Framingham State University President F. Javier Cevallos has joined with leaders of more than 600 other colleges and universities in calling for unprecedented action to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

A joint declaration took place at the 2019 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit, an annual event hosted by Second Nature and the Intentional Endowment Network (IEN). The call provides nine guiding principles for higher education institutions to accelerate climate leadership with socially inclusive initiatives and innovative cross-sector partnerships.

“We have a moral obligation to drive solutions that serve those who are disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change,” Dr. Cevallos wrote in an Op-Ed published in the MetroWest Daily News. “This is a pivotal moment for higher education to escalate collective action for transformative, scalable climate solutions that integrate environmental justice and social equity at their core.”

The call to action exhorts increased collaboration between colleges and universities that have already been leading on bold climate action commitments and initiatives for decades. By sharing resources and best practices, institutions can strengthen their climate action plans to incorporate cutting edge research for decarbonizing operations and financing renewable energy projects. These sustainable practices include: new approaches to building performance and greenhouse gas reduction; implementing high-impact renewable energy projects; carbon pricing and offset methods; and endowments investing for a low-carbon, sustainable economy.

Framingham State University has been recognized as a Green College by the Princeton Review dating back to 2010.

“At FSU, we want to be part of the solution on our campus and in our community,” Cevallos wrote.