Looking for low-cost sustainable gifts this holiday season? Consider giving the gift of your time and expertise! Volunteer at your gift recipient’s favorite charity. Offer to babysit for new parents. Help with painting or household chores. Or make a home-cooked meal each month for a year. Does someone on your gift list need a running buddy or trainer? Want to learn guitar? Or how to knit? Or a second language? Pass your skills on as a gift. These meaningful gifts are low-impact on the planet and your wallet. However you celebrate, happy holidays!
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Conservation Tips for a Sustainable Holiday Season
As we look forward to time away from campus, please remember that our building systems continue to operate during the break. With your efforts, we can reduce our environmental impact and costs over the holidays.
Before leaving for any extended period, please:
- Shut down desktop and laptop computers unless instructed otherwise by IT or administrative staff. If your computer, speakers, phone charger, etc., are all on one power strip, turn off the power strip after shutting down your computer.
- Unplug nonessential equipment such as copiers, fax machines, printers, scanners, and chargers. Most equipment draws electricity even when turned off or in sleep mode.
- Unplug all appliances, including coffee makers, microwaves, televisions, and radios. Like office equipment, many appliances use electricity even when turned off.
- Adjust the thermostat to 65 degrees.
- Turn off office lights and as much public lighting as possible in hallways, bathrooms, break rooms, and conference rooms.
- Check windows to make sure they are tightly closed and locked.
- Check faucets in bathrooms and break rooms to make sure they are completely turned off and not dripping.
- If you work in a lab with variable air volume fume hoods, shut the sash completely (just as you should any time the hood is not in use).
- Call in any leaks or maintenance issues to your Facilities Services team (962-3456 or www.fac.unc.edu).
These tips will help keep your building safe and energy-efficient. They also apply at home.
Post this information to share with colleagues, suitemates, and fellow building occupants. Read more »
Mid-Year Move-Out Recycling and Reuse Resources
Packing for a mid-year move-out? Consider donating your unwanted items instead of throwing them in the dumpster. Reusable furniture can be offered for reuse at “Salvage Sheds” located at four Orange County Solid Waste Convenience Centers. Computers, computer peripherals, and other electronics can be recycled at the Orange County Landfill on Eubanks Road in Chapel Hill. Clothing and household items in good condition can be donated to local thrift or consignment stores. Unopened cans and boxes of non-perishable food items can be donated to the Inter-Faith Council Food Pantry in Carrboro. Visit the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling and Orange County’s Student Move-out Waste Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling Resource to learn how to donate, dispose of, or recycle a specific item.
Carolina Students Produce NC Energy and Politics Multimedia Stories
Students taking an energy reporting class spent the fall semester writing and producing interactive multimedia stories that cover the intersection of North Carolina, energy, and politics. Story topics include: smart grid education, Progress Energy’s use of stimulus money, the state legislature’s shift on environmental policy, the future of offshore wind energy in North Carolina, the rapid growth of solar, the changing nature of food, and how climate change is affecting the state's sweet potato industry. All articles are available online.
Central Carolina Community College Recognized for Sustainability
The Green Genome Awards honor community colleges that have taken a strategic leadership role in sustainability and green workforce development. The awards are part of a larger initiative created by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and its Sustainability Education and Economic Development Center (SEED) to support sustainability practices, programs, and training. Green Genome Award recipients include: Central Carolina Community College, North Carolina for Program Design and Delivery; Butte College, California; Delta College, Michigan; Hillsborough Community College, Florida; and West Virginia University at Parkersburg. Read more »
Greenpeace Report Shows a Cleaner Pathway for Duke Energy
Using modeling performed by Ventyx, an energy consultancy, a recent Greenpeace report, “Charting the Correction Course: A Clean Energy Pathway for Duke Energy,” proposes specific changes Duke Energy can make to benefit ratepayers, the environment, and investors by investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency. According to the report, Duke could source 33% of its electricity from wind, solar, and efficiency resources. Under Duke’s current plan, the majority of energy generated in North and South Carolina over the next 20 years will be sourced from 70-year-old coal plants and nuclear plants. Read more »
Apply Now for the Burch Field Research Seminar
The Burch Seminar in Germany, Sweden, and Denmark offers students an up-close view of several European cities that are leaders in sustainability. Students will explore a wide range of topics, including renewable energy, urban planning, and high-performance building. Students will receive six credits that count toward an Environmental Studies major or toward the sustainability or environmental minor. The program is open to all students who will have completed two semesters at Carolina by the end of the spring semester. Apply to the Study Abroad office by February 14.
Read more »
Funding Opportunity in Biological Systems Science
UNC faculty may be interested in a U.S. Department of Energy request for proposals to fund: exploring the frontiers of genome-enabled biology; discovering the physical, chemical, and biological drivers and environmental impacts of climate change; and seeking the geological, hydrological, and biological determinants of environmental sustainability and stewardship. Approximately $400 million will be awarded. Apply by September 30, 2013.
Read more »
Carolina in the News
Check out the recent media mentions of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:
Is environment making us fat? (Opinion-Editorial by Mieka Sanderson, a masters of Public Health candidate at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Public Health in the Health Behavior Department)
The Robesonian
Robeson County, population 134,000, is not only one of the largest rural counties in North Carolina but also tops the list as the biggest county within the state, BMI-wise. According to 2009 data from the CDC National Diabetes Surveillance System, nearly 40 percent of adult Robeson residents are obese compared with the national average of 25 percent. Obesity researchers have found that there is a complex link between diet, physical activity and the environment. The environment is composed of social and physical elements such as safety, as well as the actual man-made structure and layout of buildings that comprise a town, city or community. Certain physical environmental designs, also known as the built environment, allow for and actually encourage physical activity by including wide sidewalks, bike paths, and pedestrian crosswalks in land development designs. Read more »
Roadwork to snarl Chapel Hill traffic
The News and Observer (Raleigh)
A road project expected to cause major delays around UNC-Chapel Hill this spring could also cost nearly $2 million more to maintain existing bus service. Triangle Grading & Paving Inc. of Burlington started installing signs and removing trees Tuesday from South Columbia Street. The $4.6 million project will add bike lanes, sidewalks, a center-turn lane and bus pull-offs to a busy 0.8-mile stretch between Purefoy Road and Manning Drive. The two-lane corridor, located just south of the UNC-CH campus, is one of the busiest transit routes in the region, if not the state, Chapel Hill Transit Interim Director Brian Litchfield said.
