The College of Wooster is working to create a five-year sustainability plan this year. What might that look like? How is it happening? Most importantly, why are we doing it? This last question needs to be addressed before any consideration of the first two.
Sustainability literally means the ability to maintain a system at a particular level, without compromising the ability of future generations to also utilize that system. If we are using the earth’s resources faster than they can be replenished (and we are), that is unsustainable. Sustainability doesn’t just consider natural resources, though; it is also concerned with social and economic relations. Are we living in a society in which some people are unable to meet their basic needs or to earn a living? (Also yes.) That, too, is unsustainable.
We need to address these issues as an institution, and we need to address them now. The urgency is highlighted by the recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which reported that extreme climate changes are likely to arrive more quickly than previously expected and certainly within our lifetimes. These changes, if the status quo continues, will not only lead to the death of many species (including all the coral reefs), but also significant impacts on humans, such as mass displacements, food insecurity, increased exposure to disease and extreme weather events such as major storms, droughts, floods and wildfires. It doesn’t take much reflection to see that this will threaten physical and mental health as well as interfering with economic development and contributing to social conflict.
Change is essential and possible. We need change at the college level for both practical and symbolic reasons. Practically, changing College practices clearly has the potential for greater impact than any changes we can make as individuals. Moreover, college changes can have a multiplicative effect. Since many organizations are trying to reduce their environmental impact, changes at The College of Wooster could be copied by other institutions. Also, if students learn certain practices at college, they may take those practices and the underlying values with them when they move on to the next stage of their lives.
Symbolically, changing college practices is required for us to fulfill the values reflected in our mission statement: “To prepare students to become leaders of character and influence in an interdependent global community … to ask important questions, research complex issues, solve problems and communicate new knowledge and insight.” A Wooster education requires recognizing our role within a global society and taking responsibility for addressing global problems. How can we ask students to do this as citizens if we can’t even do it on our own campus? How can we ask students to value diversity and inclusion if we are unconcerned about the devastating effects of climate change on those who are worst off?
Of course, if the problem were easy, it would have been solved already. To create a plan, the sustainability committee will get information and input from multiple sources in order to identify the steps the College can take that are most feasible and will have the most significant influence. We expect to recommend a number of changes, including technological changes, changes in College practices and importantly, behavioral changes. The sustainability plan will require each of us to take some responsibility for living up to the challenges we face as a global community. That’s how we put Wooster values into action.
Dr. Susan Clayton, a Contributing Writer for the Voice, can be reached for comment SClayton@wooster.edu.