“Earthshot” petition urges MIT administration to decarbonize by 2035
Earthshot Petition: “For the first time on record, the Earth’s average temperature over twelve months exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”
In an email sent out to the undergraduate community on April 29, Megan Lim ’24 urged students to “sign a letter to President Sally Kornbluth for MIT to aim for an ‘Earthshot’ goal of 2035 for campus decarbonization, set intermediate milestones, and be more inclusive of students in climate initiatives.”
The Earthshot petition was written in the context of a more environmentally-friendly MIT, as the Institute plans for decarbonization will be finalized by the end of Fall 2024. The letter states that “for the first time on record, the Earth’s average temperature over twelve months exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.” In her email, Lim also highlights how Earthshot was made because she found “overwhelming support for stronger climate action at MIT” after speaking to MIT community members.
The petition recommends that Kornbluth’s administration include both undergraduate and graduate representatives for their climate advisory committees, with both groups being granted the same privileges as faculty and staff members.
The letter states that the Institute is “well-equipped to be testing-grounds for implementing innovative climate solutions,” and argues that by shifting the target year from 2050 to 2035, there would be “massive emission savings.”
A faculty member is quoted in the letter saying,“‘I don’t think I’ve ever felt a stronger gravitational force at MIT than the one around climate.’”
The Earthshot letter ends by declaring that “MIT has challenged the world on what is possible,” and that taking on the Earthshot goal will allow the Institute to “challenge the boundaries of possibility once more.” By achieving the 2035 goal, “MIT can be a beacon of hope, for [its] students and for the world,” the letter states.
The petition will continue accepting signatories, and Lim stated this will be an “ongoing conversation” with the administration. Kornbluth has yet to receive the letter at the time of this writing.