University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: February 1, 2007

By KEVIN FRYLING
Reporter Staff Writer

Two UB staffers have returned from training sessions held earlier this month in Nashville during which scientists, educators and former Vice President Al Gore taught hundreds of "climate change messengers" to spread the word on global warming to local communities across the United States.

Walter F. Simpson, UB energy officer and director of the UB Green office in University Facilities, and Frederick Stoss, associate librarian in the Science and Engineering Library, were selected from thousands of applicants to participate in sessions of the Climate Project. During these sessions, attendees received professional presentation training and educational materials free of charge to prepare them to conduct versions of Gore's famous environmental slide show, as seen in the documentary film "An Inconvenient Truth."

Al Gore signs a copy of his latest book, "Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit," for UB staffer Fred Stoss during a Climate Project training session.

Besides offering greater insight into the reasons behind the rise in polar temperatures, the accumulation of solar heat in the atmosphere and other mechanics of global climate change, Simpson said the session he attended left participants with a renewed sense of urgency.

"We really don't have a lot of time to address climate change," he said, pointing to top scientists who predict that only about 10 years remain to prevent the worst consequences of global warming.

"I think we need to shake up our academic programs and campus and business functions so that we address this problem as a top priority," said Simpson. "If the Earth is facing an unprecedented crisis, then business as usual is not an option."

Although the United States is one of only two industrialized nations in the world not to adopt the Kyoto Protocol aimed at reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, Stoss noted that eight states, including New York, and more than 300 cities nationwide are considering methods to reduce their "carbon footprint." In addition, Simpson said the Association for the Advancement for Sustainability in Higher Education is calling for hundreds of universities to commit to policies of climate neutrality.

After a fall and early-winter season that brought a freak snowstorm and more than its share of warm weather to Buffalo, now is the perfect time to talk about climate change, continued Simpson, who intends to incorporate the presentation skills and materials he received in Tennessee into his ongoing efforts to educate local and on-campus organizations about the environment.

Stoss plans to present the material in discussions he has scheduled before the New York State Outdoor Education Association, as well as to several graduate classes in UB's Department of Library and Information Studies and local nonprofit groups.

The work of participants will reach thousands, said Stoss, due to a pledge that participants made to organize at least 10 presentations in 2007.

"For some it is a real religious calling," he said. "There were many representatives of faith-based organizations and several pastors."

Attendees ranged from "teens to octogenarians," he added, and included such political figures as the current mayor of Austin, Texas.

Perhaps the most dedicated person involved in the Climate Project is Gore himself, noted Simpson. "He was eloquent, passionate and tireless in presenting to us and interacting with us," he said.

Gore led attendees in a detailed walk-through of his presentation and provided in-depth explanations of each chart and graph—not to mention tips to enhance their personal presentations. A top climate scientist also was on hand to provide further technical information.

Other presenters included an expert in effective communication and Kevin Coyle, vice president of education at the National Wildlife Federation.

"Gore was present for more than 50 percent of the time as the active leader of the discussion and teaching," said Stoss, noting that the former vice president spent time with attendees at a dinner reception and local music event held during the first two days of the program, as well as later in the classroom. "Many were surprised with the amount of real time we had with him—some of it even in brief one-on-one dialogues."

In one of these short chats, Stoss said Gore talked about the significance of the recent warm weather in Buffalo, which he has taken a keen interest in since he comes to town in a few months as the final speaker in UB's Distinguished Speakers Series on April 27.