Climate-Neutral Planning
From ClimateNetworkWiki
Climate-Neutral Planning is taking place across North America. The question that this Knowledge Base page begins to answer is: how are the universities and colleges that have committed to carbon dioxide neutrality planning to reach those targets? This will become a review of best practices both in terms of the plans themselves, and the process of planning.
This will be a useful resource as we draft our beyond climate-neutral plans using collaborative planning processes. However, our goal is considerably different than carbon dioxide neutrality: while the institutions below are looking to reduce their emissions and then purchase offsets for the rest, we are striving to mobilize the research and learning capacities of the university to collaboratively develop integrated plans that tap both the academic and operational assets of the university to help solve the region's climate crisis.
In other words, we are addressing questions like: How can the University create a safe, efficient, and climate-friendly transportation system in the region?
Universities and colleges are unlike any other institution in that they have: a) the broad expertise to address the interdependent facets of this question b) the deep research capacity to thoroughly examine it c) the creativity of a motivated body of students to insure innovative solutions and d) the physical presence to act as a hub in the new transportation network as well as e) the economic power to stimulate its development through programs like the U-Pass. Furthermore, collaborative planning with regional partners such as municipalities, NGOs, businesses, and other groups and individuals will be crucial for developing plans that are both accurate and have generated the necessary support to be implemented.
As such projects progress the university can move beyond climate-neutral: doing more to solve the climate crisis than it does to cause it.
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Summary and Analysis
The universities and colleges that have committed to going carbon dioxide-neutral are currently in the planning stage. There are no universities or colleges that have a completed plan that has been approved for implementation. However, there are many universities that have committed to developing a plan, and there are a handful that have already created useful planning tools. Those universities and their resources are included below.
In a sense, the campus sustainability movement is currently planning to plan. This has been the major contribution of the American University and College President's Climate Commitment (PCC). Once signed, this commitment immediately requires the initiation of a planning process. According to Dedee DeLongpree, the Director of the Office of Sustainability at the University of Florida, the PCC has catalyzed a much more rapid, focused, and integrated approach to achieving carbon neutrality amongst its rapidly growing list of signatories. As this large network of universities and colleges plans to achieve carbon neutrality in their campus operations they are behaving as an extremely large distributed research network working to address the greatest challenge of our time.
This situation reflects the broader context of the human struggle against the climate crisis:
We have a sense of the scale and the urgency of the challenge that faces us. We are largely able to agree on the scale and the timeline of deep emission reductions (80-90% reductions in developed countries by 2050). However, we do not yet know how we are going to achieve that kind of change.
This is, of course, where our leading institutions of research and learning have a particular opportunity to contribute. The approach of the University of Florida, described in the section on plans below, is typical of the approach of the PCC. It is a strategy for sparking change best described by this statement from page 5 of their Call for Climate Leadership.
"Colleges and universities are also ideal settings to develop workable new strategies, systems, behaviors and technologies that can be scaled up to the community and state levels. By involving students, faculty and staff, these institutions can become effective models for achieving climate neutrality and sustainability. We need academia to take the lead on cutting-edge research, action and demonstration projects that will speed the path to climate neutrality across all society’s sectors - catalyzing investment and driving the development of new markets."
Beyond Climate-Neutrality
As described in the opening section of this page, the Campus Climate Network has a similar vision with a few significant differences. For example, instead of offsetting campus emissions by purchasing credits we look at the use of the universities' primary asset: its brainpower. Using that brainpower to create local solutions to the climate crisis in their cities and regions universities and colleges can move beyond climate-neutral so they have a net-positive impact, without spending large sums purchasing offsets.
This approach will drive research dollars and create new learning opportunities that are interdisciplinary, problem-based, and experiential. Furthermore, we are currently developing methodologies for turning the positive impacts of research and education into credits that could be sold on carbon markets. In this way, we can insure that universities which adopt a beyond climate-neutral strategy will be properly resourced to lead the way in planning for a future where the climate crisis has been solved.
