According to a report recently released by a coalition of youth environmental organizations and the Apollo Alliance, universities are leading the way to reduce global warming pollutants. The report also marked the launch of an ambitious student-led effort - the Campus Climate Challenge - to fight global warming at 500 North American universities.

“Universities have always been at the forefront of technological innovation and change in our society,” said Casey Stewart, a University of Wisconsin student and member of the National Student Forum of the Student Public Interest Research Groups. “With continued inaction at the federal level, now is the time for our universities to lead this country to a clean energy future.”

The report details case studies of over 30 universities in 24 states that have implemented a range of innovative programs ranging from improving the energy efficiency of classrooms, putting solar panels on buildings, constructing on-campus windmills and converting university vehicles to use cleaner fuels.

The report also outlined the energy cost savings and global warming pollution reductions these programs have created, and detailed a menu of strategies that other universities can take to create their own global warming reduction plans. It also lists contact information for university officials responsible for these programs.

The student-led effort is currently working to implement similar programs at 500 North American universities. Over 100 college campuses in 30 states have joined the challenge, and organizers anticipate hundreds more will sign up by the end of the year.

More information can be found at www.campusclimatechallenge.org. The New Energy for Campuses Report can be downloaded at www.energyaction.net/documents/new_energy.pdf.