Green Profile- Peter Rescigno, CUA Sophomore and Chairman XVIII of the CUA College Republicans

Our most recent Green Profile is Peter Rescigno, CUA Sophomore and next year's Chairman of the CUA College Republicans. The CUA CRs are one of the largest and most active groups on campus. Peter gives us his take on the opportunities for the GOP to more fully engage environmental issues in the coming months.

Ryan: How do you think environmental issues with will fit into the 2012
GOP platform?

Peter: With the 2012 campaign right around the corner, environmental issues will be one part of the many issues that will fit into the GOP platform, Coming from a college GOP perspective, I think that there will needs to be a more private ownership focus in regards to the environmental agenda. Change in the environment starts with the people that live in and with it. There is no way government can control, through legislation, the everyday abuses of the environment that are currently occuring. One potential solution to environment decline is through market-based solutions which incentivize individuals to take responsibly for their own actions. Cap and trade or marketable permits in the areas of air pollution and water pollution will most likely be offered as key parts to the GOPs platform, however with drastic changes to the Waxman-Markey plan that failed in the Senate in 2009. It has been a long time coming and with the ever changing political atmosphere, 2012 is looking more like the year. Overall, it will be important to make it clear that conservation is conservative. Just because you are a Republican does not mean that you are against clean energy, it means you are for it in a more fiscally sound way.

Ryan: What role do you see college students playing in the fight against
climate change and the promotion of sustainability?

I think college students have already started taking action promoting sustainability. The Green Club has been very active on Catholic's campus, working diligently in the computer labs and workshops, collecting scraps and papers to be recycled. More and more students are using recycled materials and energy efficient light bulbs. Efforts on the part of college students, especially at Catholic, will continue to increase as advocacy and individuals start to change their own habits. It is a trend setting situation, as soon as one student does it, the rest follow and it becomes habitual.

Ryan: What changes could CUA implement to save money and pursue sustainability?

I think CUA is on the right track to saving money and promoting sustainability. Last year's addition of solar panels on the roof of Flather Hall shows the commitment the University has to the environment and renewable energy sources. In terms of furthering that trend, I think CUA should replace the Styrofoam to go boxes in the pryz. and replace them with recycled plastic containers. Little changes, like replacing Styrofoam, shaves years off the decay process happening in land fills across this country.

Ryan: What advice would you give to GOP voters concerned with environmental issues?

For GOP voters concerned with environmental policy, I would remind them that a fix to the environment is important and that if we do not do something soon, the environment will suffer. But it is important to remember that environment reform is not going to come in sweeping legislation reform mandated from Washington D.C. or State Houses across this country, it comes from individuals and individual responsibility. Again, changes to bad environmental policy will come small at first, but with small changes comes lasting sustainability.

-Ryan