In all, this is an enormous opportunity for civic engagement by the whole university community in addressing the greatest challenge of our times.
President's Climate Commitment
The American University and College President's Climate Commitment (PCC) has been signed by over 146 higher education institutions so far. The signatories have broad geographic coverage and represent a wide range of higher education institutions. Their primary resource is A Call for Climate Leadership, it contains a host of impressive initiatives at universities and colleges across the USA.
Echoing our own sentiments, the Call observes that:
"Leading society to reverse human-induced global warming is a task that fits squarely into the educational, research, and public service missions of higher education. There is no other institution in society that has the influence, the critical mass and the diversity of skills needed to successfully make this transformation."
It outlines a road map for carbon neutrality that begins with top-level commitment, proceeds to strategies for buy-in from the university community, which is followed by the creation and implementation of a plan, and the concurrent reporting of progress to the PCC governing body.
By signing the commitment American university and college presidents are agreeing to:
1. Initiate the development of a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible.
- Within two months of signing this document, create institutional structures to guide the development and implementation of the plan.
- Within one year of signing this document, complete a comprehensive inventory of all greenhouse gas emissions (including emissions from electricity, heating, commuting, and air travel) and update the inventory every other year thereafter.
- Within two years of signing this document, develop an institutional action plan for becoming climate-neutral, which will include:
- A target date for achieving climate neutrality as soon as possible.
- Interim targets for goals and actions that will lead to climate neutrality.
- Actions to make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum and other educational experience for all students.
- Actions to expand research or other efforts necessary to achieve climate neutrality.
- Mechanisms for tracking progress on goals and actions.
2. Initiate two or more of the following tangible actions to reduce greenhouse gases while the more comprehensive plan is being developed.
- Establish a policy that all new campus construction will be built to at least the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver standard or equivalent.
- Adopt an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring purchase of ENERGY STAR certified products in all areas for which such ratings exist.
- Establish a policy of offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions generated by air travel paid for by our institution.
- Encourage use of and provide access to public transportation for all faculty, staff, students and visitors at our institution
- Within one year of signing this document, begin purchasing or producing at least 15% of our institution’s electricity consumption from renewable sources.
- Establish a policy or a committee that supports climate and sustainability shareholder proposals at companies where our institution’s endowment is invested.
3. Make the action plan, inventory, and periodic progress reports publicly available by providing them to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for posting and dissemination.
4. In recognition of the need to build support for this effort among college and university administrations across America, we will encourage other presidents to join this effort and become signatories to this commitment.
Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) is the largest professional university and college sustainability organization in the world. It has become an impressive resource, effective campaigner, and generally an excellent facilitator of the burgeoning movement.
As the PCC grows and develops AASHE will likely act as the central hub of what is, essentially, an enormous distributed research project to turn campuses across the USA into models of a climate friendly future.
Universities Planning for Carbon Dioxide Neutrality
This is, to say the least, a partial list. After all, there are already 146 (and counting) signatories to the PCC. These particular institutions are all early adopters and have already done some planning over the past several years.
College of the Atlantic
The College of the Atlantic's Carbon Net-Zero Proclamation sets out impressive targets for achieving 100% reliance on energy from renewable sources by 2015. They will then purchase offsets for the remaining emissions.
