In order to evaluate the implications of signing the Talloires Declaration, I have listed the ten actions that signatories accept. For each, I discuss briefly what Cal Poly is doing or could do to implement those actions. I would appreciate suggestions.

Linda Dalton

The Talloires Declaration

1) Increase Awareness of Environmentally Sustainable Development

Use every opportunity to raise public, government, industry, foundation, and university awareness by openly addressing the urgent need to move toward an environmentally sustainable future.

Our new campus Master Plan set the stage for increasing awareness by explicitly including values associated with environmental responsibility in its vision statement and guiding principles.

Since 1998-99, the central administration has promoted activities of faculty, facilities planning staff and management people interested in sustainability. The Provost’s Forum was a yearlong series of interdisciplinary discussion of environmental issues , problems and opportunities facing the university. In 2000-2001, the Centennial Seminar program provided funding and logistical support for three faculty led groups who developed ongoing programs of environmental education, The Cal Poly Land Project, [Randy Knight’s and Raoul Cano’s—I don’t have details]. In 2001-2 the central administration provided representation and support of the development of CSI, which has become the focal point of both new and preexisting sustainability activities.

CSI sponsored a two day conference entitled “Sustainability and the Future of the Polytechnic University” in March 2002 featuring a lecture and a seminar by Amory Lovins, a leader of the sustainability movment and author of Natural Capitalism. The public event was attended by over 500 people and the seminar drew decision makers representing the university, county and city governments, local environmental groups, business and industry.

CSI is sponsoring a range of activities specifically directed toward Sustainable Development. Its representatives are meeting with Deans charged with major future building projects such as a projected technology research park and the redevelopment of the center of campus. An effort is underway to develop a consultative relationship with Rocky Mountain Institute for both these projects at a pre design stage to assure that they will incorporate Green Building principles. CSI is also sponsoring the development of a major grant proposal to the Packer Foundation requesting support for 1)the acquisition of conservation easements on adjacent properties in concert with local land trusts and government entities 2)funding of a position of Natural Resource Manager to coordinate planning and management for the University’s present holdings of 10,000 acres, and 3) underwriting of a projected program of conservation and restoration of the riparian corridor running through the central campus which is now in a state of grave degradation.

2) Create an Institutional Culture of Sustainability

Encourage all universities to engage in education, research, policy formation, and information exchange on population, environment, and development to move toward global sustainability.

The Cal Poly Campus Sustainability Initiative’s (Cal Poly CSI) research component – especially through affiliation with the Renewable Energy Institute – addresses this item directly. Other groups, such as the Coastal Resources Institute, Environmental Biotechnology Institute, Irrigation Training and Research Center and perhaps others also have applied research agendas that are consistent with this item.

Randy Knight and Raoul Cano’s Centennial Seminars might apply here.

3) Educate for Environmentally Responsible Citizenship

Establish programs to produce expertise in environmental management, sustainable economic development, population, and related fields to ensure that all university graduates are environmentally literate and have the awareness and understanding to be ecologically responsible citizens.

Three colleges already offer degree programs or areas of emphasis in related areas. These include

· College of Agriculture – Natural Resources Management

· College of Architecture and Environmental Design – Members of the Sustainable Environment Education group offer interdisciplinary courses.

· College of Engineering – Civil and Environmental Engineering

There is also potential for these and the other colleges to offer or adapt degree programs to include environmental analysis and project design sensitive to life-cycle costs. Further, discussions about the Applied Technology Park

Angie Hacker probably has stuff here on the various student groups active in this field, including the new active Earth Day group.

4) Foster Environmental Literacy For All

Create programs to develop the capability of university faculty to teach environmental literacy to all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.

With respect to environmentally literacy, the campus would have to deliberate regarding the appropriate means – e.g., whether this should become a component of general education, be included in the list of characteristics of a Cal Poly graduate, etc.

The Cal Poly Land project has brought together faculty and staff from 13 different departments to educate one another about the resources and issues of the University’s land holdings. This project has to date generated an extensive web site—polyland.lib.calpoly.edu—a new general education course entitled Cal Poly Land: Nature, Technology and Society, and a textbook-coffeetable book entitled Cal Poly Land, A Field Guide, all of which provide faculty and students the capability to foster environmental literacy through the cultivation of a sense of place. The Cal Poly Land class is a new addition to our general education curriculum providing credit for our Area F Technology requirement.

5) Practice Institutional Ecology

Set an example of environmental responsibility by establishing institutional ecology policies and practices of resource conservation, recycling, waste reduction, and environmentally sound operations.

Cal Poly has already instituted a number of significant operational practices, of which solid waste reduction and recycling are perhaps the most visible. We have also gained significant energy savings through utility improvements and lighting changes. On the other hand, we could expand our efforts in other areas, particularly project design and construction that takes advantage of life cycle costing.

An inventory of our present efforts is a critical piece of information that Cal Poly CSI and the Office of Energy and Sustainability Programs in Administration and Finance could supply. Then, we could produce a regular report on gains made – perhaps even live on the web.

6) Involve All Stakeholders

Encourage involvement of government, foundations, and industry in supporting interdisciplinary research, education, policy formation and information exchange in environmentally sustainable development. Expand work with community and nongovernmental organizations to assist in finding solutions to environmental problems.

The San Luis Obispo area already has a rich resource in environmental groups with which we can coordinate. Beyond our immediate area, we might consider bringing the Cabinet into this arena.

Rob Rutherford can provide more details on the collaborations with the Land Conservancy on Stenner Creek restorations. Attendance at the

7) Collaborate for Interdisciplinary Approaches

Convene university faculty and administrators with environmental practitioners to develop interdisciplinary approaches to curricula, research initiatives, operations, and outreach activities that support an environmentally sustainable future.

Cal Poly’s history of applied learning lends itself to collaborative approaches to environmental education and research.

See material on Cal Poly Land project question 4

8) Enhance Capacity of Primary and Secondary Schools

Establish partnerships with primary and secondary schools to help develop the capacity for interdisciplinary teaching about population, environment, and sustainable development.

Environmental awareness and stewardship could be integrated easily into the science and math focus of UCTE’s programs. Indeed, such a focus might serve to entice college students into teaching and K-12 students into science.

9) Broaden Service and Outreach Nationally and Internationally

Work with national and international organizations to promote a worldwide university effort toward a sustainable future.

Our signature on the Talloires Declaration makes a public statement of our interest. We could assume additional leadership through future Baker Forum discussions and other venues.

Cal Poly Land was the subject of a panel and poster session at the biannual conference of the Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment in Flagstaff AZ, June 2001. It is also featured in Second Nature: Education for Sustainability website and database:

10) Maintain the Movement

Establish a Secretariat and a steering committee to continue this momentum, and to inform and support each other’s efforts in carrying out this declaration.

The Cal Poly Campus Sustainability Initiative could be charged with the committee responsibility; and campus offices, particularly in Academic Affairs and Student Affairs for the educational dimensions and in Administration and Finance for the operational could be expected to provide follow through.