Image courtesy of Hofstra University
Hofstra’s Student Government Association (SGA), headed by President Kathryn Harley and Vice President Kaylor Dimes, released a resolution in 2019 titled “A Resolution to Detail Student Government Association’s Demands Pertaining to Hofstra University Transitioning to Carbon Neutrality in its Transportation and Energy Systems.”
The resolution brought into view the impacts of climate change and how the University may be able to better combat its effects on the global climate disaster by employing carbon neutral efforts.
“It’s exciting to see Senate take a stance like this,” said Alexa Osner, the SGA Equity and Inclusion Chair. “As students, it’s an important issue that needs action to be taken. As senators, we understand that this is something the student body wants as well. We hope to continue this momentum and begin conversations about how this plan will be implemented here at Hofstra.”
“It’s very reassuring to me to hear that SGA is taking action, especially since there have been talks of sustainability at Hofstra in the past [that] have never really gotten off the ground,” said Ally Miller, a sophomore in the physician assistant program.
SGA also hopes for Hofstra “to reach carbon neutrality under the three scopes defined under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol of Second Nature,” and asks this to be completed by January 1, 2036. The resolution also takes into consideration some of the long-term economic incentives that would benefit the institution and the impact this would have on students staying on campus, as well as those who want to attend the University in the future.
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol of Second Nature, mentioned in the resolution as a plan for switching to carbon neutral energy and transportation methods, “sets the standards to measure and manage [greenhouse gas] emissions,” according to their website at ghgprotocol.com. The protocol seeks to minimize emissions and further improve the energy use and output by institutions that heavily impacts their surrounding areas.
In a statement, the University wrote that Hofstra is “committed to sustainability and stewardship, through academic programs, research projects and the Office of Sustainability, as well as its membership in the national Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
“Due to its size, power and purpose,” the resolution says, “SGA compels Hofstra University … to be an active leader in the fight against ecological and climate catastrophe and, through its actions, reflect the world that is necessary for its students to live in safety, health and prosperity.”
With a campus of 244 acres and an enrollment of 10,804 total students as of Fall 2019, according to the University website, Hofstra is large in many ways, including in influence. “I’ve seen big universities trying to do their part with the environment and knowing how big Hofstra is and that we’re an arboretum, we can definitely become carbon neutral and introduce stuff like that. Even starting to work toward it would have a really big impact, even if they don’t reach it [as soon as possible],” said Michelle Williams, a junior neuroscience major.
“I am hopeful that this resolution is just the start of a more sustainable campus,” Miller said, “and that it will promote more meaningful change as students get more inspired to do their part to slow climate change.”
“Through education, outreach and service, working closely with various groups on- and off- campus, the University fosters innovation and strives to be a model for environmental sustainability,” the University wrote in a statement. “We look forward to continuing our collaborations and conversations with students, faculty and the community to contribute to building a clean, just and responsible global environment.”
