Event pulls attention to climate change

Focus the Nation is a unique, nationwide opportunity for communities to learn about and discuss climate change. More than 1,000 campuses and communities across the country are participating in this opportunity to discuss positive responses to our changing climate.

On Jan. 30, four colleges in the South Sound region — The Evergreen State College, Centralia College, Saint Martin's University and South Puget Sound Community College — will co-host an event at The Washington Center at 7 p.m. Climate-change experts will join leaders, including Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, who spearheaded the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, to discuss climate-change implications for our region.

Global warming presents tremendous challenges, but there are ways to mitigate its effects.

We can make choices to lessen our individual carbon emissions, such as traveling less or using public transportation.

On campuses, we can measure our carbon contribution and follow through with institutional changes. For example, Evergreen has conducted a carbon inventory and pledged to be carbon-neutral by 2020. As a step toward this goal, our students voted to establish a self-imposed fee for purchasing green, non-polluting energy.

As citizens, we can work for appropriate, far-reaching policies and practices. Transportation, for example, can be coordinated across campus, businesses, neighborhoods and downtown to meet broader needs and reduce emissions.

At the state level, we can lobby for legislation that can lead the country in reducing global-warming pollution, increase green jobs and reduce our fossil-fuel dependence. We can support planning that focuses on building livable, efficient communities that reduce dependence on cars.

The Focus the Nation Community Forum on Climate Change in the Pacific Northwest will be Jan. 30 at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. S.E. in Olympia. Doors will open at 6 p.m. More information about the event and daytime activities at area campuses is at http://­focusthenation.evergreen.edu and www.­evergreen.edu.

Karen Gaul teaches about issues of sustainability at The Evergreen State College with an emphasis on the cultural effects of global warming.