Getting A "Green" Start

Furman University has become a landmark for sustainability on a college campus
Furman University has become a landmark for sustainability on a college campus

In today’s day and age, the more we are educated on a topic, the better prepared we are to cope and adapt to that same topic in real world situations. Nothing adheres more to this train of thought than environmental issues. The Earth’s climate is an intricate and complex system that is constantly changing as time goes on. It is difficult to forecast the local weather more than ten days in advance, let alone outline the planet’s climate for the next thousand years. If we as a population are to be committed to changing our lifestyles to be more “green” and sustainable, a better understanding of environmental processes is crucial.

At Furman University, sustainability and environmental awareness has become one of the pillars of the liberal arts education offered. “Sustainability is defined as meeting humanity’s present needs while enriching the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The reason behind this drive for increased awareness is the need that we as a society have for more informed leaders. In constructing and implementing policy, both domestic and foreign, a solid foundation of fact and understanding must be utilized so that the policy is effective and efficient.

To form an opinion on the issues surrounding the environment and climate change, you must first know the issue at hand. Without facts, without real life examples, and without education from differing viewpoints, it is difficult, if not impossible to take a stance and go about implementing what you see as the appropriate course of action.

As this blog has progressed, we have discussed the  numerous policies passed and agreements made that are associated with the environment. But why? No matter what side of the debate you find yourself, keeping updated and informed on these environmental issues allows you to form well founded thought processes and make well informed decisions.

Furman Sustainability

Photos of Sustainability at Furman University

Copenhagen Summit

Outside site of Copenhagen Climate Conference
Outside site of Copenhagen Climate Conference

As climate change becomes an increasingly hot topic, the collective actions and decisions of the planet’s nations becomes crucial in the regards to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The UN Climate Change Conference 2009, also known as the Copenhagen Summit, is the most recent in a long list of climate related conferences.

  • The conference was held in Copenhagen, Denmark  in December of 2009
  • Included leaders from 193 nations
  • Individual nations determined their proposed emission cuts by the 2020
  • Failed to ratify a unified proposal to lower greenhouse gas emissions

Despite the individual promises made by the many nations whom were in attendance, the conference failed to construct an internationally binding deal that would assure the combined effort of nations to address the impending climate issue with any real conviction. The president of Friends of the Earth U.S., Erich Pica, called the accord “a sham agreement.” This failure is reminiscent of previous climate conference outcomes, such as the Kyoto Protocol, and it is evident that a distrust between nations led to the lack of power behind the Copenhagen Accord. The two largest emitters of greenhouse pollutants, the United States and the People’s Republic of China, both failed to come to terms on monitoring greenhouse emissions without assurances by the other that the accord would be respected.

If the world hopes to combat the many obstacles they face in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it is important that there are not only incentives, but also strict and enforced penalties that occur in the breaking of the set guidelines. While the efforts of individual nations is commendable, for a full effect, the effort must be global.

Implications of U.S. Foreign Environmental Policy

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One of the most pressing issues being discussed in the world today is global climate change. As a leading superpower, the United States plays an integral role in how foreign environmental policy is enacted and the effectiveness of those regulations. By examining the specific regulations and proposed outcomes of both U.S. foreign policy as well as environmental diplomacy that the U.S. partakes in I will address the effects, both direct and indirect, environmental and economic, of those policies. I will use the determined effects and outcomes to decipher  the pros and cons of following through or complying with such a policy on the global and national level. To research these aspects I will interview Furman professors who are well versed in environmental issues as well as researching the scientific and economic data that accompanies environmental policy on well respected climatologist websites and articles.