October 11, 2000
Environmental Council Meeting Minutes
October 11, 2000
Le Chateau D
Chair: Nan Jenks-Jay
In attendance: Nan Jenks-Jay, Story Parker, Ben Wessler, Kathy Morse, Caitlin Hicks, Amy Seif, Krista Siringo, Pete Ryan, Katie Saunders, Eric Skovsted, Tom Kelly, Oren Frey, Jon Isham
Absent: Linda Pitkin, Carlos Lopez-Hollis, Charlie Sargent, George McPhail, Mike Snow
1. The meeting was called to order at 4:20 p.m.
2. The minutes from the October 4, 2000 meeting were approved. Two motions for approval are needed to approve the minutes. If Council members want to add to the minutes or make a change, they must make this known at this time.
3. Environmental Grant Program Update
Only one grant application has so far been received, and the deadline for applications is next Tuesday. If few applications have been submitted by the deadline, the Council will considering extending the deadline and doing mass advertising or having a rolling application.
4. Guest Speaker: Rich Wolfson
Professor Rich Wolfson of the Physics Department talked for fifteen minutes about the scientific findings on global climate change. The earth is getting warmer, and most of the top ten hottest years were in the 1990s. The steep climb in temperatures in recent years correlates with the rise in greenhouse gases. Rich gave an introduction to climate science and concluded that if it wasn't for the natural warming of the greenhouse effect, the earth would be very cold. If accelerated climate change causes a 2-3 degrees Celcius difference, we are "half way to an ice age" in the other direction, since there was only a 6-8 degree Celcius difference between now and the ice age. We are now at unprecedented levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and there is "no hope of not having significant global warming occur." At Middlebury, we create about 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from burning oil, and 42 percent of student vehicles are SUVs. Rich feels that the Council would have the most impact on greenhouse gas emissions by focusing on transportation, since the college already does a great job with energy efficiency.
5. Sub-Committee Membership
Committee Chairs are in Bold type.
A. Climate Change:
Charlie, George, Story, Linda, Pete, Amy, Mike, Katy
B. State of Environment Report:
Charlie, George, Caitlin, Kathy , Amy
C. Environmental Peak:
Krista, Ben, Pete , Eric, Jon, Nan
D. Events:
Oren, Story , Carlos
E. Grants:
Tom, Eric , Caitlin, Jon, Amy, Carlos
6. Other Business:
A. Diningware Collection: Oren suggested that the Council initiate a door-to-door collection of missing diningware in the residence halls. The students on Council will each take two hallways over the next few weeks, to test out if this collection system will be effective.
B. Building an Ecological Economy Conference: Mike Snow will attend the conference, with funding from the Environmental Council.
7. Sub-Committee Meetings:
The sub-committees met to determine the committee chairs. At the next Council meeting, time will be alloted for sub-committees to meet. The Events Committee will need to start organizing the Environmental Fair right away.
8. The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 pm.
Minutes respectively submitted by Amy Seif on October 13, 2000.