Sustainability Advisor Lesson 2016 v3
65
Maya Spaur Sustainability Advisor Office of Sustainability
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Transcript of Sustainability Advisor Lesson 2016 v3
Maya SpaurSustainability Advisor Office of Sustainability
So, what’s your number?
That’s around 200,000 phones owned by just current UMD students!
140 Million phones end up in a landfill each year!
What are some ways companies could design phones to last longer?
Why would or wouldn’t companies want to design phones that last longer?
What are some ways we can change our behaviors to
reduce the environmental impact of cell phones?
Every discipline influences sustainability!
ENGINEERING
BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
BUSINESS
ARTS AND HUMANITIES
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
EDUCATION
ARCHITECTURE
COMPUTER, MATHMATICAL AND NATURAL SCIENCES
JOURNALISM
PUBLIC HEALTH
UMD Commitments:
1. Be a National Model for a Green University
3. Prepare All Students to Create a Sustainable Future
2. Eliminate the University’s Carbon Footprint
2700 solar panels at the Severn Building
4. Use Water Sustainably
5. Minimize Waste
6. Advance Sustainability Locally and Globally
Why is UMD so focused on sustainability?
What are some of the
greatest challenges we’re facing?
State of the Planet:The last 18 years have been the hottest in recorded history. Every year for the next century may be hotter than the last.
One species of plant or animal goes extinct every 13 minutes. We are now witnessing the sixth “Great Extinction” of species.
A Few Species on the Brink of Extinction
Mountain Gorilla Sumatran Elephant
Iberian Lynx Hawaiian Monk Seal
State of the Planet:The last 18 years have been the hottest in recorded history. Every year for the next century may be hotter than the last.
One species of plant or animal goes extinct every 13 minutes. We are now witnessing the sixth “Great Extinction” of species.
90% of big fish are gone from the oceans. 83% of marine life is overfished or facing extinction.
Sea level has risen 1 foot over the past 100 years. It is projected to rise 2-6 feet by 2100.
Tonight, more than a billion people will go to sleep hungry.
Right now, a billion people do not have access to fresh drinking water. This may reach 3 billion people within 20 years.
Your birthday (~1998) – 5.9 Billion
Today – 7.4 Billion
Climate Change
Sea Level Rise TuvaluPopulation: 10,000
“A panel of scientists is urging Maryland officials to plan to accommodate rising seasof up to 2 feet along the state's shoreline in the next 40 years – and perhaps nearly6 feet by the end of the century.”
– Baltimore Sun, June 2013
Local Sea Level Rise
+ 3 feet
Downtown Annapolis following Tropical Storm Isabel
Extreme Weather
Extreme Drought
Before
After
Reservoir in California
Impact on Agriculture (i.e. Jobs and the Food we Eat)
Impact on War
How Climate Change may be a Factor in the War in Syria:
• From 2006 to 2011, over half the country suffered from the worst drought on record.
How Climate Change may be a Factor in the War in Syria:
• From 2006 to 2011, over half the country suffered from the worst drought on record.
• Nearly 85% of livestock died and 1.5 million farmers fled to the cities to try to find jobs.
How Climate Change may be a Factor in the War in Syria:
• From 2006 to 2011, over half the country suffered from the worst drought on record.
• Nearly 85% of livestock died and 1.5 million farmers fled to the cities to try to find jobs.
• The government did little to help the farmers and, with overcrowded cities and high unemployment, the people started protesting.
How Climate Change may be a Factor in the War in Syria:
• From 2006 to 2011, over half the country suffered from the worst drought on record.
• Nearly 85% of livestock died and 1.5 million farmers fled to the cities to try to find jobs.
• The government did little to help the farmers and, with overcrowded cities and high unemployment, the people started protesting.
• The government fought back and now there is all out civil war across Syria.
But we can REDIRECT this!
The world needs
sustainable solutionsto these
great challenges!
What is sustainability
anyway?
“Meeting the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Sustainability is about harmony. It is a processthat exists at the delicate balance between environmental health, social justice, and
economic development.
Corporations call this the “Triple Bottom Line”
… they would give preference to job candidates who have an academic concentration in
sustainability!
98% of executives from large corporations said that when they make hiring decisions….
People are Leading the Change!
We are seeing the emergence of the Sharing Economy!
People are Leading the Change!
Americans’ carbon footprints decreased about 25% over the last 16 years!
People are Leading the Change!
Bike commuting increased 47% in US (and 171% in DC) over the last decade!
People are Leading the Change!
Approximately 50 million US households grow some of their own food!
Students are Leading the Change at UMD!
Students pushed the University President to commit to eliminating UMD’s carbon footprint and creating an Office of Sustainability
Students are Leading the Change at UMD!Students organized the University Senate to prevent the deforestation of the Wooded Hillock and voted to preserve this campus forest for education and research
Students are Leading the Change at UMD!
Students convinced the University to only buy electricity produced by renewable energy by 2020 and convinced the University System of Maryland Foundation to divest from fossil fuel companies.
Students are Leading the Change at UMD!Thousands of students have committed to changing their habits to live more sustainably!
Our vision for a Sustainable World is starting to come
to life!
Get Educated
Get Involved
Get Paid!
Minor in
Sustainability Studies!
• 15 credits • Complements any major• See sustainability.umd.edu
Now the largest minor on campus!
At least
$300,000 is available every year
to fund yoursustainability project!
Terps the TapGranted $62,282
Maryland Educational & Solar Activities LaboratoryGranted $30,000
WaterShedGranted $4,500
Sphagnum Moss
Pool Water TreatmentGranted $64,718
Terp FarmGranted $124,000
Food Recovery NetworkGranted $3,302
What will you create!?
Priority deadline to apply is Oct 15! Final deadline is Jan 15!
Personal actions domake a difference!
Top 6 Things You Can Do to be a
Green Terp
1. Eat Less Meat
Especially beef!
2. Use Less Stuff Reduce THEN Reuse THEN Recycle & Compost
Practice this whenever you shop…
REDUCEDon’t buy unnecessary things
REUSEUse reusable shopping bags
RECYCLERecycle items at the end of
their lives
Speaking of Compost…
3. Flip the Switch Turn off electronics when not in use
4. Be Water-Wise 5-minute showers & carry a reusable bottle
5. Live Car-Free Walk, bike, and take mass transit
6. Join a student organization!
Engineers Without Borders
Student Sustainability Committee (SGA)
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”Lead by example and you’ll be amazed how many people will follow.
Stay Connected!
sustainability.umd.edu
