Committed to climate change.

PRESIDENTS ARE COMBATING global warming by pledging to neutralize their campuses' greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, more than 300 U.S. colleges and universities are supporting the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment.

This action involves:

* Completing an emissions inventory.

* Within two years, setting a target date and interim milestones for becoming climate neutral.

* Taking immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by choosing from a list of short-term actions.

* Integrating sustainability into the curriculum and making it part of the educational experience.

* Making the action plan, inventory and progress reports publicly available.

Signatories run the gamut, from geographical location to student population.

The University of Vermont is raising its existing green building standards to the LEED Silver level or its equivalent for new construction and major renovations. Arizona State University has created a School of Sustainability, centering on environmental, economic, and social challenges. Los Angeles Community College District is installing solar panels on each of its campuses. University of Minnesota, Morris, is constructing a biomass gasification facility. New York University made an agreement to purchase wind power.

A collaborative effort between Second Nature, ecoAmerica and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, the Commitment emerged from an AASHE conference in October 2006 at Arizona State. Twelve presidents became the founding members of its Leadership Circle, and, last December, sent a letter to nearly 400 of their peers inviting them to join the initiative. The Commitment was launched publicly in June at a university presidents' leadership summit in Washington, D.C. Visit www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org.