Ecologue

 

A national pledge has made its way to the City of Corvallis where the mayor and Oregon State President have vowed, “We Are Still In”. This pledge supporting national climate action has been signed by thousands all over the country. This all comes after the June 1 announcement from President Donald Trump that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord.

Oregon State is not new to sustainability and climate change research. “Improving the environment and addressing climate change are longstanding priorities and initiatives of the university”, says President Ed Ray. He continued, “the university is a front-runner in academically understanding and measuring climate change, including research efforts to develop renewable and low-carbon sources of energy, such as wave, wind, nuclear and solar energy systems.”

In 2007 the University committed to ending carbon emissions by signing the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. Since then, per student carbon emissions at the university have decreased annually by 38%.This will continue to be a priority to the university. There is even a sustainability officer which students can contact specifically to see how they can decrease their carbon emissions.

For the City of Corvallis, Mayor Biff Traber said the city will work towards reduction goals that the city had already previously outlined. One of the main goals is lowering annual greenhouse has emissions by 3.2%  which aligns with those goals put by the Paris accord. In addition the city plans to improve energy conservation and efficiency, to promote electric vehicle use, to conserve water, reduce waste, and expand public transit

Some Oregon officials who have also signed include Governor Kate Brown and Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenberg. Oregon businesses that have vowed they are still in are Intel, Nike, Deschutes Brewery, KEEN, Inc., Portland General Electric and Columbia Sportswear. In total it has been signed by over 125 cities, 9 states, 902 businesses and investors, and 183 colleges and universities, all which represent $6.2 trillion of the U.S. economy.