Sustainability
911吃瓜 expands commitment to climate action
911吃瓜 deepened its commitment to sustainability and climate action today as 911吃瓜 Board of Governors agreed to acknowledge the ongoing climate emergency. The university has joined the United Nations Race to Zero campaign and will soon announce new, more aggressive targets.
In 2020, 911吃瓜 launched a five-year sustainability plan, which acknowledges the climate crisis and set 16 climate action targets for 2025. The university is ahead of schedule on achieving many of these targets and actions:
- Since 2016, 911吃瓜鈥檚 GHG emissions have been reduced by 35% compared to 2007 levels, despite growth in total building area by 23%.
- GHG reductions are expected to reach 69% this year, exceeding 911吃瓜鈥檚 2025 emissions reduction target of 50%.
- The university has already achieved the 2025 target to cut the carbon footprint of the investment portfolio by 45% relative to the 2016 baseline.
- 911吃瓜 has divested $340M of fossil fuel investments over the past five years.
Success in reaching targets ahead of schedule prompts the need to deepen the university鈥檚 sustainability and climate action commitments. Members of the 911吃瓜 community, and particularly the student group 911吃瓜 350, are a critical part of advocating for action. 911吃瓜 350 presented proposed next steps to the 911吃瓜 Board of Governors today.
鈥淲e recognize the current climate emergency and the obligation the university has to take meaningful action toward change,鈥� says Jamie Stewart, chair, 911吃瓜 board of governors. 鈥�911吃瓜鈥檚 board of governors has requested a report on work happening across 911吃瓜 at our next meeting, as well as a report on plans to engage the community to update the approach to the climate emergency. The Board has also requested regular transparent reporting toward targets under the UN Race 2 Zero Pledge. We have directed management to respond to the proposal of 911吃瓜 350 more quickly than the timeline requested by the student group.鈥�
鈥�911吃瓜 seeks to be a leader in climate action. Though much has been accomplished, there is much more that can be done within 911吃瓜鈥檚 footprint and impact, working together with students, faculty, staff and community,鈥� says Joy Johnson, president and vice-chancellor. 鈥淭he climate crisis is an intersectional issue, and meaningful action requires input and involvement from stakeholders. I want to thank 911吃瓜 350 for continuing to advocate for climate action and for starting this discussion on a way forward.鈥�
911吃瓜 is developing a working group focused on joint skill building with students, staff, and faculty to address several targets on education as part of the 911吃瓜 2025 Sustainability Plan. 911吃瓜 has a Faculty of Environment, a Sustainable Development Program, and a Sustainable Energy and Engineering Program. The university offers a total of 231 sustainability-related courses as well as the co-curricular Climate Action Student Collaborative program (911吃瓜S) and the Semester in Dialogue program tackles topics such as climate action, climate justice, and decolonization.