WWU Backs Initiative on Climate Change; Commits to Upholding Tenets of Historic Paris Agreement

Western Washington University President Sabah Randhawa yesterday signed an open letter to the international community in support of the Paris Climate Agreement and to endorse local, state and governmental action on climate change and carbon reduction.

Randhawa joined more than 180 other university presidents, 125 mayors, nine governors and almost 1,000 businesses in signing the Grand Coalition Statement on the Paris Agreement.

"Joining the coalition of institutions and organizations committed to upholding the goals of the Paris Climate Accord is an opportunity to express one of Western's deepest commitments. Environmental stewardship and responsibility has long been a core value of Western's academic excellence, community, and physical operations,” said Randhawa. “We are proud to be in the company of those who are committed to holding themselves to these critically important standards."

The joint statement is being promoted by Second Nature, an organization that has worked with more than 4,000 faculty and administrators at hundreds of colleges and universities to help make the principles of sustainability fundamental to every aspect of higher education.