Warren Wilson College named ‘Green College of the Year’ by WNC Sierra Club

From Warren Wilson College:

Asheville, N.C. – Dec. 8, 2015 – Warren Wilson College is the Wenoca Chapter of the Western North Carolina Sierra Club “Green College of the Year.” Sierra Club called the College “a champion of the environment” and noted the creation of the environmental studies program in 1980, construction of the recently LEED Platinum recertified EcoDorm and the decision to divest its nearly $55 million endowment from fossil fuels in making the decision. The award was presented to Warren Wilson College President Steven L. Solnick Dec. 2, 2015.

“We are really excited to be able to recognize Warren Wilson for the wonderful things they’ve done over the years,” said Ken Brame, political director, Wenoca Chapter of the Western North Carolina Sierra Club. “It’s one of the greenest [college campuses] in the Southeast, and secondly, now that [they’ve] made the decision to divest from fossil fuels is even more of a reason for us to be able to recognize a great institution.”

Upon receiving the award, President Solnick said, “We’re honored to be receiving this award, and we’re pleased with the recognition in an area that’s central to our mission. It recognizes a joint effort of faculty, students, staff and trustees that led to the commitment to divest from fossil fuels this year.”

In October, Warren Wilson College’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to divest endowment funds from fossil fuels over the next five years. The move aligns the College’s investments with its core values, and the nearly $55 million endowment will be separated from corporations listed among the Carbon Underground 200, which contains the world’s top coal, oil and gas companies. The Board further adopted a Responsible Investment Policy that includes environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) considerations and management strategies. In addition, no new endowment funds will be invested in fossil fuel companies.

“Global warming is real; it’s happening,” Brame added. “Having institutions decide to take a bold step to divest from fossil fuels and make a statement that we’ve all got to do everything we can to protect our environment and stop global warming … is tremendous.”

While the College was recognized for many accomplishments, Sierra Club organizers pointed to divestment as the primary issue that earned the College the top prize. “We think it is a move that aligns our endowment with our values,” Solnick said. “We’re glad to see that it’s resonating with different audiences in the way we hoped it would.”

For more information about the College’s commitment to divestment from fossil fuels and Responsible Investment Policy, visit http://warren-wilson.edu.