What is the Talloires Declaration?
Composed in 1990 at an international conference in Talloires, France, this is the first official statement made by university administrators of a commitment to environmental sustainability in higher education. The Talloires Declaration (TD) is a ten-point action plan for incorporating sustainability and environmental literacy in teaching, research, operations and outreach at colleges and universities. It has been signed by over 350 university presidents and chancellors in over 40 countries.

Brief History of the Tallories Declaration

10 point action plan of the Talloires Declaration

Meredith College President Signs Environmental Action Declaration
On Sunday, April 22, 2007, Meredith College became the fifth North Carolina institution to sign the Talloires Declaration, which spells out a 10-point action plan for supporting sustainability and environmental literacy.

Meredith President Maureen A. Hartford signed the Declaration during the College’s Earth Day Celebration, which took place at the conclusion of a weeklong series on environmental action sponsored by Meredith’s Student Government Association (SGA).

“Universities educate most of the people who develop and manage society’s institutions,” President Hartford said. “For this reason, universities bear profound responsibilities to increase the awareness, knowledge, technologies and tools needed to create an environmentally sustainable future.”

Following the signing, three 100-year Dogwood trees were planted near Meredith’s McIver amphitheater.

Student Life Committee Chair Lauren Thie, ’06, the student organizer of Meredith’s Earth Day celebration, said the signing of the declaration and the tree planting ceremony signified “a new direction – and the right direction – for Meredith.”

During the 2006-07 academic year, SGA launched “The Campaign for a Greener Meredith.” Along with the Talloires Declaration signing, one of their major accomplishments is recommending that Meredith hire its first sustainability coordinator. SGA leaders prepared an official proposal, along with a petition signed by 265 students, faculty and staff.

The Talloires Declaration was created in 1990 by Tufts University President Jean Mayer at a conference in Talloires, France. Since then, more than 340 universities in the world have signed. Visit www.ulsf.org for more information.

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