![]() ![]() Composted an estimated 170,000 pounds of food waste (a 77 percent increase from the previous academic year) and.Completed one-year inventory for the Real Food Challenge.Built a “high tunnel” to extend the growing season for produce served in the campus cafeteria.Added sustainable agriculture as an academic program. ![]() Some highlights of Northland’s sustainability achievements in this past year include: ![]() In my opinion, this success is a consequence of Northland’s environmental and sustainability focus, as well as initiatives that “walk the talk.” Of note, Northland’s 2019 growth in fall enrollment exceeded all other private college and university trends in Wisconsin. I expect this will not be the last time we move the portfolio toward greater responsibility given positive outcomes. The body of evidence supporting the financial case for ESG continues to grow, and Intentional Endowment Network’s website includes a library of studies and reports demonstrating this. We believe that fossil-free and other Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investment strategies can reduce risk, and perform as well or better than “conventional” investment strategies.Ī recent report found that 94 percent of foundations that committed to divestment five years ago have experienced positive or neutral impacts on their financial performance. We concluded this was the right move from many perspectives - fulfilling our mission, aligning with our values, attracting the best students, and protecting our endowment capital in both the short- and long-term. Subsequent to much research on alternative investments that would meet acceptable performance goals, Northland’s endowment is now 100 percent fossil-free. Indeed, it is happening already: Students at Northland College were agitating for change when I joined the board and partnered with them to lead the way to effectuate fossil fuel divestiture at our institution.Īs a trustee and member of the Investment Committee at Northland, I refocused the discussion after a decade of conversation and inaction. I think about this a lot from the perspective of a parent, Northland College trustee and a retired financial planner.įuture students will demand more action on climate issues because of the impact on their lives and those of their children. Thunberg they are exasperated by inaction from us - Baby Boomers or “OK Boomers” as the students call us. These climate strikes occurred across North America and the globe. My two stepsons were among those led by Greta Thunberg. On September 27, 2019, an estimated 500,000 people, mostly high school, college and university students marched in a “climate strike” held in Montreal, Quebec. This column excerpted from Intentional Endowments Network. ![]()
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