UPPER MONTCLAIR, N. J. -- In an historic signing, Dr. Susan A. Cole, president of Montclair State University, joined with the presidents of all 56 New Jersey colleges and universities to endorse a Sustainability Greenhouse Gas Action Plan that calls for a 3.5 percent reduction in the state's greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2005.
Developed by the state Department of Environmental Protection, the plan is the nation's first to establish reduction goals for greenhouse gas emissions.
The action commits its signers to the implementation of "voluntary programs and initiatives to accomplish the core goal of the Plan, a 3.5 percent reduction in New Jersey greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by the year 2005." The 56 educational institutions join 13 other New Jersey organizations and businesses that have similarly pledged to help implement the plan (see: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/gcc/gcc.htm).
"The signing of this landmark bill indicates the depth of our commitment to a clean and healthy environment," Dr. Cole said. "It is a giant step in ensuring New Jersey residents that our future will be bright, and it is also a marvelous example of what our forces -- united for the common good -- can achieve."
"Because of its foresight, the endorsement of the DEP plan by 56 college presidents is a milestone in the history of New Jersey higher education," said Dr. Donald Wheeler, president of the New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability Wheeler. "This action will serve as a model for the nation."
NJHEPS presented the Council with a resolution calling for support of the DEP plan that the presidents then voted to endorse. Subsequent to this, the 56 presidents individually signed a "Covenant of Sustainability" committing their respective institutions to the plan.
New Jersey's action plan calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by about 20 million tons (from the projected 151 million tons in 2005 to the goal of 131 million tons by that date) through initiatives in five areas: energy conservation, pollution prevention, innovative technologies, recycling and solid waste management and natural resource protection. If nothing is done, emissions are projected to rise 6 percent annually.
Specifically, the plan would achieve a 6.2 million ton reduction through energy conservation initiatives in residential, commercial and industrial buildings, another 6.3 million ton reduction through innovative technologies in residential, commercial and industrial buildings, a 2.2 million ton reduction through energy conservation and innovative technologies in the transportation sector, a 4.5 million ton reduction through waste management improvements, and a half-million ton reduction through natural resource conservation.
NJHEPS is a coalition of 15 New Jersey campuses promoting sustainability.
College and University presidents who signed the New Jersey Sustainability Greenhouse Gas Initiative are:
Dr. Susan A. Cole, Montclair State University
Dr. J. Michael Adams, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Mr. William F. Anderson, Gloucester County College
Dr. Ronald L. Applbaum, Kean University
Dr. W. Sherrill Babb, Philadelphia Biblical University, NJ Campus
Dr. John J. Bakum, Middlesex County College
Dr. Peter F. Burnham, Brookdale Community College
Mr. Robert M. Bocchino, DeVry Institute
Dr. Stephanie M. Bennett-Smith, Centenary College
Dr. Thomas H. Brown, Union County College
Dr. Alice Chandler, Ramapo College of New Jersey
Dr. Peter B. Contini, Salem Community College
Dr. Stuart D. Cook, University of Medicine and Dentistry of N.J.
Dr. Phyllis DellaVecchia, Camden County College
Dr. Vincent DeSanctis, Warren County Community College
Dr. Kenneth L. Ender, Cumberland County College
Dr. Vera King Farris, The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
Dr. Donald J. Farrish, Rowan University
Dr. Saul K. Fenster, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Dr. Glen E. Gabert, Hudson County Community College
Dr. Thomas W. Gillespie , Princeton Theological Seminary
Dr. R. Barbara Gitenstein, The College of New Jersey
Dr. Bradley M. Gottfried, Sussex County Community College
Mrs. Mary Jo Greco, Gibbs College
Rabbi Moshe Herson, Rabbinical College of America
Sr. Julitta Heinen, Assumption College for Sisters
Dr. Carlos Hernandez, New Jersey City University
Rev. Dr. Norman J. Kansfield, New Brunswick Theological Seminary
Rabbi Aaron Kotler, Beth Medrash Govoha
Hon. Thomas H. Kean, Drew University
Dr. Jon H. Larson, Ocean County College
Dr. Francis L. Lawrence, Rutgers University
Fr. James N. Loughran, S.J., St. PeterŐs College
Dr. J. Barton Luedeke, Rider University
Mr. Kevin Luing, Berkeley College
Sr. Theresa Mary Martin, Felician College
Dr. John T. May, Atlantic Cape Community College
Dr. Robert C. Messina, Jr., Burlington County College
Dr. John F. Noonan, Bloomfield College
Mr. Eric M. Perkins, Mercer County Community College
Dr. George A. Pruitt, Thomas Edison State College
Sr. Francis Raftery, S.C., College of St. Elizabeth
Dr. Harold J. Raveche, Stevens Institute of Technology
Dr. Steven M. Rose, Passaic County Community College
Dr. G. Jeremiah Ryan, Raritan Valley Community College
Rabbi Yeruchim Shain, Talmudical Academy
Dr. Harold T. Shapiro, Princeton University
Msgr. Robert T. Sheeran, Seton Hall University
Dr. Arnold Speert, William Paterson University
Dr. Rebecca Stafford, Monmouth University
Dr. Louis C. Vaccaro, Georgian Court College
Rabbi Yitzchok Weintraub, Rabbi Jacob Joseph School
Sr. Patrice Werner, OP, Caldwell College
Dr. Judith K. Winn, Bergen Community College
Dr. A. Zachery Yamba, Essex County College
Dr. Edward J. Yaw, County College of Morris
MSU is New Jersey's largest comprehensive university and second largest institution of higher education in the state. It offers the advantages of a large university -- a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum with a global focus, a broad variety of superior graduate programs, and a diverse faculty and student body -- combined with a small college's attention to students.
MSU is located at the intersection of Valley Road and Normal Avenue in Upper Montclair. The campus is one mile south of the junction of routes 3 and 46, 14 miles west of New York City.
More information on the University is available on its website: www.montclair.edu.
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