Sustainability spotlight

Graduate students propose climate plan for KU

Climate change may be a challenge of global proportions, but this spring a team of 12 graduate students took that challenge head-on by approaching it from a local perspective.

Students participating in “Energy, Ecology and Community in Kansas,” a collaboration between KU’s National Science Foundation-funded C-CHANGE IGERT program and the graduate program in urban planning, spent the spring semester learning firsthand about the impacts of climate change and strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, or GHGs.

The team started by completing a greenhouse gas inventory for the Lawrence campus, gathering data on emissions due to energy use, transportation and other sources. Not surprisingly, the inventory identified electricity as the largest contributor of emissions at KU.

“Our greatest challenge in reducing GHG emissions as a campus is addressing our source of electricity,” said Trish Jackson, a doctoral student in the Department of Geography and a C-CHANGE fellow. “Over half of our emissions are attributed to the coal burned at the Lawrence Power Plant.”

Based on the results of the inventory, the group developed recommendations for reducing campus GHGs, focusing on the greatest contributors to emissions: electricity, buildings and transportation. The result of their efforts is a preliminary report, “CAP KU: A Climate Action Plan for the University of Kansas,” which summarizes their GHG inventory and provides a basic framework for addressing KU's climate impacts. Their recommendations range from upgrading building standards to increasing energy awareness on campus and present opportunities for reducing operating costs at the university.

The report provides solid recommendations for reducing emissions, but the students admit this is only the first step in addressing the challenge of climate change.

“I believe the KU community wants to be good stewards of the environment, but it is often difficult to find a starting point,” said Joe Nickels, graduate student in urban planning. “Our climate plan provides diverse and progressive solutions that can inspire wide-spread action right here at KU.”

The group presented its findings and recommendations on May 7, and will issue a final report later this month. The presentation and report will be posted on the Center for Sustainability Web site.

Jeff Severin, director of the Center for Sustainability and a student in the course, said the center is committed to working with the campus community to advance this effort and develop a more comprehensive plan for addressing climate change at KU.

“KU has a significant role to play in addressing the challenges of global climate change, both through innovative research and improved operations,” he said. “We have an incredible opportunity to reduce our environmental impact while addressing our mission of education, research and service, but it will require input from the entire campus community.”

Creating a plan specific to KU was one of the goals of the group.

“It has been really exciting to see these students craft a plan that responds to strengths and needs of the University of Kansas,” said Stacey White, associate professor of urban planning and one of three instructors for the course. “While we have learned a lot from the efforts of schools that are striving for climate neutrality, the students ultimately wanted to develop a plan that fits KU’s mission.

In doing so, students in the course hope the CAP KU plan will provide a foundation for environmental action at KU.

“Ideally, through dialogue and innovation, this document will become an essential part of KU's future,” Nickels said. “Imagine if a project like this could positively influence KU's growth for decades to come. That would be the ultimate dream.”