ASG promotes sustainability through new president’s platform

By April 21, 2010

By Bailey Elise McBride

The new Associated Student Government executives were elected on a platform full of ideas for campus, many of which encourage students to help make the campus more sustainable.

ASG President-Elect Billy Fleming said he will continue to push many of the initiatives he began as ASG director of sustainability this year.

“(Sustainability) is an important topic in general,” Fleming said. “In this generation, we’ve lived beyond our means for so long, and we really can’t afford to not know the repercussions of our actions.”

Fleming and Vice President-Elect Emily Evans hope to continue to work on the Paperless Initiative in classrooms on campus, as well as promote the sustainability minor on campus.

A big initiative that the ASG will push next year will be increasing the alternative transportation methods on campus through multiple means, including installing more bike racks, making the campus more walkable and increasing the number of buses providing public transportation to campus.

Another big issue the ASG will take on will be holding the administration accountable for its commitment to the Climate Action Plan.

“More than anything, we need to get the information out there,” Evans said. 

“There has to be a culture change on campus.”

  • Jeremy

    “we really can’t afford to not know the repercussions of our actions” Does this mean we don’t know now and if so how can you know we are living beyond our means? If it is a justification somehow of other people knowing, how do you know in the first place?

    “Another big issue the ASG will take on will be holding the administration accountable for its commitment to the Climate Action Plan.” What is its commitment and why are you holding them to it?

  • Billy Fleming

    Hey Jeremy,

    “Does this mean we don’t know now and if so how can you know we are living beyond our means? If it is a justification somehow of other people knowing, how do you know in the first place”?

    This statement speaks to the general lack of knowledge most people have regarding carrying capacity, transgression/regression cycles vs. man-made climate change, and a variety of implicit CO2 metrics of evaluation like Life Cycle Assessment, Abatement costs, etc. So yes, there are plenty of people who know and understand the repercussions of individual and societal actions on the planet as a whole. However, until this becomes common knowledge for every citizen on this campus (and probably in the world) we are in big trouble. That is why a large focus of ASG’s Sustainability efforts next year will be on educational outreach.

    “What is its commitment and why are you holding them to it”?

    The Climate Action Plan is a large document outlining the University’s path to carbon neutrality over the next few decades. It is a combination of technological innovation, behavioral change, and offset purchases. It can be found in its entirety at sustainability.uark.edu. The content of this document was derived from work by the UA’s Sustainability Guru, Nick Brown, and from proposals taken from the Students F1rst competition last year. Since the committee that makes formal recommendations on this document is chaired by a student, we see this as an opportunity to ensure the University implements the Climate Action Plan. Our senate recently passed a resolution calling for this board to begin goal-setting, planning, and identifying funding for the programs listed in the Climate Action Plan that are outlined to begin in the next 2 years. This is an important step, as this document was approved by our Chancellor and submitted to several national clearinghouse organizations that measure University Sustainability efforts.

    I realize that’s a rather long answer, but if you have any other questions please feel free to email me. Thanks!

    Billy Fleming
    wflemin@uark.edu
    ASG Director of Sustainability
    ASG President-Elect

  • Jeremy

    I am rather appreciative of long (by which I mean thorough) substantive answers as this seems to be. I expect such from those I agree or disagree with. Before I jump in to my response to some of what you said, I’m glad you answered. The story was not clear at all on these points.

    To the substance. A causal link has been established between air pollution and various health maladies which is why I support restrictive action in that arena. A causal link has been established (although not as extensively) between water impurities (that we have caused) and some health maladies which is why I support restrictive action in that arena. That said, I disagree with your general statement “there are plenty of people who know and understand the repercussions of individual and societal actions on the planet as a whole” because of how grossly generalized it is. Given the length (relatively short given the complexity of the subject) of your comment, I will take it as accommodative. I disagree because a causal link has not been established between CO2 levels and global temperature. As such, until it has, I don’t support restrictive action in that arena. Also, it has not been established that a warmer or cooler global temperature would be better or worse. I’ve heard cases for all the four possible ways, none of them complete or compelling. I disagree that we even have the ability at this point to quantitatively or qualitatively assess the effects of climate change.

    In short, we know climate changes, but that doesn’t mean we understand it enough to see the true extent and how our actions affect that ongoing process, let alone set a target for how we want our climate to be and then deliberately reach that target, let alone know what target is better, let alone best. Or to apply it to your list… Transgression/regression–anthropogenic climate change: We do not have the ability to know or have not demonstrated it. Life Cycle Assessment: We do not have the ability to know or have not demonstrated it.

    That’s my two cents (which incidentally can power my Reveal GE CFL continuously for twenty hours and my LED night light for a year).

    That said, given what you believe, your actions make perfect sense and, consequently, I support you acting on them in the way you are even if I disagree with what appears to be your overall premise and the expected effects if you succeed in getting the University to abide by its commitments. In other words, I support people doing what they think is right, especially when they have looked in to what is right even if they are wrong. I am also pleased that you took the time to clarify the vagueness of this article. You were very informative and to the point.