Press Release

FOCUS THE NATION
Global Warming Solutions for America

Students, faculty and staff at Tufts University have been thinking about the climate more often than during their walk across the frozen quad these days. They have been thinking of ways to prevent it from changing. Not from season to season but from decade to decade. They want to ensure that the world that they live, work and retire in after college will have the type of weather that they enjoyed growing up. The type of weather that did not cause cities to be flooded and destroyed, rampant drought and wildfires.

And they are not alone.

Across the country, over 1550 universities, colleges and other groups have organized events related to climate change on January 30th and 31st! The last day of January, tucked in the midst of presidential primaries, is the official day to “Focus the Nation” on climate change solutions. Eban Goodstein, the creator of Focus the Nation, wants students to help the country move beyond fatalism and inspire a determination to face up to this global challenge, the challenge of their generation. And Tufts University students are ready to step up. They are aware of the harm a warmer climate could engender, not in the distant future, but in their own lifetimes.

Together, they have pulled together a diverse group of people from the Tufts community, across undergraduate and graduate programs. Even staff and faculty have gotten involved. They have invited their Congressmen and State representatives to join in the discussion. Some of the events, planned over the past five months, are:

What:

A panel discussion on climate change solutions with Congressman Ed Markey (Chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Climate Change) who will be speaking via web cast, non-profit entrepreneurs Adam Markham (Clean Air Cool Planet) and Wood Turner (Climate Counts), and Mayor Michael McGlynn of Medford, Mayor Joseph Curtatone of Somerville, State Senator Jim Marzilli and a representative from the office of Governor Deval Patrick.
When: Thursday, January 31st, 5 PM to 6:45 PM
Where: ASEAN Auditorium at the Fletcher School, Tufts University
   
What: Climate Change Reception. Enjoy light refreshments after the heavy thoughts of the panel discussion at a reception that will feature informational posters, tables with information from local organizations and Tufts’ environmental groups and an opportunity to mingle with some of the speakers
When: Immediately following the panel discussion
Where: Hall of Flags of the Fletcher School, Tufts University
   
What:

Live webcast of The 2% Solution. To hold global warming to the low end of 3-4 degrees F will require cuts in global warming pollution in the developed countries by more than 80% below current levels by 2050. Put another way, we need to cut roughly 2% of current emission levels a year for the next forty years. The webcast will revolve around the question: can we as a nation get on this path, and cut global warming pollution 2% a year for the next decade? What would it take? Speakers: Join Stanford University climate scientist, Stephen Schneider, sustainability expert Hunter Lovins, actor and clean energy advocate Edward Norton, and green jobs pioneer Van Jones along with youth climate leaders, for a discussion of global warming solutions. Audiences can weigh in with cell phone voting.

Burritos, donated by BoLoco, will be available.

When: 8:00 – 9:00 PM, Wednesday, January 30th, 2008
Where: Braker 001

What's happening at the Cummins School of Veterinary Medicine?

If you’d like to speak with someone about Focus the Nation events at Tufts, please contact Tina Woolston at 617-627-5517, tina.woolston@tufts.edu.

Back to Focus the Nation at Tufts webpage