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JUST

The

Climate Action Plan

for Appalachian State University

making the "impossible" possible

making the possible desirable

making the desirable natural

contents

Screen Shot 2020-11-01 at 10.27.36 AM.pn

art by MJ Sanqui

I. foreword

II. introduction

context: a climate emergency

III. overview of appalachian state greenhouse

gas emissions

our emissions trajectory: neutrality by 2115

it's actually worse: our hidden emissions

and worse still: accounting for historical emissions

IV. organizing for a Just Transition at app state: 

systemic problems require systemic change

a Just Transition to combat an extractive economy

biodiversity must not be ignored

app state as an anchor institution

V.  simple "neutrality" by 2022

going one step beyond simple "neutrality"

VI. appalachian's Just Transition:

offsetting carbon through justice

ethical purchasing

agroforestry carbon farming

energy justice

solutions requiring further research

​

scroll down to navigate & read the plan

what is the Just

climate action

plan (CAP)?

The Appalachian Climate Action Collaborative (ClimAct) has been fighting for climate action in the High Country since 2018. ClimAct began working with Appalachian State University (ASU) to draft a climate action plan for the institution, but the organization was disappointed by the process and expected results of the ASU CAP. The Just CAP is an alternative climate action plan that prioritizes the framework of a Just Transition to climate neutrality, working toward a Regenerative Economy. 

why did ClimAct create the Just CAP?

The Just CAP was created to provide critiques and suggestions for the ASU CAP, outlining swift, decisive, and feasible actions to achieve a Just Transition and build a Regenerative Economy in our community. Read our letter to members of App State's administration, detailing the reasons for the creation of the Just CAP.

ClimAct is still working on the Just CAP planning process. We welcome critiques and suggestions for the Just CAP, and anyone is welcome to get involved in the planning process. Look out for an announcement for our PUBLIC FORUM, a future event that ClimAct is planning, to build involvement in the Just CAP planning process.

 

If you would like to be a part of the Just CAP planning process, contract Michael Weiss at weissm2@appstate.edu 

updates on the

Just CAP

planning process

highlights from the Just CAP

Neutrality is cheap. Amazingly, this simple path to “neutrality” would cost only $7.4 million dollars per year. By contrast, we currently spend $6.3 million on dirty electricity, natural gas for the steam plant, and a very limited number of carbon offsets. In other words, the university could become carbon neutral in 2022 for only $1.1 million more than we currently spend. For perspective, this extra $1.1 million represents 0.26% (one-quarter of one percent) of total university expenses in 2019.

ASU owns an electric utility! It could purchase 100% renewable energy cost-effectively, encourage solar energy development in Boone with a simple change in policy, and help our community save money and energy by weatherizing low-income homes in Boone.

ASU spent $116 million just on services, supplies, materials, and utilities. Yet, we have virtually no standards or guidelines for what we purchase or who we purchase from. By purchasing locally and ethically, this funding could transform Watauga county's economy, support low-income and marginalized businesses.

Neutrality without justice fails to address the underlying issues and feedback loops that allow and cause climate destruction and social inequity.

Agroforestry “carbon farming” [aka planting trees for timber and food production] could sequester all of ASU’s non-electric carbon. The cost of this ($13.7 million) would be just a small fraction larger than the student-fees that go towards athletics ($11.2 million). All this while producing food systems and ecosystems that would be more resilient to climate change

With a conservative estimate, accounting for the carbon footprint of food purchases would increase our emissions by 28%. Acknowledging this and purchasing local, sustainable, and ethically produced food could greatly decrease our carbon footprint, preserve cultures and landscapes, protect biodiversity, and boost our economy. Changing our food purchases to be more sustainable would also reduce costs by 2%.

use the buttons above to navigate the Just CAP, or read the full version

of the Just CAP

1st draft:

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