Read more »
Walking back to the days of New Urbanism (Opinion-Editorial by Carly Sieff, a master’s student in UNC’s Department of City and Regional Planning)
The Chapel Hill News
The benefits we reap from walking and biking regarding obesity prevention have been proven time and time again. One study, for example, demonstrated that a 5 percent increase in walkability is associated with a per capita 32.1 percent increase in time spent in physically active travel and a 0.23-point reduction in body mass index (Frank et al 2007). Benefits also go far beyond weight loss. New Urbanism communities demonstrate improved environmental health through a reduction of emissions associated with driving; increased social capital resulting from interactions and shared experiences; decreased mental illness and anxiety that comes with driving and inactivity; and financial savings through reductions in car maintenance, gas, health-related costs and gym memberships. Read more »
Thanks to UNC News Services for finding these great stories AND compiling the summaries! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at http://uncnews.unc.edu.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
When making holiday travel plans, consider using Zimride, a commercial, web-based ride-sharing system made available by the Department of Public Safety. Rides are offered to RDU airport as well as dozens of other locations throughout North Carolina and beyond. Car-pooling helps reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Wind and Solar Energy Make Up 100% of New US Electricity Capacity in September
Global temperatures in September matched a record for the hottest September ever. It was also a very hot month for renewable energy. According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), wind and solar energy accounted for all new electricity capacity added to America’s grid in September. Wind and solar, although still trailing fossil fuels, collectively account for 40% of all new generating capacity added since January 2012. According to FERC, solar now accounts for 0.31% and wind 4.43% of total installed generating capacity on the U.S. power grid. Read more »
New App Shines Light on Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
Let Light Bulb Finder illuminate your next lighting purchase. The free mobile app displays bulb specifications, energy efficiency, and financial savings so that users can make fast, informed decisions in stores and at home. The app was recently named one of the “Top 100 New Home Products for 2012” by “This Old House.” Read more »
The Chapel Hill Farmers' Market is Accepting Applications
The Chapel Hill Farmer’s Market is entering its sixth year at University Mall and is now accepting applications for the 2013 market season. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2013. Read more »
Apply Now for the EPA P3 Competition
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking proposals to research and develop solutions to real world challenges. The People, Prosperity, and Planet Program (P3) will award up to $90K for teams to implement their proposals in the field and marketplace. Last year, the Gillings School of Global Public Health student team received an honorable mention for developing a point-of-use disinfectant for drinking water that is inexpensive, non-toxic, and effective in reducing waterborne illness in developing nations. Submit proposals by December 11. Read more »
Community Engagement Fellowship
The Carolina Center for Public Service is accepting applications for the Community Engagement Fellowship program. Fellowships are awarded to develop and implement projects that employ innovative, sustainable approaches to complex social needs. Full-time graduate students at UNC-Chapel Hill are eligible to apply. Applications are due by February 4. Read more »
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Carolina in the News
Check out the recent media mentions of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:
Clean Water Act at 40: Rivers No Longer Burn but Climate Threats and Runoff Now Rush In
Scientific American
When the Clean Water Act was passed, the primary concerns were 'point sources' of pollution: sewage plants and other easily recognizable sources, such as industrial facilities. Now, the main concern is runoff water that drains from urban and agricultural sources. One way of attempting to deal with such pollution is to pipe storm water farther out to sea before discharging it. But when the resort town of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, tried just that early this century, there was essentially no improvement in beach conditions, said Marc Verhougstraete, a postdoctoral fellow and water-quality expert at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Read more »
Chamber Looks to Help Businesses Go “Green” (Blog)
The Star News (Wilmington)
The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce rolled out a program Wednesday to help the area’s small and medium-sized businesses get involved in sustainability and achieve certification of their efforts. The program began in 2004 as a partnership of Duke University, the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, and the Raleigh and Durham Chambers of Commerce. The program now works with 400 businesses in 18 states. Read more »
Thanks to UNC News Services for finding these great stories AND compiling the summaries! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at http://uncnews.unc.edu
Monday, November 5, 2012
Carolina in the News
Check out the recent media mentions of sustainability-related programs, practices, people at UNC:
NC’s Campus Y planting seeds for sustainable future
The Chapel Hill News
Campus Y, the social justice center of the UNC campus, has begun raising money for a $10 million to $15 million endowment. The endowment, which would be the Y’s largest in decades, would provide seed capital for its new Social Innovation Incubator, and create a new faculty position and social entrepreneur in residence position. Learn more »
N.C. 54 light-rail plan based on cost, riders, development
The Chapel Hill News
Regional leaders weighed their options for more than 15 years before choosing N.C. 54 for a proposed light-rail corridor connecting Orange and Durham counties. ...The 17.3-mile N.C. 54 route links UNC and UNC Hospitals with Duke University and its medical center – both counties’ biggest employers. Environmental concerns exist about the wetlands along N.C. 54, but there’s a route around them. The corridor also has large undeveloped tracts where homes, offices and businesses could grow around the light-rail stations, leaders said. Learn more »
Thanks to UNC News Services for finding these great stories AND compiling the summaries! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at http://uncnews.unc.edu.
