Harvard's new commitment to the environment "won't really take off until they start spending money," Alder says.

But serious fundraising must precede any major expenditures on the environment and environmental studies.

Prospects for raising the money during the upcoming capital campaign are strong, according to Vice President for Alumni Affair and Development Fred L. Glimp '50.

"Anytime Harvard can make a case--as it probably can on the environmental thing--that it can make a strong contribution to a national problem, I think you'll find a lot of [alumni] interested in supporting it," Glimp says.

The green will follow the green, so to speak.

Gady A. Epstein contributed to the reporting of this article.