(Honolulu, Hawaiʻi) — A check for $25,000 to support the work of the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa Climate Change Commission was presented today to new UH Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw by Mike May, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Company.
"Global climate change is one of the most important issues facing our state and our world today. We have the good fortune to have some of the leading experts on climate change already on the faculty here at the University of Hawaiʻi," May said. "We are happy as part of the UH Manoa - Hawaiian Electric energy partnership to support the work of the Manoa Climate Change Commission."
The funds will be used to inventory the electricity, natural gas, transportation fuel purchased, the airlines miles traveled and to survey commuter travel by students, faculty and staff at Manoa and its off-campus sites. Inventory results will then be registered in a new Honolulu Greenhouse Gas Registry to be established by the Manoa Climate Change Commission.
"The work of this Commission will lead the way for Hawaiʻi to better understand the significant consequence of climate change and develop new directions in reducing our energy use," Hinshaw said. "We very much appreciate both Hawaiian Electric's financial assistance and its technical support to monitor and control energy use on our UH Manoa campus."
The University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa and Hawaiian Electric Company Energy Partnership was formally initiated in April 2007.
The Manoa Climate Commission was created to address climate change concerns by developing and promoting research, education and outreach on issues and also by measuring the greenhouse gas emissions of the Manoa campus and taking steps to reduce them.
Two key members of the commission were also on hand for the check presentation today. Professor of Economics Denise Konan established the commission during her time as interim UH Manoa chancellor. Commission Chairman Lorenz Magaard was also present. Magaard, a professor of oceanography, also serves as director of the International Center for Climate and Society.
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The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawaiʻi System. The mission of the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation is to unite donors' passions with the University of Hawaiʻi’s aspirations by raising philanthropic support and managing private investments to benefit UH, the people of Hawaiʻi and our future generations www.uhfoundation.org.