Duke Energy and WISE Program Help Owners Save Energy
Duke Energy and the Town of Chapel Hill Worthwhile Investments Save Energy program (WISE) are offering cash incentives to Chapel Hill homeowners for energy efficiency upgrades. Residents can earn up to $3000 for HVAC upgrades, increased attic insulation, comprehensive energy assessments, and other home energy upgrades. These incentives help property owners and renters reduce utility costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more »
Hurricane Sandy Gives Preview of Sea Level Rise
The chaos caused by Hurricane Sandy highlights at least one major reason to worry about climate change: rising sea levels. While storm surges are affected by a variety of factors, higher sea levels can magnify those surges and exacerbate flooding — not just during large storms like Sandy, but during smaller storms too. Sea-level rise, caused by melting glaciers and ice caps, is expected to accelerate in the decades ahead—an additional two to seven feet by 2100, some scientists project. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that it is “very likely” that extreme coastal flooding during storms will become far more common in the future as a result. Learn more »
Submit Essays and Projects to DePauw’s Undergraduate Ethics Symposium
DePauw University’s 2013 Undergraduate Ethics Symposium will feature student essays, fiction, poetry, visual art, photography, dramatic works, and films with the theme of “Ethics and the Environment.” The deadline for submissions is February 1, 2013. The symposium will be held April 11-13, 2013, at the Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. Learn more »
2012 Strategic Energy and Water Plan Now Available
2012 marked a year of significant accomplishments in UNC’s energy and water conservation efforts. Energy consumption per square foot has declined 31% since FY 2003 thus meeting State Energy Office goals three years early. Upgrades to central energy infrastructure, in-house retro-commissioning efforts in campus buildings, lighting upgrades, and HVAC projects account for the savings. Potable water consumption per square foot has fallen 43% since FY 2003. An integrated non-potable water system, including reclaimed water, stormwater, and condensate, supplies over 196 million gallons of non-drinking water for cooling tower make-up water, toilet flushing, and irrigation. Learn more »
Three New Water Bottle Refill Stations Installed at Carolina
Fill er’ up at one of the three new Halsey Taylor water bottle refill stations in the Student Union. Two of the stations are located in the east wing and one is located on the first floor near Wendy’s. There are also two water bottle refill stations on the first and second floors of Lenoir Dining Hall.
If you don’t have a reusable water bottle, take the Carolina Green Pledge to earn one. Water bottles can be picked up at the Sustainability Office. Or, organize a pledge event through your department, student organization, residence hall, or other campus group to help distribute water bottles throughout campus. Contact the Sustainability Office for more information.
Water Institute Director Delivers University Day Keynote
Jamie Bartram, Director of the Water Institute and Jennifer Holzworth Distinguished Professor of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the Gillings School of Global Public Health, delivered the University Day keynote speech, focusing on Carolina’s two-year academic theme, “Water in Our World.” Bartram described the university’s research on water as an “exceptional opportunity for a world-leading, or world-changing, academic endeavor.” The academic theme aims to expand water-related course offerings and research initiatives, and encourage university departments to confront current water challenges. Watch the keynote speech online.
America Recycles Day is Thursday, November 15
America Recycles Day will be nationally celebrated Thursday, November 15. Here at Carolina, the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling (OWRR) will be hosting a Swap Shop and Hard-to-Recycle Drive in the Student Union Lobby, from 11am to 2pm. Bring unwanted clothes and school supplies to swap with others, and donate non-perishable foods. OWRR will also collect batteries, plastic bags, and electronic waste for recycling. Stop by to drop off your unwanted items, play recycling trivia games for prizes, and celebrate our national recycling holiday! Learn more »
Carolina Green Revolving Funds Referenced in National Report
The Sustainable Endowments Institute recently released the 2012 edition of “Greening the Bottom Line,” documenting the rapid growth of green revolving funds (GRFs) on college and university campuses. GRFs are a financing mechanism that puts dollars to work over and over again. Investments to reduce energy and resource use decrease operating costs and environmental impact. After paying back the avoided costs, GRF monies are put to use on another project. Carolina is profiled in the report for a 20% return on investment related to the Renewable Energy Special Projects Committee GRF, financed by a self-assessed student fee, and the Green Revolving Fund, financed by the general operating budget. Learn more »
Green Tip 11/1/12
As the seasons change, consider crafting meals using local, in-season produce. In North Carolina, leafy greens, apples, peanuts, pecans, and sweet potatoes are great foods to use during the fall and winter. View the North Carolina Fruit and Vegetable Availability Chart.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Green Tip
As the seasons change to cooler weather, reverse your ceiling fan to the clockwise direction. This produces a gentle updraft which forces warm air near the ceiling down into the occupied space. Remember to adjust your thermostat when using your ceiling fan to save energy and money. Learn more »
Mark Your Calendars for Campus Sustainability Day
Celebrate this year’s Campus Sustainability Day on Friday, October 26, from 1-4pm on Polk Place in front of Wilson Library. Bring a friend, play some games, grab some snacks, and learn about the University’s many programs, student groups, and departments that promote sustainability at this fall field day event! Take the Carolina Green Pledge in advance to pick up one of the coveted Carolina Green water bottles, while supplies last. Learn more »
Carolina Rises in Research Ranking
Carolina now holds fourth place among public universities and ninth place overall for the level of federal funding ($545.99 million) devoted to research and development during fiscal 2010. In addition to bolstering the university’s reputation, the rise in rank is expected to provide more opportunities for students and faculty to make major research breakthroughs and develop projects. Learn more »
AASHE STARS Public Comment Period Begins October 8
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) seeks feedback on proposed changes to the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting tool for colleges and universities to measure sustainability progress in education and research; operations; and planning, administration, and engagement. UNC-Chapel Hill earned a STARS Silver rating in 2011. The comment period is open until November 16. Remember that people attach importance to the things they measure. Learn more »
“Battle of the Brains” GoTriangle SmartCommute Challenge
Help UNC beat Duke, N.C. State, and other Triangle universities by tracking your commute. The SmartCommute Challenge is an annual campaign to encourage commuters to ride the bus, carpool, vanpool, telecommute, bike, or walk. Track your trips online through October 15. Learn more »
Chapel Hill Makes Top Ten for “Best Place to Live”
Money Magazine ranks Chapel Hill at 10th place in the top “100 Best Places to Live in America.” The survey compared housing affordability, education, arts and culture, safety, health care, and other attributes of U.S. towns with populations of 50,000 to 300,000. Learn more »
2012 State of the Community Report
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce and the Foundation for a Sustainable Community tracks community progress using social, economic, and environmental indicators. A slide show presenting the State of the Community, with area demographics and local data, is available online. Learn more »
New Federal Fuel Efficiency Standards Double Current Fuel Economy
