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So it is understandable that sustainability is a top priority at the University of South Florida. This white paper focuses on the going green and sustainability efforts of the University of South Florida, Tampa. Although USF has made significant progress in the areas of recycling, energy efficiency, campus and building design, is this enough? We will begin our paper by providing various definitions of sustainability, the basis for USFs involvement in this going green movement, the universitys achievements, and their on-going activities. This will be followed by what USF can do in the future, both here and globally. When talk about green, we talk about sustainability. Why does the University care? Why should we care?
Table of Contents
What is Sustainability? University Commitment Local and Global Sustainability Programs Interview Question Interview Answers Global Current Events P. 4 P. 6 P. 8 P. 9 P. 10 P. 13
Conclusion
Works Cited
P. 15
P. 16
What is Sustainability?
When talk about green, we talk about sustainability. Why does the University care? Why should we care? Sustainability, as defined by the EPA, is policies and strategies that meet societys present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Wikipedia states that sustainability is the capacity to endure. The University of South Florida declares: Our definition of sustainability reflects what the UN and the World Wildlife Fund suggest as the process of improving the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting eco-systems. We use the definition where human, societal, environmental, material, and economic activities are fundamentally integrated dimensions that are mutually reinforcing." Most proponents of sustainability take it to mean the existence of the ecological conditions necessary to support human life at a specified level of well-being through future generations. (Lele) We care about sustainability because we are scholars and as scholars we are compelled to better our lives, our world, and our environment. We and our earth are facing some of the most challenging issues in the history of our civilization and yet we have no overall coordinated global plan on how to deal with them. We are struggling to develop, agree on a plan, or even one issue such as climate change.
University Commitment
I Have A Dream USF earns GOLD rating The University of South Florida earned a GOLD rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. USFs efforts to build and eco-friendly campus and to help advance research in sustainability has earned them an outstanding award, which gives the University pristine acknowledgement that it is heading in the right direction. In 2010 USF joined the rating program and submitted their first assessment for which the university received its very first gold stars. An accomplishment that helps the university recognize its strengths and weaknesses, The STARS system helps us track our sustainability efforts and allows us to find our weak spots E. Christian Wells (Madduexpress.com).
Interview Question
In regards to Sustainability, what do you think the university should do going forward? There are many programs in place. There is an Office of Sustainability, a Masters in Sustainability Program, and the Patel School of Global Sustainability. What is missing, if anything? Is the University on the right track? Can we improve?
Interview Answers
Have a sustainable, accountable, and transparent mechanism for engaging multiple stakeholders interested in making USF and the local communities more sustainable. Maya Trotz, PhD, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Kiran C. Patel Center for Global Solutions University of South Florida
Conclusion
The University of South Florida has made numerous contributions and advancements toward ecological sustainability. The University of South Florida may or may not have some serious work to do. Far too many people lead miserable lives because they lack the most basic necessities to deal with hunger, thirst, shelter, disease or disability. USF has made many programs that have taken the initiative to help local communities and even other countries become sustainable, but there are other countries that still need help. In addition, the prosperity currently enjoyed by many of us may not be taken for granted in the future. The projects that USF has won have made a tremendous impact on the campuss sustainability program. There will be some hard choices and some lines of research will probably need to be pursued at the expense of others. Industry should change and adopt new strategies. And we as a society should accept and foster that change. The change that USF has made towards sustainability has played a crucial part in the changes that USF has implemented on and off of their campuses. The evolution of technology, industry, and society is a complex process full of feedback mechanisms and surprises. Its vital that we understand the most promising ways to facilitate the necessary changes of direction. (Van Santen)
Works Cited
Chachere, Vickie. "Problems in Paradise." 10 June 2011. University of South Florida NEWS. 15 June 2011 <http://news.usf.edu/article/templates/?a=3492&z=158>. Chambers, Ian, and John Humble. Developing a plan for the planet: a business plan for sustainable living. Surrey, UK: MPG Books Group: 2011. 6-7. Print. "Sustainability Gold." 7 February 2011. University of South Florida News. 8 June 2011 <http://news.usf.edu/article/templates/?a=3116>. The University of South Florida. The Office of Sustainability. n.d. 8 June 2011 <http://usfweb2.usf.edu/Sustainability/>. USF: UNSTOPPABLE. n.d. 8 June 2011 <http://usfweb3.usf.edu/unstoppable/impact.aspx>. Van Santen, Rutger, Djan Khoe, and Bran Vermeer. 2030: Technology that will change the world. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010. 259-260. Print.