Hollins University President Nancy Gray has joined more than 260 other college presidents in signing the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. A high-visibility effort to address global warming, the initiative’s goal is to gain pledges from colleges and universities throughout the nation to sharply reduce and eventually eliminate greenhouse gas emissions on their campuses and to increase research and education toward re-stabilizing the earth’s climate.

"Hollins has a unique responsibility as a role model for our community and in preparing those who will help find solutions to reverse global warming," Gray said. 

The document signed by Gray and other college presidents states, “We recognize the scientific consensus that global warming is real and is largely being caused by humans. We further recognize the need to reduce the global emission of greenhouse gases by 80% by mid-century at the latest, in order to avert the worse impacts of global warming and to reestablish the more stable climatic conditions that have made human progress over the last 10,000 years possible.

"We…believe that colleges and universities that exert leadership in addressing climate change will stabilize and reduce their long-term energy costs, attract excellent students and faculty, attract new sources of funding, and increase the support of alumni and local communities."

Hollins and other institutions who sign the Commitment agree to take the following steps:

• Complete a greenhouse gas emissions inventory
• Within two years, set a target date and interim milestones for becoming climate neutral
• Take immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Integrate sustainability into the curriculum and make it part of the educational experience
• Make the action plan, inventory and progress reports publicly available

For more information about the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, go to http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org.