The White House announced final fuel-efficiency standards for new cars and light-duty trucks, requiring automakers to nearly double the average fuel economy by 2025 while cutting carbon emissions in half. Current rules for the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program mandate an average of 29 miles per gallon (mpg), with gradual increases to 35.5 mpg by 2016. The new standards — which mandate an average fuel economy of 54.5 mpg for the 2025 model year — will reduce U.S. use of and reliance on oil, create employment opportunities, and help consumers save thousands of dollars on gasoline over the life of the vehicle. Learn more »
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| Source: motorauthority.com |
NC Will Soon Have Its Own Source of Ethanol
Chemtex International received a loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to build the nation’s first commercial-scale, cellulosic biofuels facility in Sampson County. The facility aims to produce 20 million gallons of biofuels from non-food feedstocks each year. Investments in ethanol production provide jobs and economic opportunities for farmers, and increase energy security and independence. Learn more »
Register Your Local America Recycles Day Event
America Recycles Day, held annually on November 15, is an opportunity to educate the public about waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. Community organizers can schedule, plan, and host local events. Learn more »
Clean Our Watersheds with NC Big Sweep
Join NC Big Sweep events to remove litter and debris from our watersheds as part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. Join a local open event or contact the Town of Chapel Hill’s Stormwater Management Division to adopt a stream area throughout the year. Learn more »
Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass
The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass is a digital guide to local food systems and the U.S. Department of Agriculture programs that support them. Explore the food landscape of your community. Learn more »
EPA Environmental Education Grants
The EPA Office of Environmental Education funds projects that increase public awareness of environmental issues and provide skills training for informed decision making and responsible action. Submit grant proposal by November 21. Learn more »
Student Training for Environmental Protection (STEP) in Puerto Rico
Students learn essential skills in environmental advocacy and organization at the STEP program. Offered as an intensive 5-day course over winter break, January 7-12, 2013, participants will learn how to coordinate effective environmental campaigns. Applications will be accepted until program is full. Learn more »
C2C Fellows Climate Action Leadership Workshop
C2C Fellows is a national network for students and recent graduates aspiring to sustainability leadership in politics and business. C2C stands for Campus to Congress. Weekend training workshops support the path to skills development and leadership. The interactive workshop covers communication, entrepreneurship, environmental and climate science, media, and other topics. Apply now for the Southeast Regional Workshop, October 26-28, at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. Learn more »
Conservation Innovation Grants
The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) provides Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to projects that develop innovative conservation and management strategies. CIGs promote collaboration and resource sharing among communities, government, and private institutions. Apply by October 15. Learn more »
Bryan Social Innovation Fellowship
The APPLES Service Learning Program’s Robert E. Bryan Social Innovation Fellowship supports aspiring social change-making students with community project ideas. Fellows receive enrollment in a Public Policy course, up to $1500 to fund their project, and leadership training. Individuals and teams of up to four students may apply until October 19. Learn more »
Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition
Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition
Students interested in developing commercial strategies to reduce poverty and affect positive social change are encouraged to enter the Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition. Over $30K in prizes will be awarded to student teams. Apply by November 8. Learn more »
Carolina in the News
UNC Dietician Argues Benefits of Organic Produce
The News and Observer (Raleigh)
By Suzanne Havala Hobbs, a registered dietitian and a clinical associate professor in the department of health policy and administration in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Despite nutritional similarities in organic and conventionally grown produce, it is often better to buy organic. This is due to environmental contaminants such as pesticide residues found on conventional produce and unknown effects of low-dose, long-term pesticide exposure. Many nutrition advocates also see commitment to organic growing techniques as part of a broader stance favoring local and sustainable farming practices. Learn more »
UNC Professor Argues for Fewer Fossil Fuels
The News and Observer (Raleigh)
By John J.W. Rogers, retired William R. Kenan Jr. professor of geology at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Fossil fuel production should not play a significant part in the state’s energy future. Several geological features make North Carolina an unlikely site for offshore oil development, natural gas extraction, or coal mining. Learn more »
Pollution will feed lake algae for years
The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
The toxic algae problems that Lake Erie and Grand Lake St. Marys in Ohio face are mirrored in lakes in Florida, China and New Zealand. In 2007, algae in Lake Taihu in China grew so dense that the problem overwhelmed city drinking-water-treatment systems and green-stained water came out of faucets in thousands of homes. Efforts to fight the Lake Taihu algae include tracking the phosphorus to its sources — sewage plants and farms — and a new forecasting system to warn cities when a new bloom might form, said Hans Paerl, a University of North Carolina professor of Marine and Environmental Sciences. Learn more »
Taking the lead on the environment at UNC-Chapel Hill
The Triangle Business Journal
The Institute for the Environment at UNC-Chapel Hill received a 10-year pledge of $285,000 from the parents of a recent graduate, now doing graduate work in Florida on turtles, who credits the institute with changing her life. Formed in 1998 as the Carolina Environmental Program, the institute is counting on its impact in experiential field programs for students, support for students and teachers in the North Carolina public schools, and environmental research to help raise its profile as part of a longer-term fundraising effort. Learn more »
Great Barrier Reef coral seeing 'major decline,' scientists report
"World News" NBC News
A study released by the Australian Institute of Marine Science shows that the Great Barrier Reef — a Heritage Site frequently held up as one of the world’s most striking coral conservation successes — has experienced considerable decline since 1985. Without intervention, live coral cover is projected to decrease another 5 to 10 percent over the next 10 years. John Bruno, a coral expert who was not part of the study, called the findings "really grim" and reflecting loss even higher than deforestation in the tropics. "In 2007, we first sounded the alarm that the Great Barrier Reef, and Pacific reefs in general, were not as pristine and resilient as a lot of people wanted to believe," Bruno, a marine biology professor at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, told NBC News. Learn more »
UNC students shape businesses to fill social needs
The Associated Press
Student-led business plans for enterprises that would both generate profits and provide social services were competitively evaluated at the first North Carolina Social Business Conference, held by North Carolina's public university system. College students are interested in social businesses because their generation is uniquely steeped in the self-branding and freelance culture of today's business world and also possesses the can-do optimism of youth, said Prof. James Johnson Jr., who teaches social entrepreneurship at the UNC-Chapel Hill business school. Learn more »
Monday, August 20, 2012
Stocked with unnecessary school supplies? Trade them in for items you really need! Come out to the School Supply Reuse Swap Shop in the Pit on Thursday, August 23, from 11 AM- 2 PM, to recycle and swap pens, pencils, notebooks, binders and more. This event is sponsored by the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling.
