By: Allan Lewis
Posted: 4/21/09
For geology professor Mark Hildebrandt, having one Earth Day is nice, but the eco-friendly holiday should be celebrated throughout the year.
"People need to really start paying more attention to these environmental concerns and issues beyond Earth Day," Hildebrandt said. "Our mindsets are going to have to change in order to take a proactive approach to environmental issues."
Hildebrandt, a climate change specialist, along with the SIUE Peace Studies Program and Gamma Theta Upsilon will participate in a town hall forum conducted by the Illinois Environmental Council Wednesday in the Morris University Center.
The causes and controversies surrounding global warming and alternative energy will highlight the professor's Earth Day presentation, which opens the IEC's statewide series on "Global Warming and Local Solutions."
"I am going to speak about where we stand right now, the forecasts look like for us in Illinois, the nation and the world," Hildebrandt said.
Hildebrandt said maintaining the climate of the earth is vital and to expect a two to 12 degree climate increase to be seen globally within 100 years.
"That is likely going to be attributed to the rise in greenhouse gases, methane and water vapors that work to trap heat into the Earth's atmosphere," Hildebrandt said. "Putting more gases into the atmosphere throws more blankets in the Earth, so coincidentally we get warmer."
Information on climate change is going to be a primary focus for the forum, but warning students of its effects and preventative steps will be at the forefront.
"In order to get serious as a society and as individuals it requires civic engagement," Wes King, an organizer with the IEC, said. "The main focus of the town hall meeting is to push citizens to get involved with their legislature and let their voices be known to those elected to represent them."
King said climate change is not the only detrimental Earth condition that deserves consideration on Earth Day.
Producing alternative clean fuels, clean water, reducing sources of mercury and conserving land are all environmental issues the IEC aims to work towards, King said.
"As global warming has become a big environmental issue, conserving green space has fallen by the wayside," King said. "You shouldn't think of the two as separate issues, because global warming can have a negative effect on open space and land conservation as well."
For a university, Hildebrandt said green issues should be a concern.
"SIUE and all other universities are going to have to become more environmentally conscious conserving energy in the future," Hildebrandt said. "It is all about the little things that add up."
The Earth Day Town Hall forum will take place Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Oak and Redbud Room in the Morris University Center.
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"People need to really start paying more attention to these environmental concerns and issues beyond Earth Day," Hildebrandt said. "Our mindsets are going to have to change in order to take a proactive approach to environmental issues."
Hildebrandt, a climate change specialist, along with the SIUE Peace Studies Program and Gamma Theta Upsilon will participate in a town hall forum conducted by the Illinois Environmental Council Wednesday in the Morris University Center.
The causes and controversies surrounding global warming and alternative energy will highlight the professor's Earth Day presentation, which opens the IEC's statewide series on "Global Warming and Local Solutions."
"I am going to speak about where we stand right now, the forecasts look like for us in Illinois, the nation and the world," Hildebrandt said.
Hildebrandt said maintaining the climate of the earth is vital and to expect a two to 12 degree climate increase to be seen globally within 100 years.
"That is likely going to be attributed to the rise in greenhouse gases, methane and water vapors that work to trap heat into the Earth's atmosphere," Hildebrandt said. "Putting more gases into the atmosphere throws more blankets in the Earth, so coincidentally we get warmer."
Information on climate change is going to be a primary focus for the forum, but warning students of its effects and preventative steps will be at the forefront.
"In order to get serious as a society and as individuals it requires civic engagement," Wes King, an organizer with the IEC, said. "The main focus of the town hall meeting is to push citizens to get involved with their legislature and let their voices be known to those elected to represent them."
King said climate change is not the only detrimental Earth condition that deserves consideration on Earth Day.
Producing alternative clean fuels, clean water, reducing sources of mercury and conserving land are all environmental issues the IEC aims to work towards, King said.
"As global warming has become a big environmental issue, conserving green space has fallen by the wayside," King said. "You shouldn't think of the two as separate issues, because global warming can have a negative effect on open space and land conservation as well."
For a university, Hildebrandt said green issues should be a concern.
"SIUE and all other universities are going to have to become more environmentally conscious conserving energy in the future," Hildebrandt said. "It is all about the little things that add up."
The Earth Day Town Hall forum will take place Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Oak and Redbud Room in the Morris University Center.
