User:Elanithaca/sandbox

Commitments to action on climate change
In Spring 2007, then-President Peggy R. Williams signed the American College and University President's Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), pledging Ithaca College to the task of developing a strategy and long-range plan to achieve "carbon neutrality" at some point in the future. In 2009, the Ithaca College Board of Trustees approved the Ithaca College Climate Action Plan, which calls for 100% carbon neutrality by 2050. In 2009, the Ithaca College Board of Trustees approved the Ithaca College Climate Action Plan, which calls for 100% carbon neutrality by 2050 and offers a 40-year action plan to work toward that ambitious goal.

Energy Profile
The college purchases 14 percent of its electricity from renewable sources and offsets 3 percent of its energy use with renewable energy credits.

Energy Investments
Ithaca College is believed to have millions of dollars invested in gas, coal and oil industry, but has refused to disclose how much. A student investigation has revealed that the college has at least $1 million invested in sixteen fossil fuel companies known as the Sordid Sixteen.

The college aims to optimize investment returns and does not invest the endowment in on-campus sustainability projects, renewable energy funds, or community development loan funds. The college's investment policy reserves the right of the investment committee to restrict investments for any reason, which could include environmental and sustainability factors.

The 2013 senior class, the largest in Ithaca College history, is the pioneer class for supporting the IC Annual Fund as the senior class gift. This means the college can put the money wherever they feel it’s needed most, including into the endowment where it will be invested in non-socially responsible investments including the fossil fuel industry.

Community impact
While the Ithaca College Natural Lands has issued a statement that Ithaca College should join efforts calling for a moratorium on horizontal drilling and high volume (“slick water”) hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The college as a whole has refused to issue a statement regarding the issue.