Sustainable Campus
Initiative Committee
The Talloires Declaration
The TALLOIRES DECLARATION is a statement of principles and practices for using higher education to promote sustainability. Over 350 universities throughout the world have signed the Declaration so far. MSUM signed it in the spring of 2006 during it's Earth Day celebration, it was signed by University President Rolland Barden and Student Senate President James Cailao.
The declaration is as
follows:
We, the presidents, rectors, and vice chancellors of universities from all regions of the world are deeply concerned about the unprecedented scale and speed of environmental pollution and degradation, and the depletion of natural resources.
Local, regional, and global air and water pollution; accumulation and distribution of toxic wastes; destruction and depletion of forests, soil, and water; depletion of the ozone layer and emission of "green house" gases threaten the survival of humans and thousands of other living species, the integrity of the earth and its biodiversity, the security of nations, and the heritage of future generations. These environmental changes are caused by inequitable and unsustainable production and consumption patterns that aggravate poverty in many regions of the world.
We believe that urgent actions are needed to address these fundamental problems and reverse the trends. Stabilization of human population, adoption of environmentally sound industrial and agricultural technologies, reforestation, and ecological restoration are crucial elements in creating an equitable and sustainable future for all humankind in harmony with nature.
Universities have a
major role in the
education, research,
policy formation, and
information exchange
necessary to make these
goals possible. Thus,
university leaders must
initiate and support
mobilization of internal
and external resources
so that their
institutions respond to
this urgent challenge.
We, therefore, agree
to take the following
actions:
1. Increase Awareness
of Environmentally
Sustainable Development
Use every opportunity to
raise public,
government, industry,
foundation, and
university awareness by
openly addressing the
urgent need to move
toward an
environmentally
sustainable future.
2. Create an
Institutional Culture of
Sustainability
Encourage all
universities to engage
in education, research,
policy formation, and
information exchange on
population, environment,
and development to move
toward global
sustainability.
3. Educate for
Environmentally
Responsible Citizenship
Establish programs to
produce expertise in
environmental
management, sustainable
economic development,
population, and related
fields to ensure that
all university graduates
are environmentally
literate and have the
awareness and
understanding to be
ecologically responsible
citizens.
4. Foster
Environmental Literacy
For All
Create programs to
develop the capability
of university faculty to
teach environmental
literacy to all
undergraduate, graduate,
and professional
students.
5. Practice
Institutional Ecology
Set an example of
environmental
responsibility by
establishing
institutional ecology
policies and practices
of resource
conservation, recycling,
waste reduction, and
environmentally sound
operations.
6. Involve All
Stakeholders
Encourage involvement of
government, foundations,
and industry in
supporting
interdisciplinary
research, education,
policy formation, and
information exchange in
environmentally
sustainable development.
Expand work with
community and
nongovernmental
organizations to assist
in finding solutions to
environmental problems.
7. Collaborate for
Interdisciplinary
Approaches
Convene university
faculty and
administrators with
environmental
practitioners to develop
interdisciplinary
approaches to curricula,
research initiatives,
operations, and outreach
activities that support
an environmentally
sustainable future.
8. Enhance Capacity
of Primary and Secondary
Schools
Establish partnerships
with primary and
secondary schools to
help develop the
capacity for
interdisciplinary
teaching about
population, environment,
and sustainable
development.
9. Broaden Service
and Outreach Nationally
and Internationally
Work with national and
international
organizations to promote
a worldwide university
effort toward a
sustainable future.
10. Maintain the
Movement
Establish a Secretariat
and a steering committee
to continue this
momentum, and to inform
and support each other's
efforts in carrying out
this declaration.
Signed by MSUM President Roland E. Barden and Student Senate President James Cailao on Earth Day April 22, 2005.