Even though its environmentally-friendly headquarters (above) is still under construction, the Syracuse Center of Excellence has emerged as a local leader in trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (Liam Migdail-Smith)
Methane. Carbon dioxide. Chlorofluorocarbons.
Greenhouse gases are at the heart of an ongoing international controversy about pollution from humans and industries. While a small group of scientists downplay the threat, many others are pushing for government control on the greenhouse gases. And business and public institutions, including some in Syracuse, are adding their own efforts to cut down on pollution and “go green.”
“Syracuse is ‘greener’ than most cities because it wants to be,” said Henry Mullins, an earth sciences professor at Syracuse University. “It is a question of desire. The science and engineering have been around for a long time.”
As national and local experts see it, the problem looks like this: Each year, industries spew tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air, including methane and chlorofluorocarbons. The pollution is receiving unprecedented attention as a cause of climate change.
The largest source of carbon dioxide pollution comes from coal-burning power plants, according to the National Resources Defense Council. Those produce 2.5 billion tons of CO2 every year.
To fight greenhouse gases’ threats to climate, the administration for President Barack Obama was in talks in mid-December at the Copenhagen summit. There, world leaders set a non-binding deal that calls for all countries to limit global temperature rise to a maximum two degrees Celsius. And in Syracuse, some businesses and institutions are already making steps toward reducing their carbon footprint.
Take for example, Syracuse University.
Syracuse University has been a leading example in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, say experts. In 2008, the University announced it had reduced its greenhouse-gas emissions by 3.8 percent since 2004. One of the ways the University reduced its emissions included buying 20 percent of its electric power from renewable energy sources. The University also provided free public transit to campus areas and major shopping venues to cut down on individuals driving their own autos and adding more pollution.
Earlier in December, the University also unveiled its new green data center, which will use 50 percent less energy than a typical data center and further help the University reduce its emission of greenhouse gases. “IBM, New York State and SU have formed a community of experts, pooling our resources and talent to develop innovations that will enable greener, more cost-effective computing across the globe,” SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor said in a press release. “Most importantly, the discoveries we make here will drive innovation that serves the public good.”
Nationally and internationally, greenhouses gases remain controversial. For example, Congress has been unable to pass legislation to restrict the releases of carbon dioxide because of partisan divisions and disputes over the scientific research. On Dec. 7, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a ruling that greenhouse-gas emissions endanger human health. This ruling now allows the agency to regulate carbon without congressional legislation.
Still, a small group of scientists still dismiss the large body of evidence about climate change from greenhouse gases. Among them is Myron Ebell, the director of energy and global warming policy at Competitive Enterprise Institute — a libertarian public-interest group. When polls showed that the public’s belief in man-made global warming was declining, Ebell told The Wall Street Journal, “By 2011 there will hopefully be even fewer members who support this. We may be close to having it permanently stymied.”
On the University hill, the general consensus is that climate change is, in fact, real. “I think climate change exists,” Michael Kelleher, director ofrenewable energy systems at SUNY-ESF, said. “It seems like very little debate in the serious scientific community.”
But as the debate continues, efforts to cut down greenhouse gases locally included:
The city’s nationwide-recognition as a leader in green efforts grew following the start of construction of Destiny USA, an expansion to Carousel Mall, in 2007. The project, being built by developer Robert Congel, will be a green building powered entirely by renewable resources.
“It seems to have started with Bob Congel’s concept Destiny USA being 100 percent green,” Professor Mullins of Syracuse University said. “We also have one of the world’s best environmental schools in Syracuse — SUNY-ESF, and of course the forward-looking Syracuse University.”
The Syracuse Center of Excellence is compromised of businesses and academic institutions led by Syracuse University. The Center promotes economic development that is environmentally-friendly. Some of the projects the Center is currently working on include improving technologies that produce power from the sun and wind, increasing energy efficiency, and reducing emissions from traditional fuels.
(Michelle San Miguel is a senior dual major in broadcast journalism and international relations.)
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