I think there is reasonable concern amoung University community members that things like the PCC create substantive, impactful changes. By having Universities agree to implement timetables and appropriate institutional structures to assess and create progress, thereby making this something that does not appeal to a school looking for a greenwashing opportunity. The Clinton Climate Initiative has teamed up with the PCC to provide 5 billion (yes, 5 Billion!) dollars for energy conservation retrofits. This funding has been made available to PCC signatories.

Anyone who thinks carbon neutrality is unrealistic or impossible lacks vision and ambition. If we (in this case you, Cal Poly) can’t get up the gumption to pursue it as a University, how can we approach it in the slightest as a society? Big ups to Neil Bulger and the green club in San Luis Obispo.

Matt Harmin
University of Kentucky