ICSD Must Adopt a Climate Action Plan with Measurable Goals

ICSD currently stands at a critical juncture on our path to a sustainable future. The adverse effects of the climate crisis are being felt more than ever. Even in Ithaca, we’ve experienced air quality issues from Canadian wildfires and ever warmer winters. Greenhouse gas emissions have increased to an all-time high, with electricity, heating, and transportation as the leading contributors to carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. In 2023, electricity and heating contributed over fourteen billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions and transportation contributed over six billion tons, according to an article by the publication Our World in Data. Public schools are a significant yet often overlooked contributor to these issues, emitting greenhouse gases from school bus transportation and heating school buildings. The Tattler Editorial Board believes that ICSD must adopt a comprehensive climate action plan that works towards net-zero emissions and a cleaner, healthier world.

 As the climate crisis worsens, ICSD must lead by example and adopt a rapid and systematic transition to clean energy (using energy from low-carbon, naturally renewable resources) and decarbonization (decrease of carbon dioxide emissions) by opting into and expanding upon the work that has already been done on the local and state levels. Accelerated efforts to reduce emissions are necessary to reduce the impacts of climate change. The Tattler Editorial Board stands behind the ongoing climate action efforts of students, staff, and administrators, and calls on ICSD to initiate a comprehensive climate action plan with measurable goals such as implementing updated heating, venting, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, cleaner sources of electricity, and creating a specific administrative position dedicated to climate action.

 ICSD and the school community have already made considerable strides towards a more sustainable future. All ICSD buildings are now equipped with LED lights that turn on and off automatically, which conserves energy and reduces emissions. Enfield Elementary recently reduced carbon dioxide emissions by a massive 133 metric tons per year after it transitioned to geothermal heating, which sources energy from heat pumps. Certain buildings in IHS rely on Lake Source Cooling, a system that uses pumps under Cayuga Lake to provide heating and cooling, resulting in significantly less carbon dioxide emissions than natural gas heating. In May 2024, Ithaca voters will decide whether or not to approve a 125 million-dollar budget for a plan that includes a complete overhaul of ICSD’s school bus infrastructure, investing in more solar-powered charging stations and a remodeled bus garage in preparation for a fully electric fleet. The Tattler Editorial Board recognizes and supports these efforts, which show how the ICSD community recognizes the need for and values climate action.

 Even so, ICSD still has significant efforts to make in terms of decarbonization. Currently, all ICSD schools except for Enfield Elementary use boiler systems with natural gas, an emissions-heavy fossil fuel, for heating, which leaves a sizable carbon footprint. In terms of transportation, the district uses 88 school buses in total, 83 of which are powered by gasoline, whose pollution not only contributes to climate change but also negatively affects student health. Although New York State has mandated that all school districts use fully electric fleets by 2035, ICSD should not delay until the deadline because the sooner ICSD can reduce our transportation emissions, the better. The total estimated carbon dioxide emissions from ICSD’s building energy use and transportation for the 2022-23 school year was 5,770 metric tons. This estimate does not include energy use in non-student-use facilities or private transportation, such as coach buses. In context, 5,770 metric tons of carbon dioxide is equivalent to more than one thousand homes’ electricity use for one year. As the climate crisis worsens, it’s clear that ICSD has a responsibility to reduce its carbon footprint.

 In the past few years, community groups have played a crucial role in bringing this issue into the public view. According to Armin Heurich, IHS librarian, faculty advisor of the Green Outdoor Adventure Team (GOAT), the Climate Action Working Group (CAWG), and Sustainability Advocate in the district-wide Sustainability Advocate Group (SAG), last year, GOAT led a presentation before the Board of Education (BoE) about the need for clean energy as well as the annual Climate Action Exposition at IHS. CAWG, a newly formed organization composed of IHS students, staff, and administrators, as well as the SAG, are currently working with the BoE to work toward developing a climate action plan. SAG is researching examples of impressive climate action plans initiated in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Portland, Oregon, as models for what ICSD can achieve. The district has clearly shown that they are eager to cooperate and support climate action, and to do so, it must prioritize accelerating climate action and actively work with community groups to find solutions best suited for ICSD’s needs.

