University Sustainability with UB Chief Sustainability Officer Ryan McPherson

 

Quantum Quote: 

"The peacemaker taught us about the seven generations. He said, when you sit in Council for the welfare of the people, you must not think of yourself or your family, not even of your generation. He said, make your decisions on behalf of the seven generations coming, so that they may enjoy what you have today." - Oren Lyons

"It's not the critic who counts; nor the man or woman who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs, who comes up short again and again. Because there is no effort without error, and shortcoming." - Theodore Roosevelt

The world can feel very overwhelming– from fast-paced modernization to the constant production of greenhouse gases.

However, hope is still within our reach as we try to change our habits,  influence future generations, and save our environment.

Changing habits, switching to organic foods, and saving the earth one initiative at a time can lower the damages of our consumption. However, these aren’t enough. To achieve sustainable change, we need a constant effort to educate and empower every individual - especially at educational institutions…

Learn with us today about the changes that the State University of New York at Buffalo (University at Buffalo, or UB) are making to lead by example, empower our youth, and create a greener future for everyone!

As UB’s inaugural chief sustainability officer since 2011, Ryan McPherson works to create a culture of innovative and collaborative sustainability at UB and implement strategies to help position the university as a sustainability leader in the community, state, and nation, as well as across all institutions of higher education. As part of the university’s climate action plan, Ryan has been setting 10 key strategies to implement within the next decade.

Ryan has also worked to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals across campus and New York as part of the broader effort to create the next generation of change agents that can build the future we seek.

SuperNova #1. We all have to be in the arena. Whether you are currently succeeding or failing is not necessarily the point - you need to be in the game. We have a lot of things to do right now, and we need everyone in the arena working to really advance things.

SuperNova #2. Realize that sustainability is not the goal. Sustainability is a strategy to achieve existing goals.

SuperNova #3. We can talk as much as we want about hope and all the possibilities that are out there, etc. But there is a ticking clock that is in front of us. And every day, every hour that we delay, is a consequence that happens on the backside of that timebomb.

Worst Career Moment: The one that really stands out is that we went through a couple of years worth of really evaluating, working, putting out bids, analyzing, really reducing risk all for  a lot of on-site and our off-site solar,  and had a really great bid come in. The forecast savings was a couple million dollars a year, for 20 years, under a locked purchase power agreement, a long-term contract. One of the great things about New York is we have some awesome goals, and some really good investment and funding. But one of the big challenges is we have a lot of regulation in the state. And so, the procurement and regulatory framework to get approval of certain things works at a different speed than the market. And so, we lost that opportunity. 

Best Advice He’s Ever Received: I think sometimes in order to go fast, you need to go slow. Sometimes thinking through things a little bit more than just reacting actually gets you further ahead and has more impact.

Personal Habit that Contributes to Success: I don't know if it contributes to my success, but it helps prepare me. I love trail running.. Sustainability work is about the long game. So pacing yourself, but also learning how to digest the pain on the trail, definitely helps in the professional world as well.

Internet Resource: Climate Optimist newsletters by the Harvard T.H. Chance School C-Change

Book Recommendation: Finding Purpose: Environmental Stewardship as a Personal Calling by Andrew Hoffman

Podcast Recommendation: Rich Roll Podcast

Magic Wand: I'd go back 30 years ago and have everyone's mind changed about the importance of acting on climate.

Most Energized About Today:  I am most energized and really empowered by where I work, I get to see 30,000 students every day. Not all of them, but they are amazing! That inspiration they give me, the innovation and the creativity and you know, they're realistic. They're dealing with the same challenges. But the sense of urgency and determination that I see on an issue like climate and equity is nothing short of energizing, for me, to be around that. 

Next Step: I really think our building electrification efforts are both energizing me and keeping me up at night because it is so big. But that work is one that we're really focused on. Our mobility work is also transitioning the entire fleet over. That is no small objective either.

Parting Advice:  I do truly believe that at the end of the day, we all, within our self-interest, want to and need to get to this place. And so for me, at the core of that, is trying to speak in a language that is not your language, that is someone else's language. How can you then bring some of those different pieces of climate action, meet people where they are, and really try to have them see a different angle within their world? 

 

Connect: 

• Website: http://www.buffalo.edu/sustainability 

• Website: http://www.buffalo.edu/climate-action

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ubsustainability/

• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/UBGreenOffice

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/UBGreen

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/RyMcPherson

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ubsustainability