{"id":94731,"date":"2022-12-29T02:56:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-29T08:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=94731"},"modified":"2022-12-28T14:17:44","modified_gmt":"2022-12-28T20:17:44","slug":"inaugural-nu-sustainability-summit-draws-150","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2022\/12\/29\/inaugural-nu-sustainability-summit-draws-150\/","title":{"rendered":"Inaugural NU Sustainability Summit draws 150"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Nearly 150 students, faculty, staff and business and community leaders attended the University of Nebraska\u2019s inaugural system-wide Sustainability Summit<\/a>, held Nov. 21 at Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants \u2013 representing a diverse range of expertise and interests \u2013 agreed that a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach will be required to address the sustainability challenges facing Nebraska and the world. That was the thinking behind bringing together a broad group of stakeholders for this fall\u2019s summit, NU System President Ted Carter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe fact that we\u2019re here together today, representing all corners of the University of Nebraska and the broader community, is a strong statement about our commitment to sustainability,\u201d Carter said in his opening remarks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always the right thing to look for ways to be better stewards of the resources entrusted to us, both natural and financial. This is important work, and we want to get it right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carter was joined in opening the summit by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green, PhD, who noted the importance of the event\u2019s location at Innovation Campus, which this year is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Home to buildings built to LEED Silver<\/a> standards, zero-waste practices, an award-winning Centralized Renewable Energy System and groundbreaking research in food, water and energy, Innovation Campus is a leader in sustainable practices<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The day\u2019s keynote speaker was Rob Hanson, co-founder and CEO of Monolith<\/a>, a leader in the development of technology to produce affordable, clean hydrogen and carbon black, a raw material used in the manufacture of rubber and plastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hanson noted that there\u2019s no \u201csilver bullet\u201d for advancing sustainability goals; technology, policy and all sectors must work in concert to deliver solutions, he said. Hanson urged students from across the academic disciplines to be engaged in sustainability work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That sentiment was echoed by student, faculty and staff panelists throughout the day, who stressed the importance of collective and collaborative action in making a difference on sustainability. Student panelists noted that sustainability is relevant to almost every field of study, from agriculture to health care, engineering to business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The day closed with a panel of Nebraska\u2019s public power leaders, who spoke to the state\u2019s unique standing as the only state in the U.S. with 100% public energy. They stressed the importance of consumer engagement in sustainability practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent system-wide sustainability achievements highlighted by Carter at the summit include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n