In fall of 2022, Professor Julia Berazneva’s Climate Change Economics class (ECON 0365) put out a survey about attitudes on campus towards climate change and potential policies the school could adopt. The survey had 1,265 total respondents including 350 faculty and staff members.
Middlebury joins hundreds of educational institutions around the world (in more than 50 countries and most US states) in the World Wide Teach-In on Climate and Justice on and around March 29, 2023. This will continue ongoing campus-wide conversations and engage students, faculty, and staff as we grapple with a time of planetary crisis and transformation.
Climate Change touches everything, but it can be hard to know how to match your interests, skills, and passions up as you consider your career.
This two-day UpNext: Climate Careers program seeks to demystify the many existing and developing climate careers and sectors. The event is open to all students in all majors.
To re-watch the live stream of the event, follow this link.
Four years ago Middlebury launched the Energy2028 initiative to address the growing threat of climate change. One of the major goals presented in the project was to reduce energy consumption by 25%, and, as of last year, the college had decreased usage by 10%.
Now, the college seeks to further reduce consumption by continuing to refit new LED lights around campus, starting with Bicentennial Hall (BiHall). This new project is expected to begin on May 24 with a planned completion date of Aug. 18.
What are the global limits to sustainable growth and development? Can we stay within them and how? Join a special evening of reflection on our common future, insights gained from a landmark publication, and a celebration of the life and wisdom of Donella Meadows, a beloved pioneer in the effort to heal our planet.
The program includes special guests Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Co-President of The Club of Rome, which published an early call to action with “The Limits to Growth” in 1972 and an update in 2022; Bill McKibben, Schumann Distinguished Scholar in Residence at Franklin Environmental Center, and an introduction by Middlebury’s President Laurie Patton. Students Olivia Reposa ’24 and Dylan Taylor ‘24 will moderate the Q&A.
This summer, MiddLab worked with Jack Byrne (Dean of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability; Director of Franklin Environmental Center) and two interns from the Sustainability Solutions Lab (Emily Hogan ‘24 and Oscar DeFrancis ’24.5) to create a codebook for the extensive Greenhouse Gas Inventory (GHGI) dataset that the institution has been developing and using to track emissions at the institution since 2007.
We write today with a progress update on Energy2028, Middlebury’s 10-year sustainability initiative, which was first announced in 2019. Look for more frequent updates on Energy2028 in the coming months.