johnson, Polaroid Corporation, Royal Dutch/Shell, Suncor and other major corporations have likewise made emission-reduction commitments. Closer to home, the City of Ann Arbor, an active member of the Cities for Climate Protection Program, has completed a global warming emissions inventory and is developing a greenhouse gas emissions reduction action plan for its municipal government and the Ann Arbor community. The University of Michigan should join this group of environmental leaders. The University of Michigan has already realized significant emission reductions by using natural gas in its cogeneration power plant, adopting alternative fuels for some of its fleet vehicles, and retrofitting buildings with efficient lighting and HVAC systems. Nevertheless, the University of Michigan is in an excellent position to reduce greenhouse gas emissions further through its energy-efficiency programs for buildings and high-efficiency co-generation power plant. Furthermore, large amounts of energy and air emissions could be saved cost-effectively if the aforementioned program were guided by a goal-oriented emission-reduction framework. Such a framework might include: l Inclusion of the Hospital, the Housing and Athletic Departments into EPA�s Energy-Star program; l Selective increase of the current 5-year payback-time requirements for energy efficiency measures; l More effective education of academic department heads and administrators about energy-conscious scheduling and behavior; l Use of the $1 million annual savings from the new electricity supply contract to exceed the City of Ann Arbor�s renewable energy percentage requirements (AA electric franchise); l Proactive participation in developing the �green power� market by becoming a member of the new Michigan Power Coop; l Installation of renewable-energy systems on campus buildings; and l Specifications for more passive heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting strategies in building design. Your public commitment will highlight the significance of these initiatives and expand the University�s actions to make the necessary environmental improvements to mitigate global warming. Your leadership will set the standard for your successor and other university presidents and demonstrate that reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are possible and responsible. Commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will also provide significant educational opportunities for University of Michigan students. These opportunities are abundant - from atmospheric science to the economics of energy efficiency to public health improvements - and they will help prepare University of Michigan students to lead the way in our changing world. Students who are knowledgeable about the environmental and financial opportunities to minimize pollution will be important participants in the 21st century workforce. We ask that, before you depart, your Administration put in motion the development of a comprehensive program that will reduce and monitor the University�s greenhouse gas emissions. As faculty members concerned about the protection and improvement of the environment, we would be pleased to work with you to help design and implement your public commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on campus. Faculty member Catherine Badgley and one of our alumni representatives, Howard Learner (U of Michigan, 1976), will contact you in the next two weeks to request a time for a group of the undersigned faculty to meet with you to discuss this opportunity. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to learning about your plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the University of Michigan. Sincerely, Keith Aaronson, Med David Allan, SNRE Roger Albin, Med Kathie Albright, Med Shelley Almburg, Bio Achilleas Anastasopoulos, Elec Engin Elizabeth Anderson, Phil Robert Anderson, Educ Cathy Antonakos, Nurs Kelly Askew, Anthro Sushil Atreya, AOS Catherine Badgley, Envr Dennis Baker, AOS Percy Bates, Educ Stuart Batterman, Envr Veronica Benet-Martinez, Psych Raymond Bingham, Med William Bolcom, Music Katarina Borer, Kinesio Lorrie Brach, SPH James Breck, SNRE Shannon Brines, SNRE Sharon