In light of earth week, the WUD Society and Politics Committee hosted a discussion centered around sustainable energy and energy policy as it relates to UW-Madison Monday.
Led by Jacob McInnis, Associate Director of Events for the Wisconsin Union Directorate Society & Politics Committee, the discussion focused primarily on sustainable energy and what political action needs to be taken in order to institute change.
Many attendees said carbon tax may not be politically feasible.
“Our generation knows were sitting on a ticking time bomb. The economic solutions are there, politicians just aren't willing to take them,” attendee Tanvi Tilloo said.
Attendees shared ideas to improve sustainable practices on campus.
McInnis said UW-Madison is currently the lowest ranked Big Ten school when it comes to sustainability, as it is the only school that does not require an environmental breadth in the curriculum.
However, at the beginning of the 2018 school year, there was a student-led initiative for the Wisconsin Union to instate a full-time position dedicated to sustainability with the goal of reducing its carbon footprint.
The university is making strides toward becoming more sustainable, with efforts on the reduction of single-use plastic in campus dining halls and a fully solar-powered dorm on campus, Leopold Residence Hall, as well as the recent addition of solar panels on Gordon Dining and Event Center.
“The ship is turning, it just needs to turn faster,” Tilloo said.
