The Sustainability Assistants recently applied for and won the UN Climate Crews Contest, aimed at helping schools get at those issues that are most weighing them down in the quest for a more sustainable campus. The grant money was awarded to proposals that would best address those points of the Sustainable Endowments Institute’s Annual Sustainability Report Card that the institution most needed to improve.

Carleton started from a fairly advanced position, having scored a pretty exceptional A- on the report card this year. However, there are still great strides to be taken towards the ultimate goal of President Oden’s signature on the President’s Climate Commitment, that of carbon neutrality. Therefore, the Sustainability Assistants decided to apply for the Climate Crews grant to improve access to improve and expand the Green Bikes program, offer incentives for carpool and rideshare participation and organize and host a Transportation Day during spring term to educate the campus about the carbon costs of transportation used by the Carleton community to promote and encourage an increase in “green” transportation at Carleton.

Green Transportapalooza (working title…) will involve speakers about the exciting future of public transportation in the greater Twin Cities metro area, expansion of Carleton’s Green Bikes program, information and monetary incentives for those faculty and staff who commit to rideshare, carpool and/or Vanpool programs, demos and information about all sorts of bike transport options and a critical mass ride through Northfield.

Stay tuned for more information.