Big Red Go Green

In the twenty first century, we are faced with urgent implications of increasing globalization and environmental change. At the forefront of these issues are energy resources. Fossil fuels contribute to toxic pollution and the gasses causing global warming, the negative effects of which are currently being reported by scientists at UW Madison and around the globe. They are also not renewable and are unreliable future energy providers.

The government on both the federal and state level is not taking action on this issue. It is time for the University of Wisconsin to take the lead in the fight to reduce global warming. UW should serve as a model for the state and the nation and demonstrate the path for a cleaner and healthier future. The University is a setting where research and innovation are highly valued. Given that leading scientists have shown the need to change our current policies, our academic institutions need to respond.

UW-Madison does not have policies in place that ensure energy conservation, and secure a healthier environment for UW-Madison students, faculty, staff, and the community of Madison as a whole. For example:

Existing buildings are not as efficient as possible. Some problem areas include heating/cooling controls, efficient lighting, and computer usage.
A great deal of wasted energy and emissions are due to the daily practices of students and faculty. These practices include such simple things as not turning off lights and computers. University facilities are improving practices, but habitual human behavior continues to be a problem.
UW-Madison does not have a plan to phase out its coal power plants, even though they pollute heavily, produce greenhouse gasses, and negatively influence the campus.
Students are not fully aware of the environmental implications of their daily actions.

Campaign Goals

1) Work with the administration to ensure that UW-Madison will be climate neutral by 2050.

2) Promote awareness of conservation and sustainability across campus through advocacy and education.

This semester, we're working to:

Organize and endorse the Midwest Clean Energy Conference.
Convince the UW-Madison administration to sign the American College and University President Climate Commitment by the end of the semester.
Create coalitions with other student groups.
Organize educational events (Earth Day, the Inconvenient Truth showing, concert etc) throughout the semester.
Promote media coverage by publishing 20 articles in local newspapers and emphasizing visibility.
Develop a comprehensive sustainability plan for UW- Madison.
Create a documentary “The Inconvenient Truth: UW-Madison chapter” in coalition with C.A.R.E.
Reach out to the local community in order to promote sustainability and education.