Remarks of Max Castillo
President, University of Houston-Downtown
Campus Sustainability Day
Wednesday, October 23, 2007

Thank you for joining us at UHD's first observation of Campus Sustainability Day.   We look forward to participating in many more activities you will see at UHD devoted to this important challenge.

There are several critical issues facing this nation in general and higher education in particular right now.   As educators, our role in dealing with most of these issues, changing demographics, for instance, is one of trying to respond to a challenge.   With the issue of human-induced climate change, though, we are in a different position, one that allows us to act in such a way as to have a direct impact on the problem itself.   We not only have the opportunity to educate our students in this important area, but we also have the responsibility to serve as an example to them and to our community.   We have the responsibility to educate ourselves.

And that is what today is all about.

It is the beginning of an education for us at UHD.   to start that process:   I announce to you today my plan to join 415 of my colleagues across the nation in signing the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.   The Presidents Climate Commitment is a pledge to move toward the elimination of harmful greenhouse gas emissions and toward greater sustainability.

At a recent panel discussion on climate change held at UHD, Dr. Barry Lefer, a geoscientist at UH, made a statement that I was already aware of but that was a fresh reminder as we embark on this journey.   He said that the state of Texas ranks among the top seven countries in pollution emissions.   Yet, only eight schools in Texas have signed this agreement, and only two of those are in Houston:   Rice and HCC.   One institution within the UH System has signed:   UH-Victoria.   That doesn't mean that other schools are not taking actions--many are.   But, I think it is important that we have a consistent framework under which to work to achieve common goals.   I think the Presidents Climate Commitment provides that framework.

So, you might be wondering what impact UHD could possibly have by reducing our energy consumption and waste production.   Let me provide a perspective:

The United States has been slow to embrace the possibility of human-induced climate change.   But recent events, like the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for their work in informing the public of this problem, have sent an important message to all of us:   that we need to act and we need to act now.

Today, we are here to talk specifically about sustainability.   It is important to realize that sustainability is not an environmental issue, though it includes environmental aspects.   It is more a movement that embraces the notion of community.   It requires of us that we examine what we do, what we use and why.   It asks that we consider how our actions impact each other, our community and our world.   It is the closest thing I have seen to a legitimate grass roots movement in a long time.

You are about to hear from Mayor Bill White who couldn't be with us today but who graciously agreed to send us a message.   After that you will engage in a webcast featuring Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy:   the Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future.   At 1:30, a panel will convene to discuss Local Sustainability in a Global Society.

I hope you learn something today and that you might be inspired to work with us as we examine the concept of sustainability at UHD.