Help preserve our planet

The world we live in is changing rapidly, and we can no longer
approach these challenges alone. The tribulations we face are
increasingly interdependent and old paradigms no longer apply.
Global problems will only be solved through collaboration and
global commitments.

Global warming, more accurately termed “human-caused
climate change,” is one of the greatest global challenges of
our time. Earth’s carbon dioxide levels are now the highest
in recorded history.

Although it is true that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse
gases naturally occur in our environment and numerous factors
contribute to global warming, there is no doubt that humans are the
primary cause of the current crisis.

The National Academy of Sciences says “most of the
observed warming of the last 50 years is likely to have been due to
the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations.”

When former president Bill Clinton, Prime Minister Tony Blair,
L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, London Mayor Ken Livingstone and
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome came to UCLA to sign the Clinton
Climate Initiative, they committed to collaborating with great
cities around the world to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
develop technologies that would expedite the process.

It is both inspiring and empowering that cities worldwide are
showing true leadership and have signed onto this initiative.

Right now, California, Los Angeles and UCLA are taking action.
California is reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the same levels
as in 2000 by 2010 and to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

Los Angeles is planning to reduce air pollution at ports and
airports, and obtain 20 percent of its electricity from renewable
resources by 2010.

At UCLA, former Chancellor Albert Carnesale signed a
sustainability charter that integrates sustainability into all
areas of campus ““ operations, research, teaching and
community service.

Associated Students UCLA is testing strategies at Lu Valle
Commons. This past spring, our student government signed a
resolution ensuring that sustainability be integrated into their
practices.

While these are all necessary steps, they are not enough.

At UCLA, we need to collaborate toward a climate-neutral campus.
In other words, not emitting any more carbon than we can
absorb.

We have everything we need to transcend this crisis except one
critical part: the will. Each one of us must take responsibility
for our role in both causing and solving the climate-change
crisis.

Institutionally, we can buy more renewable energy and build new
green buildings while also retrofitting our older buildings through
the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ““ Existing
Building process to become more energy efficient, water-saving and
healthy.

In addition, we can make our transportation systems clean and
our land-use patterns can promote walking, bicycling and public
transportation.

On both the individual and institutional levels, we should take
responsibility for conserving water, which is especially important
because transporting water to Southern California is the largest
source of energy use in the state.

Most importantly, we can educate ourselves and others to make
these necessary changes in a manner that both springs from and
builds community.

By working together toward these ends we are both tackling
climate change and improving our quality of life. It is an effort
to have cleaner air and water, and ensure that all people, from Los
Angeles to London, San Francisco to cities worldwide, have the
opportunity to live healthy lives.

Through collaborating across perceived boundaries we can create
a thriving future for our grandchildren and their children. It is a
moral imperative for us.

Le is a fourth-year geography and environmental studies
student. She is also an undergraduate member of the Campus
Sustainability Committee.