A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, Bemidji State University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and educator.
Climate Adaptation: The Bemidji State University Sustainability Model By Erika Bailey-Johnson S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y D I R E C T O R A N D P E O P L E A N D T H E E N V I R O N M E N T C O O R D I N A T O R Advancing Climate Adaptation in Minnesota’s Colleges and Universities Jan. 31, 2017 A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, Bemidji State University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and educator.
Bemidji, MN • Population: 13,431 • Area: 14.14 sq. miles • Bemidji State University, Northwest Technical College, and Oak Hills Christian College • Median income: $36,681 • Red Lake, Leech Lake, White Earth • Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement signatory (2007) • Bemidji Sustainability Committee (2009) • Minnesota GreenStep Cities (2011)
Bemi emidji dji St State ate University iversity • Member of the Minnesota State College and University System (54 campuses; 430,000 students) • Public liberal arts institution o ~5000 students o ~1200 students living on campus • Environmental Advisory Committee (1992) • Talloires Declaration signatory (2005) • ACUPCC signatory (2008, 2050 target date) • Green Fee ($5 per semester, started Fall of 2008; increased to $7.50 Fall of 2015) • Sustainability Office (started in the Fall of 2008) • Students for the Environment Club
Integrated sustainability model
Nested sustainability model
Why would you bike to work/ school?
Sustainability, our definition
Ojibwe influence The elders say that Gichi Manidoo (the Creator) created the world in a certain order; first, the physical world of sun, moon, earth, and stars; second, the plant-beings, then animal beings (two-legged, four- legged, winged, and swimmers). Last of all, Gichi-Manidoo made human beings. Last in the order of dependence, humans cannot exist without the other three.
“The Great Forgetting” We are part of the world. Everything has its special purpose in the grand ecosystem, and all are to be respected. Cooperation (rather than competition) Mutual respect (rather than domination) Long-term renewable care for resources (rather than exploitation for a quick buck) Equality (between people, between the sexes, between humans and the rest of nature)
The Seventh Fire
The pieces • Economy: our system of exchanging goods and services • Society: humans interacting with each other • Wellness: individual mental and physical health • Mother Earth as all-encompassing
The advantages • More folks engaged o Art community, health and sports sciences, indigenous culture, everyone! • Can more easily justify supporting certain projects o tobacco-free campus policy, suicide prevention activities, concert performances, Ojibwe pipe ceremonies • We want to create a campus that encourages healthy eating habits, physical activity, mentally enriching activities, psychological health, and RESILIENCE!
Recap • Ideally, choices an individual makes would be based on the answers to the following questions: o Does this decision impact our use of resources in an unsustainable way or produce waste that the Earth cannot recycle? o Will other people be impacted by this decision? o How will this decision financially impact me and society? o How does this decision impact my physical and mental wellbeing?
Thank you! Miigwech! • Erika Bailey-Johnson, Sustainability Director o ebaileyjohnson@bemidjistate.edu o 218-755-2560 I realized that if I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes. -Charles Lindbergh
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