Climate Commitment and Environmental Justice Committee (CCEJC)

Purpose

2022-2023 CCEJC Purpose & Function Statement

The Climate Commitment and Environmental Justice Committee advocates, guides and informs the campus community about the Climate Action Plan (CAP), the Carbon Commitment, and the sustainable and equitable implementation of the requirements of the CAP and Carbon Commitment, including:

• Raising awareness within the campus and broader community about climate change and the necessary institutional and cultural shifts that need to occur to adapt to unavoidable climate change and to mitigate what we cannot adapt to.
• Supporting the incorporation of sustainability and climate change across the curriculum.
• Working to develop and increase awareness of a sustainable and inclusive society. Sustainability has three main pillars: social equity, environmental protection, and economic viability. These pillars are informally referred to as people, planet, and prosperity.
• Promoting compliance with laws and regulations put forward by federal, state, and local entities as well as the California Community Colleges and SAC’s commitments as described in the Climate Action Plan.
• Ensuring that Mt. SAC’s College Goal # 5 (Embed environmental, social, and economic sustainability into the work and decision-making process of all areas of campus.) and the CAP are infused into the Educational Facilities Master Plan (EFMP).

Function

2022-2023 CCEJC Purpose & Function Statement

The Climate Commitment and Environmental Justice Committee is responsible for the development and implementation of a climate action plan (CAP) that will serve as a blueprint for Mt. SAC’s achievement of neutrality in greenhouse gas emissions over a specified period. The committee also recommends steps to meet other requirements of the Carbon Commitment.

1. To promote environmental, economic, and social justice objectives within the campus and broader community.
2. To serve as the primary advisory body to the President’s Advisory Council regarding the Carbon Commitment sponsored by Second Nature and sustainability initiatives across campus.
3. To develop, periodically update, and make publically available a Climate Action Plan that will make recommendations regarding the development, implementation, and facilitation of: 1) achievement of zero net greenhouse gas emissions; 2) integration of sustainability into curriculum, research, and professional development; 3) community outreach in the areas of sustainability and climate change;4) sustainable use of resources and 5) completion and publication of an annual greenhouse gas emissions inventory.
4. To facilitate communication and study of best practices in the area of sustainability and the rapid and widespread assimilation of this knowledge.
5. To promote economic practices on campus and within the broader community, including purchasing and investment policies that are in alignment with sustainability and the goal of net neutrality in greenhouse gas emissions.
6. To provide input on EFMP development and implementation with respect to sustainable components.
7. To integrate the voices of Native and First Peoples with respect to sustainability and environmental justice.

Goals 

2024-2026 Goals and Achievements

Committee Goal	Link to College Goal	Completed Outcomes/Accomplishments
GOAL # 1:    Communicate to the campus community by maintaining an up-to-date website, newsletter and social media platforms.	6
GOAL #2:    Oversee revision and implementation of goals defined in the Mt. SAC Climate Action Plan (CAP)	1, 2, 3, 5, 6
GOAL #3:  Increase outreach to broader Walnut community about Sustainability efforts at Mt. SAC.	1, 3, 5, 6
GOAL #4:  Finalize the 2023 Climate Action Plan (CAP) and support Educational and Facilities Comprehensive Plan update (EFCP).	1, 2, 4, 5, 6
GOAL #5:  Coordinate campus-wide sustainability agenda with participatory governance bodies, such as Associated Students.	1, 5, 6
GOAL #6:  Increase visibility of sustainability on campus, including awareness of the three pillars of sustainability: people, planet, and prosperity, which supports broader DEISA+ efforts on campus.	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Goal #7  Engage students in sustainability through internship/externship programs, sustainability awards, and curriculum.	3, 4
Goal #8 Increase Mt. SAC's sustainability visibility at a regional and national scale	1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Goal #9  Align our work with CCCCO Vision 2030 Goals.	1, 2, 5, 6

Strategic Plan Goals 

Priority 1 : Advance and foster an equitable, diverse, inclusive, just, and anti-racist campus culture that empowers our community to make positive change in society. 

Priority 2: Further develop, facilitate, and maintain a physically and emotionally safe and accessible campus environment.

