From the Daily: UMich’s climate report card
In late June, a crushing heat wave enveloped Michigan and most of the Midwest. The temperatures were high enough to warrant a statement from Gov. Whitmer, who advised residents of the state to “take precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, especially the elderly and those with health conditions.” Scientists say that the weather event may have been caused by climate change, drawing new attention to efforts to combat the increasingly tangible crisis. Thankfully, in the midst of this heat, both the University of Michigan and the city of Ann Arbor had some good news.
On June 9, the University unveiled a $70 million partnership with Houston-based firm Radial Power to install new solar panels across all three campuses, along with certain off-campus sites, over the next several years. This, in tandem with other recent developments, such as the deployment of four electric Blue Buses and more energy-efficient construction projects, represents the University’s real commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040. Ann Arbor is operating on an even more aggressive timescale: carbon neutrality by 2030. On June 10, the city kicked off its fourth annual A2Zero week, which celebrates this effort, with the installation of solar panels at the Ann Arbor Senior Center. This progress is good news, but is it enough?
No, not really.
The University is still falling behind its planned trajectory. It had hoped to complete part one of its plan — cutting emissions from purchased power to net zero — by 2025. This hope now looks increasingly unlikely. With less than a year left on the clock, these emissions have only been reduced by half, a process that took well over a decade. Even with U-M’s energy-efficient projects, it’s still lagging on its targets. Luckily, there are things the University can do to be more environmentally friendly.
One of the main obstacles to campus sustainability is the campus’s continued growth. This past application season, the admissions office received more than 105,000 applicants — a record-breaking number. Enrollment increased accordingly, meaning more emissions. In terms of brick-and-mortar developments, U-M’s Campus Plan 2050 details new construction projects and expanded transit lines. The projects use cutting-edge technology to be as clean as possible, but they still block the path to full sustainability. This is not to say the University should stop expanding entirely — it has continued to cut emissions even as it’s grown — but it does mean it should strike a more intentional balance between expansion and carbon reduction.
Additionally, updated teaching strategies from professors could begin to make a difference. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent shift online, some classes still require the printing of hundreds of pages of documents or hard-copy books. Completely phasing out physical copies of assignments and books wouldn’t solve the University’s problems, but it’s low-hanging fruit that we should grab nonetheless.
For students, sustainability can mean taking public transportation and using on-campus recycling and composting bins. The University also provides donation bins in residence halls for food, clothing and household items. Not only would taking advantage of this resource reduce waste, but it would also help community members. The donations end up in the hands of local nonprofits, and they totaled out to roughly 9.7 tons of items in 2023. During the school year, various organizations in Ann Arbor offer similar services.
In the longer term, looking into clean forms of energy other than solar could yield results. In April, the University received $3.6 million from the United States Department of Energy to research the development and effects of the technology. The impact of this research could help more than the University and further clean energy within the country as a whole.
In the near future, none of these changes will make a huge difference, but they’re a start. Little things add up over time, and the University and the city of Ann Arbor need as many little things as they can get. While it still may not be enough, it’s better than nothing.
Neither this city nor our school are alone in their struggle to meet carbon neutrality deadlines. Countless companies, and even countries, are failing to achieve their climate goals. Of course, big oil corporations must pull their weight, but their failures don’t absolve us of ours. As such, the U-M community can and should still strive to be at the cutting edge of combating climate change.
This editorial represents the opinion of The Michigan Daily’s Summer Editorial Board. If you are interested in submitting an Op-Ed or Letter to the Editor, please send your submission to tothedaily@michigandaily.com.
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