PRESS RELEASE
from Warren Wilson College
WWC PRESIDENT STEVE SOLNICK PART OF 2014 CLIMATE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Warren Wilson College President Steven L. Solnick was among the higher education leaders attending the recent 2014 Presidential Summit on Climate Leadership.
The Summit brings together more than 250 college and university leaders from across the country to focus on ways to strengthen campus climate action and sustainability initiatives. Most Summit participants are signatories of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).
More than 680 colleges and universities in the United States are current ACUPCC signatories, representing all 50 states, D.C. and every category of public and private higher education institution. These signatories are committed to achieving carbon neutrality and represent more than 6.5 million students – one-third of all college students in the nation.
Convened by Second Nature Inc. the supporting organization for the ACUPCC, the Summit reflects the centrality of higher education’s role in preparing new generations to meet the challenges of climate change. The program focuses on ways to build on the success of climate action plans and sustainability initiatives on ACUPCC campuses and develop solutions to the most pressing environmental problems facing our communities.
Warren Wilson College has long been considered a campus leader in sustainable practices and facilities. Among many sustainability achievements, Warren Wilson has the first building – its pioneering EcoDorm – on a college campus to receive LEED Platinum rating in the category of Existing Buildings.
“The Summit is a key opportunity for ACUPCC presidents and their sustainability teams to work together to shape higher education’s critical role in advancing sustainability and addressing climate change at the national level,” said Portland State University President Wim Wiewel, chair of the ACUPCC Steering Committee. “The launch of the National Climate Assessment this past spring has given us a clear mandate and an excellent springboard for climate action. It’s imperative for higher education to respond and help lead our society in defining and achieving a sustainable future.”
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