Duke, UNC vows aren't good enough

I couldn't agree more with last Sunday's op-ed, "UNC should follow Duke's lead in reducing coal use." What it failed to mention is that neither university's climate pledge goes far enough as they are based on outdated climate models.

Both universities are signatories of the "American College & University President's Climate Commitment," a pledge to reduce carbon emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050. These goals are pegged to the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report.

Since that report was released, there has been a growing consensus that even the most aggressive IPCC recommendations are not enough, as reflected in the United Nations' Environment Programme's 2009 "The Climate Change Science Compendium," which is based on peer-reviewed sciences since 2006.

Scientists now warn the Arctic could be ice-free by 2037, years before UNC's commitment will be met. This would have devastating effects for North Carolina's coast and other low-lying areas. The next IPCC in 2014 undoubtedly will raise the bar far beyond either university's current commitments, though the UN warns that many of the effects of climate change may be irreversible.

Both Duke and UNC traditionally have expressed leadership in health and social justice issues. It's time to take a stronger stand on the environment. As a public institution, UNC has a particular obligation to this issue and must set more aggressive goals. A first step should be to embrace the Coal-Free Campus Campaigns objectives of helping UNC become coal free by 2014.

Brendan Watson

Carrboro