UA notebook Steinmetz to attend summit on climate

FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas Chancellor Joe Steinmetz will take part in a climate change conference for higher education leaders.

Steinmetz will attend the Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit in Tempe, Ariz. and “participate in an invitation-only Executive Leadership Roundtable,” said Laura Jacobs, UA associate vice chancellor and chief of staff.

“In 2007, the U of A developed its own long-range climate action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and by 2015, had reduced emissions to 1990 levels, despite growing its population and physical footprint significantly,” Jacobs said in an email.

Work done to meet the goals has included investing in heating and cooling technology, increasing energy conservation standards for building projects and installing a 5 megawatt natural gas co-generation power and heat system, Jacobs said.

“The successes we have worked hard to achieve are of interest to other universities,” Jacobs said.

Trip expenses add up to $1,799, including hotel, with private funds paying for the costs, according to information provided by Jacobs. She said she did not know of any other UA attendees at the conference.

The summit, taking place today through Tuesday, is organized by nonprofit Second Nature and the Intentional Endowments Network, an initiative of the nonprofit The Crane Institute of Sustainability.