Priority 3: Develop and expand strategies for communication about opportunities for students that support retention, persistence, and success.  

Priority 4: Effectively coordinate human, physical, technology, and financial resources to improve student accessibility, growth, and academic success.

Priority 5: Embed environmental, social, and economic sustainability into the work and decision-making processes of all areas of campus.

Priority 6: Ensure open and authentic communication and coordination among stakeholders to support achievement of all College goals. 

Members

Membership in the Mt. SAC Sustainability Committee is open to faculty, members of the administration, Mt. SAC staff, and representatives from student organizations.

• 2022-2023 CCEJC Purpose & Function Statement

Position	Name	Term
Faculty Sustainability Coordinator (appointed by Academic Senate)(Co-Chair)	Lauren Greenberg	25-27
Sustainability Director (appointed by President)(Co- Chair)	Eera Babtiwale	ongoing
Management (appointed by Vice President of Instruction)	Lance Heard
Management (appointed by Management Steering)	Jill Dolan
Facilities Planning & Management or Designee  (appointed by VP Administrative Services)	Nafi Kaeni	ongoing
Faculty (appointed by the Academic Senate)	Janet Tuttmann	2022-25
Faculty (appointed by the Academic Senate)	Louis Vayo
Faculty (appointed by the Academic Senate)	Riccardo Ferracuti
Faculty (appointed by the Academic Senate)	Vacant
Classified (appointed by CSEA 262)	Catherine Hayward
Classified (appointed by CSEA 651)	Jesus Ramirez
Student (Student-at-Large; appointed by Associated Students)	Anisha Choksey	2025-2026
Student (Environmental Senator; appointed by Associated Students)	Sophia Lin	2025-2026
Student (EAGLE representative appointed by Associated Students)	Vacant

Minutes

• August 2025
• September 2025
• October 2025
• November 2025
• December 2025

Accomplishments

Mt. San Antonio College is developing resources to become a leader in sustainability education, planning and design in Southern California.

• On August 18, 2014, President Bill Scroggins signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. 
• Mt. SAC currently has three Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rated buildings and has made a commitment to construct all future major buildings to at least LEED Silver design standards: 
  • The Design Technology Center (Building 13) earned a LEED Silver Certification level. 
  • The Administration Building (Building 4) and the Child Development Complex (Buildings 70–73) both earned a LEED Certified level. 
  • Currently, Mt. SAC is pursuing a minimum rating of LEED Silver for the recently completed Mountie Cafe (Building 8) and Student Success Center (Building 9E) and the upcoming Business and Computer Technology Complex (Buildings 77–79) and the Physical Education Project Phase 1.  
• In 2015, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors awarded their Energy and Sustainability Award for Overall Best Project - Large District Category to Mt. SAC's Central Plant Tie-in - Building 2 (Theater and Music buildings) project.  This project replaced the existing chillers in Building 2T + 2M with high efficiency units and integrated the buildings into the main campus's central plant, allowing for more efficient production of chilled water for the entire campus. 
• Gary Nellesen, Mt. SAC’s Director of Facilities and Planning, won the Sustainability Champion Award in 2013 for his work in promoting energy conservation and sustainability throughout campus.
• The Irwindale Chamber of Commerce honored Mt. SAC with both its 2014 Water Preservation Award and its 2015 Energy Preservation Award. 
• Mt. SAC employs a thermal energy storage facility which uses natural gas to make ice at night and uses the ice to cool buildings during the day. It is 20% more efficient than using fossil fuel powered air conditioning to cool campus buildings
• Mt. SAC is the only community college in California with a green fund which allows any money the school saves through energy conservation measures to be reinvested back into additional energy conservation projects on campus.
• Mt. SAC has begun installing Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) on campus and plans to expand installation into additional surface parking lots and future parking structures. 
• Mt. SAC is planning to construct a 2.2 megawatt solar generating facility on Grand Avenue across from the Wildlife Sanctuary. (project canceled due to community opposition)
• Mt. SAC received a $30,000 Department of Labor grant to fund its building automation program, which is the only one of its kind in the area.
• Mt. SAC received a $14,000 grant to promote more mulching and recycling of green waste on campus.