March 26, 2008

California State University, Fresno and the City of Fresno issued a joint proclamation to work together to establish sustainable solutions for the environmental challenges facing the San Joaquin Valley.

The new partnership is known as the “Univer/City Sustainability Initiative.”

Fresno State President John D. Welty and David Moll, assistant vice president for Risk Management and Sustainability, attended the City Council meeting today for announcement of the partnership.

Mayor Alan Autry commended President Welty and the university for their leadership in sustainability practices, citing as another example the president’s role in the city’s Operation Clean Air.

Fresno State signed the Talloires Declaration and created the Office of Risk Management and Sustainability in order to place additional focus on the university’s efforts to be a role model in sustainable practices. The Talloires Declaration is a 10-point action plan for incorporating sustainability issues into the teaching, research, operations and outreach of universities.

The proclamation notes that the city and the university recognize that “in order to successfully meet the challenges facing our region, collaborative working relationships will be essential.”
The city last year adopted “Fresno Green – The City of Fresno’s Strategy of Achieving Sustainability.”