Centre joins higher education leaders to improve the environment

RELEASED: August 23, 2007

DANVILLE, KY—Centre College recently committed to reducing its carbon emissions with President John Roush's signing of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). He joins higher education leaders of more than 300 other institutions across the country in endorsing the goals of this pact.

Under provisions of the ACUPCC, Centre and other member institutions will work toward creating a comprehensive institutional action plan moving toward climate neutrality. The plan includes adopting green standards for buildings, enhancing Energy Star certification for products purchased by the College and offsetting emissions due to travel.

"I am delighted to have Centre College be a charter signatory in the Presidents Climate Commitment," Roush said. "This is a matter of personal interest to me and a program in which I believe the College can assume a leadership position in the region. The ACUPCC is not to be viewed as a series of rules and regulations, but rather a call to do what is environmentally conscious within the context of what is right and possible for member institutions."

The Presidents Climate Commitment is the first such effort by any major sector of society to set climate neutrality--not just greenhouse gas reduction--as its target. It is inspired by efforts like the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, the U.S. Climate Action Partnership and other collective efforts by states and businesses.

ACUPCC addresses global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth's climate.

More information can be found at www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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