Sustainability Social this Thursday, August 23, from 5 – 7 PM at the FPG Student Union Art Gallery
Are you Carolina Green? Get involved, find your niche, and help make UNC a more sustainable campus! This is your opportunity to mingle with students and employees from across the University. Learn about Carolina’s many student organizations, departments, academic offerings, and internship opportunities.
WHO: All new and returning students and employees interested in environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
WHAT: Representatives from sustainability-related student groups and campus departments will briefly describe their activities and priorities to help you decide where you want to focus your efforts. Sustainable refreshments will be served while you mingle.
WHEN: 5 – 7 PM on Thursday, August 23, 2012
WHERE: FPG Student Union Art Gallery (catch the bus)
SPONSORS: The UNC Sustainability Office and the Environmental Affairs Committee of Student Government.
You don’t need to wait until the Sustainability Social to be Carolina Green. View the full schedule of Carolina Green events during Week of Welcome.
EcoReps Information Fair this Tuesday, August 21, from 4 – 7 PM at Rams Head Plaza
Join the fun with EcoReps, Carolina’s trained peer-to-peer sustainability outreach team. Come learn about campus sustainability initiatives through games and trivia. Be part of a campus-wide student movement to promote ecological integrity, economic prosperity, and social equity. EcoReps training, scheduled for September 15, counts as a Public Service Scholars Skills Training. Learn more at the Information Fair, Tuesday, August 21, from 4 – 7PM at Rams Head Plaza. Read more »
Sustainability Training Now Available for Staff
Sustainability is a core value and top-level priority at Carolina. Learn about sustainability goals and initiatives at UNC and how you and your department can contribute. “Making the Workplace More Sustainable” will help participants identify, measure, and promote sustainable change opportunities in their area. Participants will become “green events” certified and learn how to assess sustainability practices within their departments. Training is scheduled for Thursday, September 20, from 8:30 AM-12:30 PM, at the Administrative Office Building. Registration is now open. Read more »
Greenest Colleges and Universities in the US
The Sierra Club’s 2012 Cool Schools report rated the University of California – Davis, with its zero-net-energy residence halls and 20,000 bikes, the Number 1 coolest school in the country. Two North Carolina schools made the top ten – Duke University ranked #7 and Appalachian State University #10. Other large research schools on the list include Georgia Tech #2, the University of Washington #4, the University of Connecticut #5, the University of California – Irvine #9, the University of California – Berkeley #20, the University of Virginia #21, the University of Arizona #24, and Penn State #25. In North Carolina, Warren Wilson ranked #19, Elon #29, UNC – Chapel Hill #33, and UNC – Greensboro #39. To see complete rankings and a slide show on the top ten schools, read more »
It’s Easy Being Carolina Green
Fall into the semester with a quick refresher on how you can help Carolina have the greenest year yet. Get an A in Sustainability by:
- Recycling aluminum and steel cans, plastic and glass bottles, #2 and #5 plastic tubs, phone books, card stock, junk mail, magazines, newspaper, cereal boxes, frozen food boxes, and softcover books. Carolina separates recycling so bottles, cans, and plastics go in one container, mixed paper in another. Learn more »
- Saving energy. Turn off lights and appliances when leaving the room, close the sash on fume hoods in the lab, and dress appropriately for the season. Set the thermostat to 76 degrees in air-conditioned spaces and 68 degrees in the winter. Learn more »
- Conserving water. Take five minute showers and turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
- Getting on board with alternative transportation. Take the bus, ride a bike, walk or carpool.
- Reporting energy and water inefficiencies. Three Carolina buildings are competing in the EPA’s 2012 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition -- Tarrson Hall, the Neurosciences Research Building, and the NC Area Health Education Center Building. Let Energy Management know if you see energy inefficiencies in these buildings and others across campus by emailing Save-energy@unc.edu.
