Charge:
Resolution to Establish a new Joint Task Force on Carbon Mitigation
Whereas, In April 2022, UMass announced a goal to reach Carbon Zero by 2032;
Whereas, UMass was just named #9 in the Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges;
Whereas, Massachusetts Executive Order 594 “Leading by Example” calls on all state agencies and facilities to reduce and eliminate the burning of fossil fuels;
Whereas, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is the state agency with the largest carbon emissions;
Whereas, carbon emissions at UMass increased 7% last year;
Whereas, core elements of the recommended portfolio of the Carbon Mitigation Task Force are being re-evaluated, some not-recommended strategies are being implemented, and new technical approaches need to be evaluated;
Whereas, information on the work of the Decarbonization Subcommittee of CSAC (henceforth “Subcommittee”) has not been made publicly available to the wider UMass community;
Whereas, the Subcommittee's work has been impeded by a lack of clarity in direction, in governance processes, and in financial resources and commitments;
Whereas, the Subcommittee, with its current size, composition and governance, is not answering its charge effectively;
Be it resolved that, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Faculty Senate urges the Chancellor of the University to disband the existing Subcommittee;
Be it resolved that, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Faculty Senate urges the Chancellor of the University and the Faculty Senate Rules Committee to form and constitute a new, Joint Task Force, otherwise similar in size, constitution, and diversity to the Carbon Mitigation Taskforce established in 2019;
Be it resolved that, this Joint Task Force be co-Chaired by a representative from Facilities and a faculty/librarian member, and governed democratically.
Be it resolved that, this Joint Task Force be charged with creating, frequently updating, and monitoring implementation of a campus Decarbonization Action Plan;