Brooks, Dent Scott Brown, Soc Res Siglind Bruhn, Humanities Bunyan Bryant, SNRE Joyce Budai, Geo Robyn Burnham, Eco John Carson, Hist Paul Carson, Med Timothy Cheek, Music Yan Chen, Econ David Cooke, Med Stephen Cooper, Bio Virgil Cope, Chem, Flint Penelope Crawford, Music Mary Crichton, German James Crowfoot, SNRE? Julie Cullen, Econ Douglas Davies, Soc Wk Gerald DePuit, Music Raymond De Young, SNRE James Diana, SNRE Thomas Donahue, Phys Harry Douthit, Bio S. Roland Drayson, AOS Geraldine Durka-Pelok, Anat Ben Dwamena, Med Jacquelynne Eccles, Psych Geoffrey Eley, Hist Guenther Elste, Astro Juliet Erazo, SNRE Stephen Ethier, Med William Farrand, Geo Dan Ferris, Biomed Engin Michael Fetters, Med Daniel Fisher, Paleo Monique Fleming, Psych Robert Fogel, Med Richard Ford, Anthro Suzanne Fraker, Eye Isaac Francis, Med Jacqueline Francis, Art Hist Katie Freese, Phys Bartley Frueh, Med Gerald Gardner, Psych Joseph Gemmete, Med Orin Gelderloos, Bio Geoffrey Gerstner, Dent Brenda Gillespie, SPH Thomas Gladwin, Biz Jennifer Gordenier, Eye Jennifer Gordon, Rom Lori Graf, Med Donald Gray, Env Engin Bob Grese, SNRE Joseph Grigely, Art Hist Mary Haan, SPH Carl Hanks, Dent David Harris, Educ Charlotte Harrison, Med Gloria Helfand, SNRE Debbie Hemmeter, Env Engin Anne Heybey, SPH Juli Highfill, Rom Nancy Houk, Astro Helaine Hunscher, SNRE Karen Hunt, Med Kali Israel, Hist Michael Jibson, Med Mark Johnson, Med Timothy Johnson, SPH Katie Jones, German Larry Junck, Med Julie Kafkalidis, AOS Rachana Kamtekar, Phil Gordon Kane, Phys Paul Kantor, Music Heather Kapp, Nurs Maher Karam-Hage, Med David Katz, SNRE Bill Kauffman, Aero Engin Peter Kaufman, Res Coll Brian Kennedy, Geo George Kling, Eco Arnold Kluge, Bio Jim Koopman, SPH Robert Kyes, German Kathleen Kyndely, Soc Wk Sangeeta Labhsetwar, Biz Barbara Laird, CASL, Dearborn Frankie Laporte, Med Steven Leber, Med Shawna Lee, Soc Wk Jonathan Levine, Urb Plan Simon Levine, Biomed Engin Geoff Lewis, SNRE Israel Liberzon, Psychiatry Rita Loch-Caruso, Med Louis LoMonaco, Art Eric Lormand, Phil Barbara Luke, Med Judith Lynch-Sauer, Nurs Jennifer Jacobus MacKay, SNRE Robert Marans, Urb Plan Bruce Martin, Med Ernest McCarus, Near East Kellie McElhaney, Biz Guy Meadows, Ocean Engin Roberto Merlin, Phys John Middlebrooks, Med Rees Midgley, Med Kelli Mineard, Popul David Mindell, Eco Stephen Modell, SPH Maria Montoya, Hist Michael Moore, SNRE Thomas Moore, Zoo Regina Morantz-Sanchez, Hist Anna Muncer, Popul Kent Murray, Geo Katta Murty, Indus Engin Philip Myers, Zoo Gayl Ness, Socio Jun Ni, Mech Engin Karen Ocorr, Bio Heather Oleniczak, Soc Wk Daphna Oyserman, Soc Wk Paresh Patel, Psychiatry William Paulson, French Carl Pierson, Microbio Elaine Pitt, Med Joanne Pohl, Nurs Peter Pollack, SNRE Stephen Pollock, Indus Engin Friedrich Port, Med David Porter, English Celine Portet, Rom Marty Powers, Chinese Jeanne Raisler, Nurs Beverly Rathcke, Bio Michael Reisch, Soc Wk Nick Rine, Law Thomas Robins, SPH Phillip Rodgers, Med Willard Rodgers, Soc Res Marc Ross, Phys Jonathan Rubin, Med Namita Sachdev, Med Romesh Saigal, Indus Engin Laura Sanders, Soc Wk Richard Sands, Phys John Santinga, Med Mark Saper, Biochem Andreas Schonle, Russian Peter Scott, Math Chris Seifert, Med Colleen Seifert, Psych David Shappirio, Bio Stefanie Siegmund, Hist Sanford Sillman, AOS Gaurang Shah, Med David Singer, Poli Barb Smuts, Psych Rachel Somerville, Astro George Steinmetz, Socio Addison Stone, Educ Sarah M. Swanson, SNRE Sara Tallaksen-Greene, Med Kathryn Tosney, Bio Galip Ulsoy, Mech Engin Derek Vaillant, Commun John Vandermeer, Bio Katherine Verdery, Anthro Shirley Verrett, Music Diane Kaplan Vinokur, Soc Wk Edward Voss, Botany Frances Wakefield, Med Mary Nehra Waldo, Eye Ctr Kendall Walton, Phil Peter Washabaugh, Aero Engin Rick Wasserman, Math Kathy Welch, Stat Walter Weber, Env Engin Robert Werner, Med Edgar Westrum, Jr., Chem David Williams, Socio Elizabeth Rose Wingrove, Poli Leigh Woods, Theatre Wei Yang, Med Mayer Zald, Soc Wk Philip Zazove, Med (all units listed for ID only) SNRE = Natural Resources & Enironment AOS = Atmos, Ocean & Space Sciences SPH = Public Health
Signed Elements �
Individual Authors
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