NC Generates More than 1 Million Tons of Food Waste Annually
A new NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) study found that food makes up at least 12% of municipal solid waste (MSW) in North Carolina. The residential contribution is 673,362 tons annually, or just over seven pounds of food waste per household, per week. Initiatives to divert food waste from landfills will be discussed at a Food Waste Reduction Conference in Charlotte in November. Read more »
UNC-Affiliated Foundation and Non-Profit to Study Northside Neighborhood
Chapel Hill Foundation Real Estate Holdings will work with the Center for Community Self-Help to study and make recommendations for Chapel Hill’s Northside neighborhood. Northside is a short walk from campus and the proposed redevelopment of University Square. UNC students are estimated to live in half the single-family homes. Preserving the unique culture and history of the neighborhood is a priority of UNC’s Jackson Center for Saving and Making History. Read more »
UNC Journalism School Launches “100 Gallons”
“100 Gallons,” named for the amount of water the average American uses on a daily basis, examines water topics across the United States, including the New York sewer system, natural gas drilling in Ohio, and bottling rainwater in Texas. The interactive film is a continuation of the school’s award-winning Powering a Nation project that provides energy news through innovative storytelling. The launch of “100 Gallons” coincides with “Water in Our World,” a two-year academic initiative to encourage the interdisciplinary study of water. Read more »
Funding Available to Reduce Diesel Emissions
The NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is funding projects to reduce diesel emissions. Applications must be received by September 10, 2012. Read more »
Carolina in the News
Check out the recent media mentions of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:
UNC Unit Appoints New Director and Launches New Center
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
The Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at UNC Chapel Hill has appointed Joseph DeSimone as its new director. DeSimone is a world-renowned chemist and entrepreneur with more than 130 patents. His research focuses on applying lithographic fabrication technologies from the computer industry for the design and synthesis of new medicines and vaccines. Speaking of his new role in the Kenan-Flagler Business School, DeSimone said, “We are uniquely positioned to leverage the intellectual capital we have right here on campus, join it with some of the best and brightest minds from around the globe, and develop innovative market-based solutions to some of the most pressing global challenges of our time, including poverty, health, education, energy, sustainable development and economic growth." Read more »
The Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise will also launch a $1.6 million center to promote business growth and job creation in eastern North Carolina. The Center for Jobs and Innovative Business Development, led by Thomas Stith, will be funded with a five-year, $642,949 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and $1 million in matching funds from the Kenan Institute. The US EDA also provided grants to Fayetteville State University and Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. Read more »
Carrboro Start-Up Receives Investment through Green-Tech Accelerator
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
Sanitation Creations, a company launched by Liz Morris, a UNC School of Public Health alumna, is one of three companies chosen for a green technology accelerator program funded by Cherokee Investment Partners. The waterless, portable toilet in the research and development phase at Sanitation Creations is intended for use in suburban areas of developing countries. Morris turned her thesis research into a business plan by participating in the University’s “Launching the Venture” program. Read more »
EPA Announces Funding for Research
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded UNC $250,000 to design, demonstrate and evaluate a dynamic management system for managing daily air quality. The $2 million in grants awarded to five academic institutions are focused on generating better data and tools to enable regulatory authorities to more effectively ensure that the air we breathe is healthy. Read more »
Protecting Mills River Watershed
The Times-News (Hendersonville)
Efforts to protect the Mills River, a source of drinking water for 90,000 users in Henderson and Buncombe counties, have run into funding challenges. A study by the Environmental Finance Center at UNC showed one way to find sustained funding would be for all water users to contribute a small amount. Jeff Hughes, director of the center, said the need to find other funding sources comes because past sources, including grants from trust funds, are less accessible than in the past. Read more »
Thanks to UNC News Services for finding these great stories and compiling the summaries! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at http://uncnews.unc.edu.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Planning a barbecue or summer soirée? Make the most of summer produce! Stop by your local farmers’ market to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables! Also, consider using a solar cooker to reduce your barbecue’s carbon footprint! Read more »
UNC Schools Gather for Energy Summit at ASU
University representatives from across the state assembled at the Appalachian Energy Summit, hosted by Appalachian State University and the Rocky Mountain Institute, to develop actionable energy plans to benefit students, the environment, and the local economy. Representatives from all 17 campuses in the UNC system and five private colleges and universities committed to save energy and reduce energy costs. The summit launches a multi-year, collaborative process to set goals, share best practices, and demonstrate leadership. Read more »
Carolina Reduces Motor Fleet Petroleum Consumption by 21 Percent
Alternative fuels, synthetic lubricants, and more efficient vehicles have reduced Carolina’s petroleum consumption 21% relative to 2005. More than one-third of the campus vehicle fleet runs on alternatives to fossil fuels. Flex-fuel vehicles use 85% ethanol fuel, some diesel vehicles run on 20% biodiesel fuel, and the campus operates 26 electric vehicles. Carolina displaced more than 86,000 gallons of petroleum last year. In 2005, the NC General Assembly required all state vehicle fleets to displace 20% of their petroleum with alternative fuels or energy efficiency measures. Read more »
Sign-Up Now for Alternative Commuting
Registration is open for the 2012-2013 Commuter Alternative Program (CAP). A regionally and nationally recognized program, CAP encourages biking, walking, ride sharing, busing, use of park and ride lots, and vanpooling as means of getting to campus. Program incentives include access to park and ride lots, discounts at local merchants, entry into prize drawings, and emergency rides home. Act now. Registration closes August 15. Read more »
NC Botanical Garden Wants Your Opinion
The NC Botanical Garden is collecting visitor feedback to update educational materials. Take a short survey online, or at the Garden on Saturday, August 11, or Monday, August 13, and receive a free plant. Read more »
ACUPCC Reports Progress in Reducing GHGs
The American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), a network of almost 700 signatories, has reduced greenhouse gas emissions 25% since 2007, according to its recent five-year report. More than 30% of signatories have set goals of climate neutrality within 20 years. Carolina is a charter signatory of the ACUPCC. Read more »
Town Council Adopts Chapel Hill 2020 Plan
The Chapel Hill 2020 Plan will guide development and land use, including green communities, enterprise and entertainment hubs, and improved housing options for local workers and students. Read more »
Town of Chapel Hill to Expand WISE Homes and Building Program
The Worthwhile Investments Save Energy (WISE) Homes and Building Program has expanded to include single-family rental homes and multifamily buildings. The program provides funds to help property owners and renters reduce utility costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Read more »
Piedmont Biofuels Produces Zero-Waste Biodiesel Using Enzymes
Using its proprietary approach of enzyme catalysis, Piedmont Biofuels recently announced the first commercial scale zero-waste production of biodiesel in the United States. A diesel fuel alternative made from fats and oils, biodiesel can be used in diesel engines without modification. Read more »
