Maryland's Public System of Higher Education

Week of September 3, 2012

News from Across the USM Campuses

Sept. 22^nd - The Universities at Shady Grove Community Day - Come Explore our Green Campus! Event is from10 am - 3 pm, rain or shine, and is free and open to the public.

Sept. 22^nd - Car-free Day - Metro DC - Join the University of Maryland, College Park for part of a worldwide movement to celebrate sustainable transportation on Car Free Day.

USM Leadership in Reducing State's Carbon Footprint Continues with Installation in Frederick County (University System of Maryland Newsroom, 8/29/12)

Post-Consumer Compost Collection Begins at Maryland's Stamp Student Union (UMD Newsdesk, 8/29/12)

State of Maryland News

Sept. 17^th - 19^th - Maryland Clean Energy Summit - As discoveries continue to advance, the Maryland Clean Energy Summit 2012 will examine how evolving technology is changing the energy paradigm.

Sept. 29^th - 30^th - Green Festival at the Washington, DC Convention Center - Green Festival, the nation's premier sustainability event, is proud to return to our nation's capital in 2012. Enjoy more than 125 renowned authors, leaders and educators; hands-on DIY workshops; a Sierra Club environmental green film installation; a green kids' zone; organic beer and wine; delicious vegetarian cuisine and diverse live music. Shop in our unique marketplace of more than 300 eco-friendly businesses and learn how to invest in your community, green your home and avoid products made without consideration of the earth or its people. A wealth of information, education and inspiration awaits you at Washington D.C. Green Festival.

Study finds Conowingo Dam losing ability to prevent bay pollution: Susquehanna River flushed record sediment, phosphorus into Chesapeake last year (By Tim Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun - B'More Green Blog, 8/31/12)

Solar lights up the Mount: 16.1-MW array at Mount St. Mary's is Maryland's largest - for now (By Tim Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun - B'More Green Blog, 8/29/12)

USM Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Initiative

• Practices
• Programs
• Policies

• Presentations
• Climate Change Definitions
• Facilities Master Planning
• Statewide Sustainability Efforts
• ACUPCC National Benchmarking
• Useful Links and References

Realistically What Might The Future Climate Look Like? "If we continue forward on our current path, catastrophe is not just a possible outcome, it is the most probable outcome." (By Climate Guest Blogger, ThinkProgress.org - Climate Progress Blog, 9/1/12)

These charts of record temperatures in New York are trying to tell you something (By Philip Bump, Grist.org, 8/31/12)

American Meteorological Society confirms Climate Change and Man's Role (By Gina-Marie Cheeseman, Environmental News Network, 8/31/12)

State Considering Studying Health Impacts of Fracking (By Mireya Navarro, The New York Times - Green Blog, 8/31/12)

Governor Romney's 2004 climate plan: Solyndra-style investment in renewables: For your weekend reading: Mitt Romney's 2004 "Massachusetts Climate Protection Plan." (By Philip Bump, Grist.org, 8/31/12)

Romney Mocks Obama's Pledge To Address Global Warming - As GOP Delegates Laugh At The Whole Notion (By Joe Romm, ThinkProgress.org - Climate Progress Blog, 8/30/12)

'Vast reservoir' of methane locked beneath Antarctic ice sheet: Scientists say as much as 4bn tonnes of the potent greenhouse gas could be released into the atmosphere if ice melts (Press Association as reported by The [UK] Guardian, 8/29/12)

As Hurricane Heads For New Orleans, Romney '12 Chair Complains Media ‘Obsessed With Mother Nature' (By Annie Rose Strasser, Thinkprogress.org as reported by Alternet.org, 8/28/12)