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Introduction to Environmental
Policy
Administration
Marissa Adlard
Lauren Casterson
Katie Paxton
Ross Psyhogios
Goal
• Gauge our current administrative policies
regarding climate change, how they are
implemented and supported.
Methods of Collecting Information
• Research current policies in place
• Research how these policies are being carried
out
• Conduct interviews
• Based on research investigate areas that could
be useful on expanding our current policies
and acting in accordance to them
Current Policies
• Research done on the internet
• Findings:
– Sustainability commitments signed by Fr. Privett
on behalf of USF
• American College and University President’s Climate
Commitment
• Talloires Declaration
• Verification that USF has signed climate change
documents
American College and University
President’s Climate Commitment
The Presidents climate commitment acknowledges the dangers of
global warming and recognizes the need for action. Its plan can be
broken up into a three parts:
Initiate the development of a comprehensive plan to achieve
climate neutrality as soon as possible.
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Two months  create plan of implementation
One year  complete inventory of greenhouse gas
emissions
Two years  develop action plan to become climate neutral
Initiate two or more of the following tangible actions to reduce
greenhouse gases while the more comprehensive plan is being
developed.
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New buildings all LED certified
Encouraging use of public transportation
Adopt energy efficient technology
Participate in RecycleMania competition
Offset all emissions generated by air travel
15% of energy must come from renewable sources
Make the action plan, inventory, and periodic progress reports
publicly available by providing them to the Association for the
Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for
posting and dissemination.
Talloires Declaration
We, therefore, agree to take the following actions:
1. Increase Awareness of Environmentally Sustainable Development
Use every opportunity to raise public, government, industry, foundation, and university awareness by
openly addressing the urgent need to move toward an environmentally sustainable future.
2. Create an Institutional Culture of Sustainability
Encourage all universities to engage in education, research, policy formation, and information exchange
on
population, environment, and development to move toward global sustainability.
3. Educate for Environmentally Responsible Citizenship
Establish programs to produce expertise in environmental management, sustainable economic
development, population, and related fields to ensure that all university graduates are environmentally
literate and have the awareness and understanding to be ecologically responsible citizens.
4. Foster Environmental Literacy For All
Create programs to develop the capability of university faculty to teach environmental literacy to all
undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.
5. Practice Institutional Ecology
Set an example of environmental responsibility by establishing institutional ecology policies and practices
of resource conservation, recycling, waste reduction, and environmentally sound operations.
6. Involve All Stakeholders
Encourage involvement of government, foundations, and industry in supporting interdisciplinary research,
education, policy formation, and information exchange in environmentally sustainable development.
Expand work with community and nongovernmental organizations to assist in finding solutions to
environmental problems.
7. Collaborate for Interdisciplinary Approaches
Convene university faculty and administrators with environmental practitioners to develop
interdisciplinary
approaches to curricula, research initiatives, operations, and outreach activities that support an
environmentally sustainable future.
8. Enhance Capacity of Primary and Secondary Schools
Establish partnerships with primary and secondary schools to help develop the capacity for
interdisciplinary teaching about population, environment, and sustainable development.
9. Broaden Service and Outreach Nationally and Internationally
Work with national and international organizations to promote a worldwide university effort toward a
sustainable future.
10. Maintain the Movement
Establish a Secretariat and a steering committee to continue this momentum, and to inform and support
each other's efforts in carrying out this declaration.
Verification that USF has signed
climate change documents
• “... USF’s commitment goes
to the very top, was the
signing by USF President
Stephen A. Privett, S.J. of
the American College and
University President’s
Climate Commitment as
well as his signing of the
Talloires Declaration, a
declaration for sustainability
created for and by
presidents of institutions of
higher learning.”
How these policies are being carried
out?
Not very well!
Interviews
• Christin Anderson
– Wellness Coordinator and Co-Chair of the Green
Team
• Glenn Loomis
– Green Team chairman and USF community
relations director.
