Students take action to cut carbon emissions in town

Students at Mount Allison University take their responsibility to the environment seriously. So it should come as no surprise that they have overwhelmingly supported a move to raise student fees come this fall - all in the name of ensuring a 'greener' future for Sackville.
During a recent Students' Administrative Council (SAC) referendum, nearly 80 per cent of students voted in favor of levying a $10 green fee aimed at reducing carbon emissions in the community, both on and off campus.
SAC president Mike Currie says this latest action by the student body at Mount Allison will leave a lasting legacy for future generations to come.
"It's very exciting to see the students have taken on a leadership role in combating climate change . . . and we hope we're setting a precedent here that will encourage other student leaders to take more action as well," he says.
The new SAC Green Investment Fund will be used towards initiatives that will help offset carbon emissions in the town - such as increasing the use of solar panels or geo-thermal technology in the community; using higher-quality insulation in some buildings; or partnering with local organizations to further develop tree nurseries.
"There are a lot of great projects we could consider," says Mark Brister, SAC vice-president external.
Priority will be given to projects that reduce the greatest amount of carbon in the shortest period of time, he says, taking into account long-term repercussions and the consequences of inaction.
Currie says SAC representatives met with a number of municipal officials to discuss possible coordination on projects.
"I am extremely optimistic. My conversations with town councillors and other members of the community have been very positive. Although this is the first project of its kind that we are aware, the town has stressed that it is possible that we will be able to leverage the fund to work on joint projects of even greater impact."
The increased student fees will bring in anywhere from $20,000 to $24,000 each year, and the fund will be governed by an environmental affairs committee that will be made up entirely of students.
Starting this fall, the environmental committee will actively solicit project recommendations from Mount A staff and faculty, town representatives, university administration, and local climate change experts. Then, following the criteria laid out in the newly-developed Green Investment Fund Policy, the committee will evaluate any proposals; then bring them forward for SAC approval.
"It's student-driven but we're definitely open to ideas," says Currie.
The idea for a student 'green' fee was brought forward earlier this year by environmental studies student Natalie Gerum and her professor Brad Walters.
In their proposal, Gerum and Walters stated that the motivation for proposing the initiative was twofold - to not only offset the carbon emissions that a university community produces but to also get more people thinking about their 'ethical obligation' to do what they can to battle climate change.
Walters says he was pleased with the outcome.
"The SAC Green Investment Fund builds upon a strong tradition of student-driven, environmental leadership at Mount Allison. Students here recognize the seriousness of climate change, and their actions are an inspiration for the rest of us to do more to meet this enormous challenge," he says.
Brister says he was also pleasantly surprised by the results from the referendum vote. He believes more and more students are gaining a greater understanding of climate change issues each and every day and they are always looking for ways to take action.
"I guess students recognized they wanted to do their part," he says.