The Global Climate Summit takes place in Paris this week. Lane Community College President Mary Spilde was invited to the White House earlier this month to take part in a meeting in advance of the conference.
Spilde says it was especially interesting to hear from college students.
Spilde: "And hearing about the undergraduate research and graduate research that they were doing in response to climate change. So hearing those young voices was very encouraging and heartening."
Spilde says Lane has been active in sustainability initiatives for a while.
Spilde: "Long before it was hip to be green, Lane through energy management, and through recycling and some of the places that we started, we have had a very long commitment."
Lane Community College is among about 200 nationally that signed a pledge this month to, among other things, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and train energy management, renewable energy and water conservation technicians. Lane signed on to the original American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment of 2006.
