Forum focuses on climate change issues
By: Chris Hokanson
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: News
From reducing carbon emissions to using water efficiently, the city of College Station is working towards a greener future. John Crompton, a distinguished professor in recreation parks and tourism sciences and a College Station city council member, is involved in launching the city's "Green Challenge Initiative," an effort to comply with the Cool Cities pledge, also known as the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement.
"I've been sort of nurturing along our green policy," Crompton said. "We have seen that there has been [environmental policy] gridlock at the national level. As a result, there has been a movement within local governments, literally hundreds of them, coming together to sign the Cool Cities initiative."
Crompton will join city government officials, University administrators and community members Thursday evening to discuss possible solutions to problems stemming from global warming and environmental change. The panel is a part of the nationwide education initiative "Focus the Nation." As a part of the National Climate Change Day of Awareness, Texas A&M's Environmental Issues Committee is sponsoring the College Station events.
The panel discussion will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Memorial Student Center Flag Room.
EIC, an arm of the Student Government Association, sponsors environmental events on campus including Focus the Nation, a bi-monthly curbside recycling drive and Earth Day 2008 Celebration. Laura Payne, educational programs chair for EIC, said she hopes Focus the Nation reaches students with the message of environmental responsibility.
"Students should attend these events because they will be able to gain knowledge, not only on climate change, but they can learn about what we here at Texas A&M are doing, and what's happening in the Bryan-College Station area," said Payne, a sophomore political science major.
Panelists for Thursday's discussion include Crompton, Terry Childers, College Station's deputy city manager; Hugh Stearns, owner of Stearns Construction, a company that specializes in "green" construction; Jerry Wagnon and Stella Woodward, members of the Brazos Environmental Action Network; George Rogers, a professor of landscape architecture and urban planning; and Amanda Grosgebauer, chairwoman of the Environmental Issues Committee.
Focus the Nation's events began Wednesday with a national webcast, led by leading climate scientists. Thursday's forum in the Flag Room concludes A&M's part of the national events, Payne said.
"I'm involved in Focus the Nation because I believe it has great potential on the national scene to show the overwhelming support and concern for our world as it stands now," she said. "I believe that we are all able to make a change, and that change is only limited to yourself. I see a major problem with the utilization of our planet at this time, and if I am not willing to set up and take a stand, I can't expect others to do so."
"I've been sort of nurturing along our green policy," Crompton said. "We have seen that there has been [environmental policy] gridlock at the national level. As a result, there has been a movement within local governments, literally hundreds of them, coming together to sign the Cool Cities initiative."
Crompton will join city government officials, University administrators and community members Thursday evening to discuss possible solutions to problems stemming from global warming and environmental change. The panel is a part of the nationwide education initiative "Focus the Nation." As a part of the National Climate Change Day of Awareness, Texas A&M's Environmental Issues Committee is sponsoring the College Station events.
The panel discussion will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Memorial Student Center Flag Room.
EIC, an arm of the Student Government Association, sponsors environmental events on campus including Focus the Nation, a bi-monthly curbside recycling drive and Earth Day 2008 Celebration. Laura Payne, educational programs chair for EIC, said she hopes Focus the Nation reaches students with the message of environmental responsibility.
"Students should attend these events because they will be able to gain knowledge, not only on climate change, but they can learn about what we here at Texas A&M are doing, and what's happening in the Bryan-College Station area," said Payne, a sophomore political science major.
Panelists for Thursday's discussion include Crompton, Terry Childers, College Station's deputy city manager; Hugh Stearns, owner of Stearns Construction, a company that specializes in "green" construction; Jerry Wagnon and Stella Woodward, members of the Brazos Environmental Action Network; George Rogers, a professor of landscape architecture and urban planning; and Amanda Grosgebauer, chairwoman of the Environmental Issues Committee.
Focus the Nation's events began Wednesday with a national webcast, led by leading climate scientists. Thursday's forum in the Flag Room concludes A&M's part of the national events, Payne said.
"I'm involved in Focus the Nation because I believe it has great potential on the national scene to show the overwhelming support and concern for our world as it stands now," she said. "I believe that we are all able to make a change, and that change is only limited to yourself. I see a major problem with the utilization of our planet at this time, and if I am not willing to set up and take a stand, I can't expect others to do so."
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