After hosting a multi-day climate change summit, it should come as no surprise that students at UMass Dartmouth are interested in doing their part to reduce carbon emissions.

The Dartmouth chapter of the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group, a student-led advocacy group, met on Wednesday night to discuss the semester ahead.

Nathan Broad, a campus organizer with the group, said that last semester, students voted on the next lead campaign.

“Students want to tackle climate change,” said Broad. “They see it as one of the biggest issues facing our generation. It’s unique because our generation is one of the first ones to be seeing the effects of climate change and one of the last ones that have a chance to slow it down.”

The group wants to model a commitment to clean energy similar to the one in Burlington, Vermont, which last year became the first U.S. city to run entirely on renewable energy.

“It’s a long-term goal. With the campaign, it’s about starting a movement and changing the conversation as to what’s possible,” said Broad. “This semester, we want to pass local resolutions. Here in Dartmouth, the plan is to have lobby meetings with Senator Montigny and Representative Markey.”

They hope to get elected officials to make a pledge to move toward renewable energy by 2020. With a pledge in place, officials would then have to follow through and create policies to invest in clean energy thereafter.

In the other areas of advocacy, the group plans to continue its commitment to raising awareness of homelessness in the region. Last semester, the group held a dodgeball tournament as a means to draw students’ attention to the issue, and another event is in the works for the months ahead.

The group also aims to look at the cost of textbooks. A possible solution, Broad said, would be asking professors to considering using textbooks that are published with an open copyright, making them free for readers.

MASSPIRG will continue its ongoing effort to pressure chain restaurants to stop using meat products made from animals that have been treated with antibiotics. During the past two semesters, the group had major successes after two brands targeted by the group, McDonald’s and Subway, pledged to phase out such meat products.

David Milstone, associate vice chancellor for student affairs, spoke briefly during the meeting, where he reminded students that joining the group is more about saving the planet. He said success in college is directly related to student involvement on campus.