New Law Bans Policies on Sea-Level Change for Four Years
State lawmakers recently passed a law banning state agencies from defining any rate of sea level change for regulatory purposes until 2016. If Governor Perdue does not veto the bill by August 2, it will automatically become law. Read more »
New Website Tracks Rio+20 Commitments
Launched at the Rio+20 Earth Summit, the Cloud aggregates and tracks government and corporate commitments to a low-carbon green economy. This global platform promotes transparency by recording and monitoring all Rio initiatives. The Cloud already contains more than 200 commitments. Read more »
Satellites See Unprecedented Greenland Ice Sheet Surface Melt
For several days in July, Greenland’s surface ice cover melted over a larger area than at any time in more than 30 years of satellite observations. Nearly the entire ice cover of Greenland, from its thin, low-lying coastal edges to its two-mile-thick center, experienced some degree of melting at its surface, according to measurements from three independent satellites analyzed by NASA and university scientists. On average in the summer, about half of the surface of Greenland’s ice sheet naturally melts. According to satellite data, an estimated 97% of the ice sheet surface thawed at some point in mid-July. Read more »
Hard Numbers for High-Temperature Records
“June broke or tied 3,215 high-temperature records across the United States. That followed the warmest May on record for the Northern Hemisphere – the 327th consecutive month in which the temperature of the entire globe exceeded the 20th-century average, the odds of which occurring by simple chance were 3.7 x 1099, a number considerably larger than the number of stars in the universe.” –Bill McKibben. Read more »
EPA Announces Youth Sustainability Challenge Winners
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the winners of the Youth Sustainability Challenge, a project encouraging sustainable communities. A team of Georgetown University students won for the Best Overall Video. Read more »
We Are All Farmers Scholarships and Work Exchanges
We Are All Farmers offers scholarships and work exchanges for its fall Permaculture Design Course. The course is designed to educate participants about permaculture design, water, soils and more. Read more »
Carolina in the News
Check out the recent media mentions of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:
Water Is On Our Minds, Op-Ed by Peter A. Coclanis, Distinguished Professor of history and Director of the Global Research Institute at Carolina
The News & Observer
With all the other problems the world is facing, it might seem strange to some that UNC-Chapel Hill recently selected water for its first pan-university research and teaching theme. For the next two years students, faculty and staff from all over campus will be exploring various and sundry issues relating to H20 here, there, and everywhere whether in the present, future or past. Many experts agree that issues relating to water will be among the most prominent we will face in coming decades, with many viewing water as the new oil. Read more »
Thanks to UNC News Services for finding this great story and compiling the summary! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at http://uncnews.unc.edu.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
Summer heat wilting your plants? The next time you take a shower, use a bucket to collect clean excess water instead of letting it go down the drain. Water your plants with it later. For more water-saving tips, visit http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve.
“Coal: A Love Story” Team Wins Award for Environmental Reporting
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication team received a $5,000 Grantham Award of Special Merit. The environmental interactive series explores the role of coal-based power in America and its impact on society. Read more »
Professor Develops Same-Day Water-Quality Test
The test created by Rachel Noble, professor at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City, dramatically reduces the time needed to detect E. coli in water samples. The DNA-based test allows for same-day recreational water management decisions which protect public health and safety. Read more »
North Carolina Senate-Approved Fracking Bill Sent to Gov. Bev Perdue
Fracking, short for “hydraulic fracturing,” is a natural gas extraction process that involves injecting chemical fluids at high velocity into wells to release pockets of natural gas. Environmental groups are concerned that fracking processes could contaminate water supply, contribute to land degradation, and decrease air quality. The governor has 10 days to consider a veto from the time she receives a formalized version of the bill. Read more »
Berkeley Leads the Way in Reducing Plastics Waste
The University of California at Berkeley recently became the first university to join the Plastic Disclosure Project (PDP). Berkeley will calculate its “plastic footprint,” identifying and tracing plastics in the waste stream. The project will help students and staff identify strategies to reduce plastic waste. Read more »
Local Car Center Earns First Triangle Hybrid Certification
Also Green Plus Certified, the Chapel Hill Tire Car Care Center is the first certified Hybrid/Electric Vehicle repair shop in the Triangle. Read more »
Carolina in the News
Check out the recent media mentions of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:
North Carolina to Sea Level Rise: Go Away
Discovery News
...The problem with all of this, of course, is that predictions of future sea-level rise are neither linear nor consistent with historic trends, as John Bruno of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill points out in a post on his blog, Sea Monster. Bruno notes that "sea level fluctuates naturally by 10s to 100s of meters but has been relatively stable for the last few thousand years," that "greenhouse gas emissions are causing sea level to rise via 'thermal expansion' (warming a liquid increases its volume) and by melting mountain glaciers," and that "the rate of sea level rise appears to be accelerating, i.e., non-linear." Read more »
Smart People Discover Water, and That Could Kick-Start the Blue Revolution
National Geographic
Across the U.S., three major research universities have decided that we need big leaps of progress in water — in water technology, water access, and water management. Those three universities — the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Cal State Fresno, and Michigan State — think they can make a difference. Carolina is about to embark on a two-year campus-wide focus on water issues. The intent is for every school and department to focus on water issues — undergraduates, medical and public health researchers, environmental scientists, law school and public policy folks. Read more »
Orange County Calls Transit-Tax Referendum
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
Orange County Commissioners on a divided vote recently agreed to call a November referendum to decide on a half-percent sales-tax surcharge to support public transit. Critics of the rail plan said it’s geared toward Chapel Hill and even more specifically to the needs of people who need to travel between UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University. Read more »
UNC System Wins $28.6 Million Grant
Triangle Business Journal
The University of North Carolina system has received a $28.6-million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The money will be used to prepare students for post-secondary education. The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) targets low-income communities and will help prepare some 22,000 for college. Read more »
A New Leaf: New Catalyst Boosts Artificial Photosynthesis as a Solar Alternative to Fossil Fuel
Scientific American
Scientists have found a single catalyst for artificial photosynthesis that could create storable solar energy in a liquid or gaseous form that replaces or supplements fossil fuels for transportation or electricity generation. Thomas Meyer, a chemist at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and director of its Energy Frontier Research Center in solar fuels, led this potentially big practical breakthrough by finding the first artificial photosynthesis process with a single catalyst. Read more »
Thanks to UNC News Services for finding these great stories and compiling the summaries! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at http://uncnews.unc.edu.
