Written by: Andrea Eder/Contributing Writer
Aubrey Burgess grew up aware of climate change. She was shocked after learning about the melting of Arctic ice caps.
“I wasn’t aware of how extreme the arctic ice was melting and how gross and dirty it has become due to pollution,” said Burgess, Office of Sustainability assistant.
To learn how to make more sustainable choices and to live in a more eco-friendly environment, the Office of University Sustainability is hosting Campus Sustainability Day. The event will take place at the main campus in both the Graham Center and the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs.
According to Burgess, the goal of the event is to help people to think about how actions affect the environment and the people in it.
“Our event is to educate students on campus sustainability and how students can reduce their carbon footprint by making greener choices.”
The linear rate of decline for September Arctic ice extent is 13.4 percent per decade, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. The nine lowest September ice extents have occurred in the last nine years.
According to Burgess, encouraging people to make greener choices is what this event is all about.
The Green Office program will have different activities where students and faculty can participate and learn how to be eco-friendly.
Some activities, such as a prize wheel, will award players if they answer questions correctly about sustainability, climate change and sea level rise. Free highlighters, pens and sunglasses will also be distributed.
“Our goal as the Office of University Sustainability is to spearhead green initiatives on campus and to make it easy for students and staff to make greener choices,” said Burgess.
“We have included many activities as to peak students’ interests and to encourage them to come check out our tables and see what we are all about.”
The Green Office program will also provide tips for students on how to reduce their carbon footprint, which is the amount of carbon dioxide released from home energy, transportation and waste. There will also be climate experts who will answer questions about the environment and climate change.
The Office of University Sustainability will screen a film called, “Chasing Ice.” The award-winning documentary talks about climate change, specifically in the Arctic.
The film takes a deeper look into the changing landscapes of the Arctic. Sea Level Solutions Center director Tiffany Troxler will also speak at the Modesto A. Maidique Campus to answer questions related to the film.
“I personally hope that this movie will deliver that ‘shock-value’ to students and inspire them to make some changes in their everyday lives,” said Burgess.
Students will also make a pledge to improve their community and they will have the opportunity to win prizes. The Office of University Sustainability defines sustainability on their website as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
“Sustainability doesn’t just mean making environmentally conscious choices, but sustainability applies to all fields (economics, society…), which is why it is hard to put it in such simple terms,” says the website.
Ximena Sosa, a junior marketing and international business major, said the University should be more conscience of climate change and create awareness among students.
“Since FIU is a very influential campus in Florida, it can foster small changes in students and their everyday lifestyles to help stop climate change,” said Sosa.
She said the University community should do campaigns on how to recycle, how to save water and how to walk more instead of using vehicles.
“A lot of people will participate at [Campus Sustainability Day] and they will understand about climate change,” Sosa said.
“A lot of times, we don’t even know how to help with the environment because there is a lack of knowledge about it. We should reinforce this knowledge.”
The event will take place Thursday, Oct. 15 at GC and SIPA from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Additional reporting by Camila Fernandez/News Director
Image courtesy of Creative Commons
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