Robin Saha, University professor and policy guru

Robin Saha grew up near the Cuyahoga river when it infamously caught fire and Lake Erie with it's tainted 'dead zone.'

The environment of Cleveland, Ohio wasn't exactly a pristine setting - but these childhood memories made a lasting impression. Saha realized things can improve when community members band together.

“It showed me that, over time, people do start paying attention to their environment, to pollution and things that are harmful to our health,” Saha said.

Today, Robin Saha's work has influenced many climate change issues in Missoula and beyond. He knows that environmental issues aren't just about nature - but also influence people.

Saha holds a Phd and teaches environmental studies at the University of Montana. He and his wife, Beth Covitt, live in a simple home with big windows, dozens of houseplants and plenty of books. From the kitchen table, you can hear the cluck of the urban chickens. The hum of the energy saving refrigerator is almost nonexistent.

Although Saha believes in doing the little things to reduce his individual carbon footprint, he's a mover and a shaker in the community. He's involved in many community activities and organizations, and encourages his students to do the same.
“I try to create opportunities for students and give them advice and guidance for being more sustainable in their own lives. But I also recognize and teach them that are limits to what we as individuals can do,” Saha said.

Saha is on the board of the Montana Board of Conservation Voters. He helps with fundraising and finding environmentally-minded people to run for office in Missoula. He supports local and national nonprofits, and is involved with campus organizations like the Sustainable Campus Committee and the Revolving Energy Loan Fund, a committee that accepts proposals from students for energy and resource conservation projects on campus.

Saha's enthusiasm for community participation also rubs off on his students.

“One of the things I really like about Robin is that he really encourages students to get involved in practical solutions to environmental change,” said Jennifer Hill, a graduate student whose worked with Saha since 2007.

“He has lots of connections, which is helpful for students too. He can point them in the right direction and help them grow professionally.”

One major project professor Saha and a group of graduate students embarked on is 177-page report about the amount of greenhouse gas emissions being spewed from city operations.

His research class, called 'Local Solutions to Climate Change' made some dramatic findings in their Missoula Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Analysis, which was unveiled to the city council in February. They found that in 2008 alone, Missoula city operations released 11,540 tons of greenhouse gas into the air. To put it in Missoula terms – Saha said it's equivalent to the weight of 7,500 Subaru Outbacks. That many cars on the road would stretch bumper to bumper from Missoula to Lolo and back again, he said.

Saha acknowledged that in spite of somber emissions results, the city has been making efforts to become more climate friendly. The take home message, he said, is to ask them to do a better job.

“I think the city needs to set a goal, and an ambitious goal for 2020, and figure out how we are going to get there.”

In the past decade cities have emerged as important players in the fight against climate change.

“Cities are very important contributors to emissions in this country. They are also part of the solution,” Saha said. “We have a problem with gridlock in Helena and in Washington DC getting action on climate change, so cities can play a very important role being leaders and taking steps that are difficult to achieve otherwise.”

Saha and his students have also been paying attention to climate change issues at the University of Montana. The university has already made the hefty goal to become climate neutral by 2020. Now, it's up to students and faculty to make this a reality.

Hill is the student representative for sustainability on campus, and has been spreading the word about the university's Climate Change Action Plan.

“We are looking at the Climate Action Plan to see what the university is doing and what they are planning on doing,” Hill said. “We also want to come up with some short term and long term goals to give it more teeth.”

Hill says her work with Saha has given her tools to enact change, including 'being overly knowledgeable' about projects she wants to move forward.

“He's a big fan of committees and planning and agendas, and making sure everyone who should be at the table is at the table before we try to push a project,” Hill said.

“It's really important to get buy-in from everyone involved. You want to make sure everyone has input and they're on board - because otherwise you're project won't be sustainable - and that's counter-productive to what we want to do,” she said.

Saha's wife Beth Covitt notices her husband's dedication to his work everyday.

“He tries really hard to get back to everyone who contacts him. He is a very hard worker,” Covitt said.

There are times she has to remind him to slow down.

“Sometimes I have to get him to stop to eat dinner, or go take a walk and get some exercise and look out the window,” she said.

Saha met his like-minded lady at the University of Michigan, where they both studied at the School of Natural Resources and Environment.

“That's something that we have in common, making decisions about what we do in terms of places we go, things we buy and how we take care of things in our house,” Covitt said. “I think we are both similar in that respect. We consciously chose lifestyles and work where we aren't going to get rich in terms of monetary wealth - but there is the benefit of doing something that matches your values.”

Click here to view the Missoula Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Analysis