The Illinois Monarch project is an organization that collaborates with both public and private partners, interacting on all levels for the protection and the enhancement of habitats that support monarch butterflies and other pollinators. This project calls for the involvement from individuals to whole cities, with the goal of adding 150 million new milkweed stems to Illinois’ landscape by 2038!

As an individual, I call onto you to also sign this pledge and get involved to support our state’s insect!

See here for a link to the pledge:

http://illinoismonarchproject.org/pledge/

In addition to signing the pledge, I encourage you to also take the time to look deeper into all the great work this organization has done and plans to do: http://illinoismonarchproject.org/

You're invited to the first ever Mini-Talks webinar from the Center for the Economics of Sustainability (https://ceos.illinois.edu) on October 28th! Join us during the lunch hour for four bite-sized talks on cutting-edge research in sustainability economics. Register here by October 26th. https://go.illinois.edu/ceos-minitalks 

Mini-Talks on the Economics of Sustainability

October 28, 12–1 pm • Register by 10/26 • Online/Zoom

Isaac Wisthuff • Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics

 This opportunity is available online.

The iCAP Working Group met for the first time during the 2020-2021 academic year on 10-9-20. The group welcomed new members and discussed the status of the SWATeam recommendations submitted last spring by the teams. The meeting minutes and spreadsheet of the recommendation statuses are attached. 

Urbana, Ill. — On Oct. 20, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Robert J. Jones will approve and sign the newest version of the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP). iCAP 2020, developed through broad stakeholder engagement and led by the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) and Facilities & Services (F&S), commits the campus to divest from fossil fuels, switch to clean energy sources, cut landfill waste, and pursue environmental justice.

iCAP 2020 is the campus’s strategic sustainability plan to achieve net-zero carbon emissions as soon as possible and by 2050 at the latest. This is critical and urgent, as atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHG) contribute to unstable agricultural productivity, food insecurity, and heightened levels of air and water pollution that will particularly affect our most vulnerable communities.

SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based) objectives crafted in pursuit of this goal are organized into eight key themes: Energy, Transportation, Land & Water, Zero Waste, Education, Engagement, Resilience, and Implementation. Among the 56 diverse iCAP 2020 objectives:

• Increase the number of trees on campus
• Use clean energy sources for 15% of the total campus energy demand
• Reduce net air travel emissions by 100% by FY30

“We are proud of the university’s commitment to sustainability and appreciative of Chancellor Jones’s support as we continue to take action. Over the course of this year, campus and community members developed ambitious objectives, and we must work together to see them through,” iSEE Interim Director Madhu Khanna said. “The Illinois family is passionate about sustainability and resilient; each one of our efforts helps to make a difference.”

iCAP 2020 is the third iteration of the Illinois Climate Action Plan (previously published in 2010 and updated in 2015). A priority this year is fostering a culture of sustainability on campus, with objectives geared toward increasing the visibility of sustainable practices to inspire positive, lasting change. These include:

• Broaden the availability of sustainability education across the entire curriculum, beginning with first-year student orientation
• Support programs to develop love of nature and sustainability among children
• Promote zero waste events, with durable goods instead of disposables, and develop a comprehensive zero-waste messaging campaign

Student involvement was instrumental to the creation of iCAP 2020. For the first time this year, the chancellor’s letter of endorsement is paired with a “Letter from the Students.” Additionally, students were key proponents of an objective calling for the university’s full divestment from fossil fuel companies.

The Resilience chapter extends the iCAP’s scope of influence beyond campus borders. It identifies opportunities for collaboration with Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy to implement strategies for urban biodiversity, green job programs, and environmental justice.

iCAP 2020 will be celebrated and signed by Chancellor Jones at the virtual Campus Sustainability Celebration from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. Speakers include Khanna, F&S Executive Director Mohamed Attalla, and several student sustainability leaders. RSVP and learn more.

(For the day of, here is the Campus Sustainability Celebration Zoom link (password 089397) >>>)