SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
University Affairs Office
1801 E. Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928-3609
(707) 664-2057
e-mail: jean.wasp@sonoma.edu
University Affairs Office
1801 E. Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928-3609
(707) 664-2057
e-mail: jean.wasp@sonoma.edu
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2003 File #309
Contact: Armando Navarro, Assistant Director, Environmental Technology Center, (707) 664-2577
SSU Climate Change Forum Will Look at Impact of Global Warming on North Bay
The science, policy, and ethics of human-caused climate change as it affects the North Bay is the focus of the first lecture in a series of events to be held at Sonoma State University.A committee of Sonoma State University professors have teamed up with local environmentalists, government representatives, and businessmen and women to present a program that will include three all-day workshops on global warming later in the year.
The first lecture on Friday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Cooperage includes Donald Aitken of the Union of Concerned Scientists, Daniel Kammen of U.C. Berkeley, and Paul Baer, author of Dead Heat: Global Justice and Global Warming.
"Our first goal is to lay out the facts to our community regarding the science of global warming, and to separate political rhetoric from reality," says professor Dolly Friedel, one of the organizers of the series.
"Our second goal is to facilitate discussion among community leaders, from public agencies, industry and agriculture, local government, and education to formulate plans for response to changes brought to our region by global warming."
Admission is $10 at the door, but will be waived for all students (from SSU or elsewhere) and for all who register in advance at http://www.sonoma.edu/projects/climatechange.
Workshops on climate change mitigation in the region, emissions inventories in Sonoma County, and green building techniques will take place on three Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on March 29, May 3, and June 7.
The March 29 workshop will focus on mitigation: lessening the harmful impacts on the region, such as the reduction of available water and more severe winter storms.
Coordinator for the day will be Dr. Zeno Swijtink, SSU philosophy instructor and founder of the Atascadero Creek and Green Valley Watershed Council (or local watershed activist), who has recently joined the State Resources Agency’s Climate Change Work Group.
May 3 will bring together community leaders to seek ways to slow global warming. Ann Hancock will explain her work with ICLEI, the International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives, a global organization working with city and county governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their communities.
Coordinated by Dr. Debora Hammond, provost of the Hutchins School of Liberal Studies at SSU, the workshop will highlight results of emissions inventories being conducted in Sonoma County as the initial phase of the ICLEI Climate Protection Campaign.
On June 7, participants will get out from behind the desks to attend a Green Building Expo at the SSU Environmental Technology Center. Events of the day will demonstrate "green" building design and materials, and renewable energy and energy efficiency. Coordinator for the Expo will be Armando Navarro, assistant director of the Center.
Navarro will also coordinate a fall workshop, which will address transportation, the single activity that currently contributes the most to the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Attendees may register for one or more events, or for the whole series. Teachers attending the whole series can receive academic credit for Continuing Education. Inquiries may be sent to climate.change@sonoma.edu.
For further information, call Armando Navarro, assistant director of the Environmental Technology Center, (707) 664-2577