Climate Change Action Advisory Committee - Terms of Reference

Purpose

The Conference of New England Governors / Eastern Canadian Premiers Climate Change Action Plan, adopted in August 2001, identifies steps to address those aspects of global warming which are within the region’s control to influence. The APCCC Board is supportive of the plan and wishes to do its part to reduce greenhouse gases and to become more energy efficient. This support provides the backdrop for the formation of a Climate Change Action Plan Advisory Committee to provide direction and to advise on ways colleges can enhance their contribution to a clearer environment through programs, applied research and innovation and physical plant improvements.

Membership

The membership of the advisory committee should include one representative who has administrative responsibility for programs and research related activities and one person with physical plant responsibilities from each APCCC member colleges. In addition, the APCCC Executive Director will be an ex-officio member

The Chair will be selected from member colleges and will rotate on an annual basis

Meetings

Meetings of the advisory committee will normally be held via conference call with a requirement for a minimum of one meeting per semester. Where the members feel it necessary to have face-to-face meetings, institutional protocols for travel should guide the decision and associated costs will be the responsibility of the member institutions.

Expected outcomes

  • Provide a forum for sharing of best practices in areas such as goal setting, benchmarking, procurement practices, etc.


  • Advise APCCC on climate change strategies related to:


    • - assessing institutions energy use and implementing policies and programs to reduce our energy consumption and resulting environmental impact

    - opportunities to carry out research on global climate change and participate in the search for solutions

    - educating students on global climate change and encouraging their participation in reducing emissions

    - incorporating, where possible, the issue of global climate change in program curriculum

    - and developing long-term plans to move towards less carbon intensive forms of energy such as clean renewable energy sources.

  • Develop linkages with the ACCC’s Renewable Energy Program.