Presidents and Chancellors from more than 170 Colleges and Universities, including 12 from Pennsylvania, joined together Monday to urge president-elect Trump and the incoming congressional representatives to accelerate progress towards a clean energy future.

Through their open letter, organized by a diverse group of higher education institutions and the Boston-based nonprofit Second Nature, they call on elected officials to support participation in the Paris Agreement, climate research, and investment in the low carbon economy.

“The upcoming transition of federal leadership presents a unique opportunity to address head-on the challenges of climate change by accelerating the new energy economy and creating strong, resilient communities,” wrote the group. “We are committed to developing and deploying innovative climate solutions that provide a prosperous future for all Americans.”

“Climate change cannot be reversed by a single institution nor a single country.”– said Nancy Zimpher, Chancellor of the State University of New York system – “A collective intervention in the multitude of factors that impact climate change is necessary for success. [...] all of higher education must be a driving force in the continued examination of climate change and the development of opportunities to assure a cleaner more secure planet for future generations.”

In Pennsylvania, these presidents signed the open letter—

-- James Mullen, President, Allegheny College

-- John Bravman, President, Bucknell University

-- David Finegold, President, Chatham University

-- Neil Weissman, Acting President, Dickinson College

-- Lee Snyder, President, Eastern Mennonite University

-- Kimberly Benston, President, Haverford College

-- Alison Byerly, President, Lafayette College

-- Lewis Thayne, President, Lebanon Valley College

-- John Anderson, President, Millersville University of Pennsylvania

-- Marvin Krislov, President, Oberlin College

-- Valerie Smith, President, Swarthmore College

-- Peter Donohue, President, Villanova University

A copy of the letter is available online.

NewsClips:

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Penn State Climate Prof Can Pursue Defamation Claims Against Critics

Op-Ed: Why PA Is Moving Forward To Reduce Methane Pollution, EDF

Op-Ed: Penn State Climate Scientist Gets Death Threats

Op-Ed: Facts, Lies And Climate Change

Op-Ed: Trump Can’t Deny Climate Change Without A Fight

Op-Ed: Trump Cabinet Mostly Enemies Of The Environment

Transforming Greenhouse Gas To Clean Fuel

EPA Drops Proposed Model Carbon Trading Rules Ahead Of Trump Takeover

[Posted Dec. 22, 2016]

12/26/2016