Charlotte Reborts
Charlotte Roberts is a second year Sustainability Major and is currently serving as the Associated Students Sustainability/Green Love Commissioner. Sustainable SDSU caught up with Charlotte to dicuss her passion for sustainability and where she believes SDSU and the City of San Diego are heading in the field of sustainability.
How did you become interested in sustainability?
Towards the end of high school, I learned how destructive conventional animal agriculture is to soil fertility, watershed ecology, and human health in the western world. I began eating a meatless diet and started a plant-based club at school where we had vegan potlucks and shared educational materials. When I was applying for colleges my senior year of high school, I saw that SDSU offered a major in Sustainability. For the next few months, I spent time learning as much as I could about sustainability, and by the time spring came, I knew for sure I wanted to attend SDSU because of how salient sustainability seemed to be in today’s world. Through joining Associated Students’ Sustainability Commission (Green Love), volunteering with environmental organizations, and being engaged in my first year of college courses, I learned how sustainability is not only applicable, but imperative to every sector of the economy and all aspects of life. The ubiquity of the sustainability concept intrigues me because it means anyone can benefit from incorporating it’s three tenets – ecology, economy, and ethics – into their business model or lifestyle.
Is there anything or anyone that inspires you to continue promoting a sustainable lifestyle?
The Green Love family consists of some of the most compassionate, thoughtful, and selfless people I’ve ever met. Each member has their own unique way of incorporating sustainability into their studies and daily habits, whether it’s purchasing second hand clothing, spending Saturday mornings picking up trash on the beach, or developing businesses that divert waste from the landfill (shoutout to SoulMuch, a cookie company started by SDSU students that uses recovered food waste). These individuals inspire me every day to stay optimistic and work hard. Additionally, the Green Love Advisor and Associated Students Director of Sustainability & Facilities, Glen Brandenburg, has been working diligently for over forty years to create and complete sustainability projects at SDSU and the Greater San Diego area. I regard Glen as my mentor as not only is he is a beacon of inspiration and knowledge for myself but for other students who too want promote the values of sustainability.
What motivates you to continue improving sustainability at SDSU?
SDSU is the perfect place to work on sustainability projects as there is already an active “green” culture here (LEED facilities, composting at the community garden, supportive faculty/staff), but there is still much to improve upon. To set the scene, we live in sunny San Diego, yet many facilities still are not solar powered. Large quantities of food from events are regularly not eaten and then they are sent to the landfill instead of being donated or composted. Less than 14% of students, staff, and faculty use public transportation to commute to campus, so “greenhouse gas emissions from commuter-related transportation represent 42.4 % of total [campus] emissions,” (SDSU Climate Action Plan). Viable solutions currently exist for these problems, and there are many passionate people here at SDSU who are working hard to implement these solutions. I am motivated and committed to improving sustainability at SDSU so that I can best support these forward-thinking students, faculty, and staff.
Are there any projects occurring on campus to improve sustainability?
Tom Abram from campus facilities has a constant list of projects he is working on, such as helping start a bike-sharing program and replacing grassy areas with drought-tolerant plants and community seating. Passionate student interns and members from clubs like the Enviro-Business Society and Sage Club are always finding innovative ways to work on these projects or spearhead their own, like adding more recycling bins to classrooms and participating in community cleanups in neighborhoods near campus. The Associated Students, which is a student-run auxiliary of SDSU, recently released exciting plans for a Double LEED Platinum renovation and expansion of the Aztec Recreation Center. If voted on by the student body in a referendum this spring, SDSU will be the only campus in the world to have two facilities of this sustainable certification on the same property.
Can you give a few tips on how students can live a sustainable lifestyle both on and off campus?
Whether at home, school, or work there are many ways that students can live sustainably. Aside from recycling and composting, students can choose plant based proteins, purchase organic foods, take public transit, use ride share apps, and bring reusable utensils/containers/bags. In the larger community, take the initiative to support local and sustainable businesses and become engaged in the community by volunteering for nonprofits and remaining aware of pressing social and political issues.
What other areas do you think SDSU and the City of San Diego can improve on in terms of both practicing and promoting sustainability?
SDSU and the City of San Diego both have extensive Climate Action Plans that were adopted in 2015 and 2017. These documents contain comprehensive data analysis of their respective environmental impacts and they describe innovative strategies to achieve these necessary goals. The proposed strategies for the goals that former President Hirshman (SDSU) and current Mayor Faulconer (City of SD) agreed to set are not only feasible, but they would create sustainable jobs, healthier communities, and position San Diego as a historical leader in climate action. The challenging part, though, is getting decision-makers at the university and city level to see the benefits of implementing environmental and social improvements to existing and future infrastructure. Take, for example, the 166-acre property in Mission Valley which has the potential to be a global model for sustainable development. If the development of this property keeps sustainability as a main priority, massive goals can be achieved for the SDSU and City Climate Action Plans, which may inspire other cities around the world to make transformative choices as well.