Whereas, since 1990, scientists around the world have conducted a wide range of studies that have shown that global warming is melting polar ice, raising sea levels and causing droughts and extreme weather events; and
Whereas, the current scientific consensus is that the primary cause of change in global climate during the last century is the human-caused input of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to the atmosphere; and
Whereas, Governor Corzine signed Executive Order 54 on February 13, 2007, establishing greenhouse gas reduction goals of 20% by 2020 and 80% by 2050; and
Whereas, one of the most significant environmental impacts to New Jersey attributable at least in part to global warming is sea level rise; and
Whereas, more than 80% of New Jersey's GHGs are from CO2, which is the result of the combustion of fossil fuels for heating, electrical generation and use, and transportation; and
Whereas, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Sustainability - Greenhouse Gas Action Plan identifies specific measures and actions that can help achieve this goal, including, but not limited to
Whereas, the New Jersey School Boards Association approved a "Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions" policy on 11/1/01, stating: "The NJSBA believes that the state, business and public entities, including schools, should support efforts to protect the resources and systems that support us today so that they will be available to future generations. All reasonable efforts to implement voluntary programs and initiatives to accomplish the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions should be supported;" and
Whereas, school buildings, vehicles and operations through their use of energy to heat, cool, ventilate and light their facilities within a district contribute to the emission of GHG, especially CO2, and thus can contribute significantly to the solution of this global problem; and
Whereas, in order to meet the new facility efficiency standards, as set forth in the New Jersey School Construction and Financing Act of 2000, K-12 public school districts may undergo construction including new construction, replacement of existing facilities and retrofitting or expansion of existing facilities as delineated in a district's Long Range Facility Plan; and
Whereas, part of this new or replacement construction may include energy systems to heat, cool, ventilate and light the district's facilities; and
Whereas, a school district's long term operating costs can be lowered by including energy efficiency measures for heating, cooling, ventilation and other electric uses and by including renewable energy technologies within the Long Range Plan to meet the minimum facility efficiency standard as required under the School Construction and Financing Act for retrofits, replacements and new construction; and
Whereas, the capital cost of these high energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies may be higher than standard HVAC equipment and this incremental capital cost increase may in part be subsidized through the New Jersey Clean Energy Program of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities; and
Whereas, the inclusion within the curriculum of such content as the intellectual debate about the greenhouse effect, the potential consequences of climate change, and possible solutions to this global challenge will support, at minimum, the New Jersey Department of Education's science standards 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 5.5, 5.9, 5.10 and 5.12, social studies standards 6.7, 6.8 and 6.9, language arts standards 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 and 3.5, and workplace readiness standards 2, 3 and 4;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that __________________________________________ Board of Education will undertake all reasonable efforts to reduce our schools' greenhouse gas emissions by at least 1.5% each year – and preferably by a greater percentage of 2006 energy usage – through 2020; and
Encourages its staff to involve students in the analysis of this challenge and the accomplishment of this goal as part of the School Campaign to Do Our Share for GHG Reductions.
_______________________________
President
Date
_______________________________
Business Administrator
Source: New Jersey Sustainability Greenhouse Gas Action
Plan. December 1999.
Available from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, CN 402, Trenton, NJ 08625.
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/gcc/gcc-download.htm
Contribute to the Doing Our Share Campaign: send a copy of any passed resolutions to:
New Jersey Sustainable Schools Network, c/o Global Learning, Inc.