• Mark Osborn Manager
– Administrative Services USF Facilities
Management
Christin Anderson
Wellness Coordinator and Co-Chair of the Green Team
Background info on the Green Team from Christin:
12 years ago a Sustainability Committee was formed and met
bimonthly. After six months Charlie Cross (VP of Business and Finance)
banned the committee, stating that it was wasting time and
interfering with work. Christin went back to school and got her MSEM
degree at USF, and 3 years ago she attempted to restart the committee
under the name “ Green Team”. Father Privett approved the Green
Team with the exception that Charlie Cross approved it as well. Charlie
allowed it, as long is they met no more than once a month for an hour
during the school year only. A few months later, Charlie tried to end
the committee again, however Mike London (Head of Facilities), talked
Charlie into letting the Green Team continue, but with Glenn Loomis as
the chair of it instead of Christin. They came to a compromise, and
Glenn and Christin Co-chair together.
Christin Anderson
Wellness Coordinator and Co-Chair of the Green Team
What are the existing policies at USF in relation to climate change?
Tallories Declaration, President’s Commitment There are lots of great programs in recycling and dining services.
What role does the administration play in deciding on climate change policies?
The administration wouldn’t know about the sustainability report card if it weren’t for the green team. There is no social climate on campus. There is
disconnect between faculty, staff and admin. It is always a “risk” to push green initiative forward. “The admins role is almost non-existent. All efforts are
and have been from the bottom up.”
How does the administration assure that actions are done to fulfill new policies?
I don’t know that it does.
Who keeps track that all policies are enforces?
I think the Green Team keeps up with the stewardship, education, outreach etc.
Does the university work with the Inner Richmond or greater SF in addressing climate change?
We live in a very progressive city, and I don’t know that our university is up to city standards and actions on climate change. The Green Team has started a
Green Ambassador program with the student Outdoor Club to work with local high schools on sustainability and community outreach.
How does the administration support faculty staff and student to discuss and act on climate change?
They say they support it. Faculty in particular need to be leaders on this. It needs to be a “ whole community effort”.
Is it in the interest of the university to have a fulltime position focused on climate change or sustainability?
“Absolutely. Not just in the interest. We must join the world on this. The city is pro-active, the school less so. We need policies.”
What is your understanding of the way policies are passed and implemented at USF?
The Leadership Team and the Cabinet make decisions. Glenn is supposed to communicate with Charlie Cross and Father Privett. There is no follow through,
no plan for implementation.
Christin Anderson
Wellness Coordinator and Co-Chair of the Green Team
Other Info:
Santa Clara has a lot of work done on Climate Change policies and plans. They
have a sustainability coordinator, Lindsey Cromwell. Lindsey has been able to
get a lot of good work done, because she takes a business approach. There is
a lot of support from the Head of
Facilities, and the President has been supportive of Green Movements.
There is an issue of eco-literacy within the faculty and administration of
campus.
There was a conservation task force done two years ago, that came up with
10 ways to help the environment and save money on campus, and as of yet
none of them have been implemented. This task force was implemented by
Father Privett
Glenn Loomis
Green Team Chairman and USF Community Relations Director
1. What are the existing policies at USF in relation to climate change?
The Presidents Commitment Letter and the Talliores Declaration, which were both signed in August 2009. We were hesitant to sign the
Presidents commitment, because of the commitment to climate neutrality, which is something we cannot obtain right now. We signed
anyway, assuming technology will appear to make this possible in the near future.
2. What role does the administration play in deciding on climate change policies?
For the climate change policies, Charlie Cross, Mike London, Father Privett and I discussed and decided on it. The idea to sign the agreements
was the interest of the Green Team, and was presented by me. Depending on the topic different people would make the decision. If it were
something that related to students or admissions, the provost and/or the deans would be there too.
3. How does the administration assure that actions are done to fulfill new policies?
Policies are set at the highest level, how to implement them is left up to departments. For this specific topic, myself, Joe Murphy and Christin
Anderson are part of the action.
