How can students care and stay committed to an eco-friendly campus?
Biodiversity is dying.
Pollution still takes a toll.
Our climate is getting worse all the time.
It’s an important time to take care of our environment.
Nearly half of all bird species are experiencing population declines, while 2.5% of the world’s insect populations are lost each year, threatening thousands of fish species. This is due to dramatic habitat loss, pesticide use and water pollution such as pesticides. Pesticides cause algae to grow, suffocating fish in the water, and lowering water levels so that fish have nowhere to breed.
Here at Hamline, we can address these issues by pursuing climate neutrality and “taking the lead” by adopting additional eco-friendly practices. I think our practices need to include more unique biodiversity, stronger composting infrastructure, and more investment in sustainability practices on campus. There is a garden that provides food for the resource center, which is a good start.
Improving waste infrastructure, increasing information availability and education can make waste more efficient.
Compost can be used for energy, fertilizer, and restoration of insect populations. Some cities, such as Ames, Iowa, use waste as fuel for power plants. is this a good alternative? An idea worth discussing.
Compostable waste is often used as an alternative fertilizer, eventually becoming a source of water and reducing excess nitrogen in the soil that often suffocates fish. Composting options are now available on campus Increasing composting as a practice at Hamline becomes easier for students as they grow older.
I have heard that on campus students often throw organic waste out for recycling and nothing can be recycled because this pollutes everything else. can improve recycling practices.
Also, by increasing the diversity and care of native species, we are better able to understand the world around us. Plants and animals are unique and amazing, but we rarely know exactly how much.
Who knows that possums are the only marsupials in North America? Did you know that Minnesota’s native biodiversity includes carnivorous aquatic plants? Growing here in Minnesota If you overlook what has evolved for the sake of it, you will miss out on a great deal of fascinating information.
As I now understand it, Hamline operates on steam-powered plants that use fossil fuels to heat water and produce steam, which contributes to the current climate crisis.
It’s 2022 and the earth is hot. We are running out of time to find a solution. What can the Hamline government do to address this? We should seek and seek to implement more climate-neutral options.
Budgeting can be expensive to implement, but pushing progress will make Hamline more attractive to climate-conscious investors and students interested in environmental policy. There are many benefits of change.
Personally, I look forward to working with members of the Hamline community, HUSC, faculty, and Hamline administration to find solutions.
