By Joyce Kryszak
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-778368.mp3
Buffalo, NY – UB began the hard work Tuesday of making good on its pledge to become climate neutral. The first of three forums was held at the student union to work out details of the sustainability plan. More than 200 UB students, faculty and staff have enlisted to help the university come up with a plan over the next year that will help UB achieve climate neutrality. It's a tough task. The plan will have to include concrete ways UB will reach that goal by a set target date. And the issues are many.
UB Urban Design Director Robert Shibley is heading the planning effort. The university president pledged to a college climate organization that UB would become climate neutral along with 580 other universities across the country. But Shibley says it's clear from the first forum that the UB community wants to do more than eliminate carbon emissions.
The plan is due next September and is required to include a target date for when universities will meet their goals. Shibley says it's a tall order. But he says it's the right thing to do.
Shibley says that UB was one of the first universities to commit to climate neutrality. Principals of the sustainability plan will also be embedded in UB's master plan for growth.
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