Sen. Pacheco luncheon emphasizes energy efficiency

The EPA doesn’t represent sustainability. Neither does the EWG, or the FERN, or any of the other numerous government or private acronyms. In order to see the face of the green movement, simply look in a mirror, where all civil change begins. Even more sweeping than previous social movements, the entire world population will be impacted by the campaign to combat climate change.

Everyone plays a part: heroes and villains, role models and saboteurs. Each and every person, through daily actions, either brings contribution or detriment to our cause. Senator Marc Pacheco, the Chairman of the Massachusetts Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change, the first climate committee in the country, is pushing for the revitalization of green policy worldwide. 

In an intimate luncheon featuring professors, businessmen, politicians, campus environmental coordinators, and student leaders, the Senator implored not only the overhaul of policy on the national level, but also the participation of the individual from all walks of life in their own microcosms. The September 18 event, hosted by the Sustainable Future Campaign and Earth Emerson, provided a forum for Suffolk University student leaders and the Campus Sustainability Coordinator to be part of a dialogue about existing initiatives and where things need to go regarding environmental efforts. There was an emphasis on schools working together and governments passing legislation that incentivizes individuals, businesses, and organizations to invest in energy efficiency projects.

Like many other issues, ideological differences make it difficult to accomplish the courageous policies that are required of us to reign in carbon dioxide and other emissions. This issue should be a collective value, not something that is divided along party lines.

As a finance major, I believe climate change exists, but recognize that in order to achieve the ultimate goals of sustainability, people need to be influenced on a level that surpasses simple environmental accountability. As long as people do not believe in global warming, as long as global warming remains a political tool, those same people are not going to make the effort that is requisite for change. 

“Greening the bottom line”, the theme of the September 18 luncheon, should be paramount in order to bring change on a large scale. A company may not change its policies on energy simply to reduce CO₂ emissions, but if there are sufficient incentives or mandates, a competitive company will move heaven and earth in order to trim expenses and fatten the bottom line. Even Wal-Mart, hardly the most humanitarian company in the world, has adopted an environmental standard for its vendors, simply to be more economically efficient. With this in mind, everyone can benefit fiscally from sustainable practices. Energy efficient light bulbs reduce energy costs for commercial and residential property alike, and pay for themselves in the same financial period. It costs 70% less for Suffolk University to have organic waste recycled than to have trash hauled. Not only is composting environmentally preferable to incinerating waste, but it also helps the bottom line. The question is not why should we be sustainable, but why not? 

The challenges facing us today are vast -- there is no disputing this. As college students, faculty and staff, as individuals, the tasks are quite daunting. Individual responsibility translates into a college-wide, statewide, countrywide, worldwide movement. Let’s find one goal we can all agree on, and eventually, brick by brick, we can reconstruct our world for the better. And if you ever need a starting place, simply look to where all great social change starts: the mirror.