*Sustainable Sandhills Sustainability Manager* Job- NC
Sustainable Sandhills is hiring a recent graduate for its Sustainability Manager position. Read more »
City of Charlotte Engineering Project Manager Job- NC
The City of Charlotte is seeking an Engineering Project Manager for its Storm Water Services Team. Read more »
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine Internship- DC
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) is seeking a Food for Life Marketing Intern. Read more »
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
UNC SOG Project Director Job- NC
The School of Government at UNC-Chapel Hill is hiring a Project Director for its Development Finance Initiative. Read more »
Duke Nicholas School Program Assistant Job- NC
The Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University is recruiting a Program Assistant for the Duke Environmental Leadership Program.
Carolina in the News
Check out the recent media mentions of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:
The Huffington Post
I admit it, I was doubtful at first — college students providing quality training and financing services to under-served small businesses surrounding their campus communities? Groups led by students from Yale, Rutgers, Brown and UNC-Chapel Hill were quickly learning the ropes, and providing some innovative services and financial products. Read more »
Watching Our Wasteline: Get Ready for Spring Cleaning
The Chapel Hill Herald
Amy Preble of the UNC Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling reports a successful end-of-year student move out. Carolina partnered with Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers (TROSA), based in Durham, to recover the housewares, furniture, clothing, carpeting, and other usable discards from students moving out of dormitories and other on-campus facilities like the graduate student housing at Odom Village. Read more »
Second Phase of Carolina North Ductbank Project Begins
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
Construction began June 5 on the second phase of the utility ductbank that will eventually provide service to the complex of UNC-Chapel Hill buildings along Airport Drive. Over the next six months, Carolina Conduit Systems construction crews will install the ductbank in the cleared corridor on UNC's Carolina North property. Read more »
UNC Professor Gets Grants to Study Poverty Relief Policies
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
UNC-Chapel Hill public policy professor Ashu Handa has won two research grants, each worth $634,000 over two years, to evaluate social cash transfer programs in Malawi and Zimbabwe. The grants were awarded by the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation, an organization devoted to improving lives in low- and middle-income countries through better policies, programs, and projects based on results from impact studies. Read more »
Improved but Not Always Safe: Despite Global Efforts, More Than 1 Billion People Likely at Risk for Lack of Clean Water
Scientific American
The United Nations recently reached an important goal to provide improved drinking water to two billion more people by 2015 than had access to it in 1990. However, a group of researchers at the Gillings School of Global Public Health's Water Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that significantly more work is required to provide safe water access to those in need. Read more »
Thanks to UNC News Services for finding these great stories AND compiling the summaries! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at http://uncnews.unc.edu.
Lincoln Harris Sustainability Manager Job- NC
Lincoln Harris is hiring a Sustainability Manager. Read more »
Environment NC Field Associate Job- NC
Environment North Carolina is hiring recent graduates to serve as Field Associates. Read more »
NC AIDS Action Network Communications Job- NC
The North Carolina AIDS Action Network is looking for a Communications Program Coordinator. Read more »
EDF Program Associate Job- NC
The Environmental Defense Fund is hiring a Program Associate for its Energy Efficiency Program. Read more »
Argand Energy Solar Sales Job- NC
Argand Energy is hiring a Solar Energy Sales Professional. Read more »
Ameresco Engineering Assistant Job- NC
Ameresco, an energy efficiency and renewable energy company, is hiring an Engineering Assistant. Read more »
GWU Sustainability Director Job- DC
George Washington University is hiring an Executive Director for Sustainability. Read more »
Ursinus Sustainability Coordinator Job- PA
Ursinus College is looking for a Sustainability Program Coordinator. Read more »
Prairie State College Sustainability Coordinator Job- IL
Prairie State College is seeking a Sustainability Coordinator. Read more »
Augustana Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Job- IL
Augustana College is looking for a Director of the Upper Mississippi River Center and Assistant/Associate Professor of Environmental Studies. Read more »
DePauw U. Assistant Director of Sustainability Job- IN
DePauw University is looking for an Assistant Director of Sustainability. Read more »
Walmart Sustainability Manager Job- AR
Walmart is hiring two Senior Sustainability Managers. Read more »
Colorado State Assistant Professor of Natural Resources Job- CO
Colorado State University is hiring an Assistant Professor of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. Read more »
Montana State Sustainability Energy Instructor Job- MT
Montana State University at Billings is looking for a Sustainable Energy Technician Instructor. Read more »
Appalachian State Earns Gold STARS in National Sustainability Assessment
Appalachian State University earned a Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) is a transparent, self-reporting tool for colleges and universities to measure sustainability progress in education and research, operations, and planning, administration, and engagement. Appalachian State received points for water conservation initiatives, integrating a commitment to sustainability within the school’s strategic plan, and facilitating socially and environmentally-responsible investments. Appalachian State joins three other University of North Carolina institutions participating in STARS, including UNC-Chapel Hill, which earned a Silver rating in 2011. Read more »
Marymount U. Sustainability Director Job- CA
Marymount University is hiring a Director of Sustainability. Read more »
Atmospheric CO2 Levels Reach 400ppm
The world's air has reached what scientists call a troubling new milestone for carbon dioxide (CO2), the main global warming pollutant. The concentration of CO2 in the arctic reached 400 parts per million (ppm) this spring, according to NOAA measurements, the first time a monthly average measurement for the greenhouse gas attained the 400 ppm mark in a remote location. CO2, emitted by fossil fuel combustion and other human activities, is the most significant greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. Read more »
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