This morning, at the Council on Competitiveness National Energy Summit, Georgetown University President John DeGioia appeared on a panel on “the Global Economic Development Opportunity”. As part of his comments, DeGioia laid out to the gathered business leaders Georgetown University’s three-part response to our energy and climate challenges (and opportunities) (GU’s Sustainability homepage).
- Institutional Agency: As a “business”, an institution, Georgetown University is tackling its own energy use. According to DeGioia, GU has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 16 percent over the past three years and will cut total emissions by at least 50% by2020. “This requires significant rethinking of processes and practices” within the institution(s). While technology plays a major part, behavior is a critical component — such as a strengthened recycling program. Now, opportunities are not necessarily immediately obvious. DeGioia pointed out that some 70% of GU’s progress is expected via one area: improving the efficiency of its power plant, notably for water chilling. But, opportunities also can be created — over the long term. GU’s largest academic building was constructed nearly 30 years ago — designed for incorporating solar panels (solar pv) when that would become a sensible option.
- University Community: When dealing with these challenges, a (perhaps) unique element is that this involves all elements of the University community. This is not just scientists, but there are legal, social, and other elements. Thus, turning the University community to incorporate energy and climate challenges/opportunities means breaking through and crossing stove-pipes, toward a whole of university approach. (See note below.)
- Preparing students: What, after all, are educational institutions about other than preparing their students for the future? Thus, the question before DeGioia: Is GU shaping students to help solve energy and climate challenges and seize the opportunities that these challenges create?
An interesting triology, certainly not unique to Georgetown, but a well-laid out discussion for the Council’s business audience.
DeGioia stepped forward thoughtfully, when given the opportunity, throughout this panel.
Q: What should governments do? (Actually, a more biased / pessimistic question from moderator Michael Hirsh, who provided a typically conservative economist bias to moderating: “Realistically, is there anything governments can do?)
A: Sustained R&D: For the past five decades, there has been a sustained R&D funding commitment to the life sciences. While the Stimulus package provided substantial funding for energy (related) R&D, welcomed by the academic community, the question before us: Will we build the same long-term commitment to green technology R&D funding?
Q: What do you wish to see from Copenhagen?
A: Putting aside specific targets, that we see agreement in three areas:
- That this problem cannot be solved by a business or a government working in isolation. We require collaborative solutions.
Note: A number of university presidents have spoken through these sessions, all of them providing valuable points into the discussion. A brief call out for Dr. Michael Crow for Arizona State University. ASU sustainability merits greater attention, imo, for its leadership role in not just creating a program in sustainability, but in incorporating sustainability elements increasingly throughout the entire University program.