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In an effort to address global climate change and its impact on humans, animals and ecosystems, Whitman College is conducting its second annual greenhouse gas audit. The school aims to use information gathered to map out the steps to carbon neutrality.
 
Last year’s audit calculations were based on mere estimation due to lack of available data.
 
 “The hope this year is to continue to do a more comprehensive, detailed audit that it is based on data rather than speculation and projection,” says Jed Schwendiman, associate to Whitman’s president.
 
Auditors will analyze three areas of carbon emissions: direct emissions, purchased electricity, and indirect emissions, which includes waste and transportation.
 
The audit will be conducted by a group of 15 students, five of whom will receive credit for an environmental studies internship. Most of the group is involved with the Campus Climate Challenge.
 
Sophomore Katie Tackman is responsible for assessing emissions from transportation for varsity athletics. Tackman and her partners will face some challenges in figuring out workable  solutions to transportation emissions. For example, it is unclear if students commuting to campus or study abroad programs could lower their carbon footprints.
 
Auditors will also have a hard time getting the data they need in the first place.
 
“Whitman doesn’t necessarily keep track of that information, so I have to sort through archives,” says Tackman.
 
“At some point we’ll get institutionalized enough that we won’t even have to ask [for data],” says Whitman’s sustainability coordinator, Lisa Curtis, who hopes the audit will continue annually.
 
Many other schools across the nation have signed onto the President’s Climate Commitment. The commitment requires that schools conduct emission audits, develop a plan to become carbon neutral, and incorporate sustainability into campus life and the curriculum. Many of these schools have fallen behind on their emission reduction goals, and are just beginning to conduct audits. 
 
According to Schwendiman, President Bridges refrained from signing the commitment because Whitman had not yet measured its emissions and therefore had no sense of possible reductions.
 
“If those other schools haven’t met their goals, there’s no way Whitman was going to,” said sophomore Katie Radosevic, who is also working on the audit. “We want to sign something and have it mean something.”
 
In any case, Whitman students are enjoying the research process and lessening their carbon footprints.
 
“It’s fun to hang out with people who are really passionate about what they are doing and want to make a difference,” says Tackman. “It’s an inspiring group of people to work with.”

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