 ICSD’s climate action plan should incorporate action steps for the transformation of transportation, heating and cooling systems, energy efficiency, and clean energy sectors. This includes quickly moving towards more sustainable HVAC systems. Geothermal HVAC systems are more efficient, less expensive, and far more sustainable than fossil fuels. Geothermal heat pumps can also be used to provide both heating and cooling, whereas the boilers that ICSD currently uses can only provide heating. This could also mean expanding Lake Source Cooling to other buildings in IHS and ICSD. The district should also create cleaner options for electricity, which could include rooftop solar panel arrays or sourcing from off-site solar farms. Such initiatives should have clear deadlines and milestones to reach carbon neutrality.

 Both New York State and the City of Ithaca have taken actions to decarbonize or reduce carbon dioxide emissions through policies such as the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and the Ithaca Green New Deal. The CLCPA, the most wide-ranging piece of climate legislation passed in New York, has implemented deadlines for reaching projected climate goals, including a timeline for reaching one hundred percent zero emission electricity by 2040 for all New York public schools (including Ithaca). However, just because we have sixteen years does not mean we should wait that long. ICSD must actively choose the quickest pathway to decarbonization, accelerating climate action as much as possible to curb the effects of global warming. This means setting clear and ambitious goals and deadlines to quickly move ICSD towards carbon neutrality.

 There is overwhelming evidence of the benefits of adopting a climate action plan. Today, clean energy costs far less than fossil fuels in the long run, and school districts that initiate energy transitions quickly find the initial investment paid back through savings. The Croton-Harmon Union Free School District in Westchester County, NY recently underwent an energy initiative that implemented solar panels and upgraded HVAC, lighting, and thermostat systems. Over eighteen months, the energy transition saved the school district 1.5 million dollars, according to PV Magazine. Furthermore, transitioning to more sustainable transportation, HVAC, and more greatly benefits the health of students and staff by decreasing harmful air pollution.

 To organize this process, the district should create an administrative position solely dedicated to improving energy efficiency and climate health at ICSD. As Heurich notes, “We do not yet have a sustainability director or a comprehensive board policy with measurable targets identifying steps towards decarbonizing.” Coordination and organization are vital for a district-wide effort such as a climate action plan. A sustainability director would ensure that important climate work is conducted efficiently and effectively, keep the district on firm deadlines, and provide expertise on climate-related issues. This administrator would also oversee diversity and inclusion initiatives related to climate change, because as Heurich argues, antiracism must be a cornerstone of climate action. Lower-income communities, which are disproportionately Black and brown, are also disproportionately affected by climate change. As a district that has already made great progress in diversity and inclusion, ICSD can take leadership to further address this issue by actively making efforts to decarbonize.

 Finally, creating a sustainability director position would also ensure that there is continued space for conversations between the student body, staff, and the BoE. The Tattler Editorial Board maintains that the fastest path to a solution lies in collaboration with community groups. The progress that ICSD has already made or currently undertaking is the result of collaborative efforts between students, staff, and administrators. As Mr. Heurich told The Tattler, “Most climate action work is collective in nature. I believe that responding to climate change on a school district level with rapid, thoughtful, and meaningful action in a short time frame requires a team approach, ideally including representatives from the Board of Education, students, administrators, staff, and architecture and design firms.” He suggested that ICSD could partner with the Ithaca Green New Deal, which would give the district both the leverage and financial support to conduct energy audits and improve infrastructure. In current and future sustainability efforts, we must prioritize teamwork and understanding, recognizing the good that has already been done as well as what still needs to be done.

 In the face of difficult problems, cooperation, collaboration, and hope are essential. ICSD has already made valuable progress towards more sustainable practices. Going forward, ICSD must work towards accelerated decarbonization by adopting a climate action plan that includes a transition to more sustainable transportation, HVAC, and electricity, as well as creating an administrative position dedicated to sustainability efforts. ICSD must embrace the suggestions made by CAWG, SAG, and other groups, and continue to work jointly with student and staff groups to implement a climate action plan with specific, actionable goals. By taking the lead in adopting a decarbonization plan that prioritizes equity and student health, ICSD could also inspire other school districts to implement similar measures, across New York and the country. The Tattler Editorial Board fully supports the work already done by staff, administrators, and students to achieve this important goal and calls on the district to accelerate our efforts towards a more sustainable and healthier future.