ATLANTA – With the submission of its first “carbon footprint,” which shows a 7 percent decline in greenhouse gas emissions on average over the last six years, Agnes Scott College has met a key deadline as a charter signatory to the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment.
In submitting its greenhouse emissions inventory on the Sept. 15 deadline, the college joins approximately 400 other charter signatories committed to reducing their college’s impact on the environment.
“Meeting this first deadline is a significant milestone in our sustainability commitment, which is a major component of the college’s strategic plan,” said Agnes Scott President Elizabeth Kiss. “This inventory of the college’s greenhouse gas emissions sets the stage for analyzing the college’s potential for reducing its emissions significantly, which will lead us to becoming climate neutral.”
The reduction goals and the date for climate neutrality will be set one year from now. In the meantime, Agnes Scott has begun efforts to reduce its emissions as soon as possible. The benchmark year for the inventory will be the 2007-2008 because it offers the most complete data
Utility use data collected over the last six years at Agnes Scott was much of what was needed for the inventory, but other data, including travel and waste handling, were added. Examining the net GHG emissions trend for the past six years shows a steady decline from 28,373 to 26,370 “equivalent metric tons” of carbon dioxide – the measurement used for GHG sources. Of the key GHG sources designated for reporting purposes, most of Agnes Scott’s emissions are attributed to either electricity or stationary fuel consumption of natural gas. A 22 percent drop in consumption of natural gas over the six years is the primary contributor to the GHG emission decrease at Agnes Scott thus far.
The 2008 GHG inventory tracks historical emissions trends from 2003 to 2008, offering an even closer look at 2008, as it is the most complete year for data collection. The 2008 year will act as the baseline for future emission reduction plans, according to Susan Kidd, director of sustainability at Agnes Scott.
In keeping with Agnes Scott’s commitment to student engagement, a student from the class of 2009 played the key role in conducting the inventory and will be involved in its next phase. Adrienne D'Agostino, a student research assistant for sustainability calculated all of the emissions reported today, working with her faculty adviser, the director of sustainability and a subcommittee of the college’s Sustainability Steering Committee.
“The best way we could ensure that Agnes Scott would make student engagement central to our sustainability initiatives was to hire a student to shepherd that work,” Kidd said.
"I spent a large part of the summer gathering data and putting it into what is called a carbon emissions calculator so we can find our complete carbon footprint for the campus," D'Agostino said.
The calculator designed at the University of New Hampshire and adapted as a national model by "Clean Air-Cool Planet" standardized the process. “It's the generally approved method of calculating a site’s carbon footprint," D’Agostino said.
The greenhouse gas emissions inventory creates an important benchmark. The next big objective for Agnes Scott is to refine the data collection process and conduct a second inventory. Equally important is the simultaneous effort to set emission reduction goals and a date for climate neutrality.
Within two years of signing the climate commitment the college must develop and initiate a climate action plan. At the same time the college is committed to developing a comprehensive plan to make Agnes Scott more sustainable.
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Agnes Scott College educates women to think deeply, live honorably and engage the intellectual and social challenges of their times. Students are drawn to Agnes Scott by its excellent academic reputation, exceptional faculty, and metropolitan Atlanta location – offering myriad cultural and experiential learning opportunities. A diverse and growing residential community of scholars, this highly selective liberal arts and sciences college is known for its dynamic and challenging intellectual community. Encouraging students to engage the wider world through study abroad and presenting its curriculum with international context, Agnes Scott College delivers on its promise: The World for Women.