5. Who keeps track that all policies are enforced?
No one person in particular. It depends a lot on the policy. With green house gases, we can look at the barometers.
6. How do you the administration supporting faculty, staff, and students to discuss and act on climate change?
The administration provides a framework to support faculty and staff. Also, we score well on the green report card every year. Only 1 or 2
Jesuit universities got a B plus, and less than overall 30 got an A. We are doing well in comparison.
7. Is it in the interest of the university to have a full-time position focused on climate change or sustainability?
Sure, but it is a question of funding. Now, I am a part-time employee as sustainability coordinator, as well as Director of Community Relations.
As the sustainability coordinator, I spend maybe 25% of my work time on it. This time is spent gathering information for the sustainability
report card, and doing the green house gas inventory.
Glenn Loomis
Green Team Chairman and USF Community Relations Director
Other Info:
It it hard to get people’s attention with the green
movement, there are lots of competing interests. We are
fortunate that we are years ahead of other schools in most
areas. We have been recycling since before the city was.
Our carbon footprint is relatively low because of
geography( no need for AC or heating really), bus passes
and good transportation methods, photovoltaic and other
alternative energy that reduces our carbon footprint.
Mark Osborn
Administrative Services USF Facilities Management
Within your specific office, how do your policies and decisions affect the University's overall climate change policy?
Our departmental policies and decisions are guided by the University’s overall climate change policy as opposed to affecting any change to that University policy.
What is your understanding of the existing policies at USF in relation to climate change?
It is our understanding that the University acts according to its Vision, Mission and Values statement; its Planning Document; and its 2005 -2010 Strategic Goals document; specifically and
additionally to this topic, the President has signed the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment and the Talloires Declaration.
What role does the administration play in deciding on climate change policies?
To the extent polices are established, it is the University’s administration that creates said policy. It is not for the Facilities office to define the University administration’s role in determining
climate change policy.
How does the administration assure that actions are done to fulfill new policies? Who keeps track that all policies are enforced?
This question is for the administration’s to reply, as the Facilities office does not enforce climate change policy. There are groups such as the “Green Team” as well as the sustainability
coordinator who may have involvement in this area.
When considering potential investments or contracted campus projects, is the environmental impact of the prospective company a consideration?
The Facilities office does not participate in investment decisions. In addition, the term “environmental impact” is vague and as such is difficult to assess without speculation. While there is not
any independent verification system of judging a potential contracted Facilities’ vendor’s environmental impact, those vendors are contractually obligated to behave in accordance with local,
state and federal environmental and other law, and consideration in choosing a particular vendor is given to that vendor’s ability to provide materials and services to the University in an
environmentally friendly way.
Does the university work within the Inner Richmond or greater San Francisco community in addressing climate change?
The Facilities office is aware of neighborhood outreach efforts from the University that include on-campus Farmers’ Market participation, campus Earth day activities and education,
neighborhood tree planting, and the sponsoring of free neighborhood e-waste collection. Other departments have their own interactions in this regard with the neighborhood and San Francisco.
How do you support faculty, staff, and students to discuss and act on climate change?
The Facilities office maintains an open-mindedness with regard to discussions, dialogue and suggestions generated throughout the University community in regard to our department’s actions
and climate change and we contribute our perspective to that process and discussion.
Is it in the interest of the university to have a full-time position focused on climate change or sustainability?
While the Facilities office does not have take a position on this issue, it is our understanding that the Director of Community Relations is the primary University position focused on sustainability.
Other Interviews?
We did attempt to interview other with little
or no luck – a lot of run around.
Findings
• There is a disconnect between administration
and staff regarding climate change
• Not enough follow up on policies being made
• People being asked to do the work are often
not given additional resources or time
• Not enough transparency within the
administration
• Little or no facility or student participation
Recommendations
• A Green Sustainability Coordinator position
• More follow up and support for policies
already in place
• More support for the current Green Team