One of the most interesting things about this plan is the way that it is integrated into curricula:
"COA is integrating all three major components of the effort to go emissions neutral into the curriculum. One group of students will work on measuring emissions, which they define broadly to include not just the campus itself but the fossil fuels burned to bring people there. Another group will work on how to reduce those emissions, and a third will be responsible for investing the concomitant endowment funds to neutralize the emissions. Craig Ten Broek, COA’s Director of Sustainability, is responsible for managing this project. “First we avoid emissions where we can, by biking or walking rather than taking a car. We will reduce emissions where we can, by making buildings more energy efficient, installing newer high efficiency heating systems,” he said. “We’re moving to renewable fuels. For example, we’re starting construction this spring on a new 50 bed student housing complex. It will be heated—space and hot water—with wood pellet boilers, burning renewable fuel, rather than fossil fuel. The pellets are made from sawdust and waste materials so we’re taking a waste product and making it useful.” ("The Greenest Campus" - Campus Progress) COA is now powered 100% renewably. (Pg 9 - A Call for Climate Leadership)
Arizona State University
ASU president Michael Crow signed the PCC in March of 2007. He is part of the leadership circle that promotes the agreement. They have committed to putting together an inventory of their greenhouse gas emissions and developing a plan within two years to become carbon dioxide-neutral. ASU launched their School of Sustainability last fall, which is the first in the world. It will offer BS, MS and PhD programs. The Office of Sustainability Issues is helping to put the carbon dioxide-neutral plan together. So far, they have had an impressive scope to their sustainability initiatives.
ASU's commitment is particularly impressive given the very large size of the institution and its location in highly unsustainable Phoenix, Arizona.
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California system has emerged as a major leader in the campus sustainability movement. The Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at UCSB completed a Campus Carbon Neutral Project last year.
They produced a brief and Final Report to look at the strategies the University could take to meet California's goal of 80% reductions by 2050. One of their more interesting findings was that the university would save $5 million by 2020 by instituting their plan.
They are currently working on Campus Carbon Neutral II.
University of Florida
The University of Florida has received considerable press for their declaration because they are a very large university. Published in 2004, the University of Florida Carbon Neutral Assessment Report laid the groundwork for the 2006 announcement that the university would make the President's Climate Commitment to begin a planning process to achieve carbon neutrality.
At the moment they are working on a detailed greenhouse gas inventory using an upgraded version of the software that was employed to create the 2004 report. The new version of the software will include the impact of transportation, including plane travel. In fact, they have just begun using their accounting system to track all flights by university faculty and staff.
From our conversation with Dedee DeLongpree, Director of the Office of Sustainability, the following initiatives are some of the most significant and likely to be included in the carbon dioxide-neutral plan (and are present 2004 report):
- Improvement of LEED-silver standards for building to include even greater energy efficiency
- Encouraging tele- and videoconferencing along with a generally aggressive approaching to improving efficiency in new equipment
- Development of offsetting partnerships, including the intensive enhancement of carbon sinks on University lands (they own extensive wetlands)
The initial report indicates the University could become carbon dioxide-neutral by 2020 in an "aggressive" scenario or by 2030 in a "moderate" scenario. Furthermore, the report found that existing energy efficiency initiatives routinely saved money and that:
"typically two dollars or more are saved for every dollar invested in energy programs and that up to a 40% reduction in energy demand can be realized while positively improving the operational budget. The study concludes that achieving carbon neutrality is possible at no net cost, and, if desired, attainable within two decades."
Lane Community College
Lane Community College is located in Eugene Oregon. Their President, Mary Spilde is on the Leadership Circle of the PCC. They won a Campus Sustainability Leadership Award in October 2006 from AASHE, for, among other things, declaring a target of becoming carbon dioxide-neutral by 2050. They established a Sustainability Group in 2004 whose membership includes students, faculty, staff and managers. Initiatives already underway that implement sustainability include an environmental curriculum, a comprehensive recycling and waste reduction program, energy conservation and a waste reduction plan.
Details regarding these and further incremental changes can be found here: [1]
Lane’s sustainability policies can be found here: [2]
The Design and Construction Policy is under the authority of Facilities Management and Planning, while the Energy Conservation and Recycling Policies are under the authority of the Sustainability Office.
Middlebury College
Carbon Neutrality at Middlebury College: A Compilation of Potential Objectives and Strategies to Minimize Campus Climate Impact is a report prepared for the Carbon Reduction Initiative Committee of Middlebury College by the ES-010 class, "Middlebury Carbon-Neutral" in January of 2003.
Oberlin College
As the site of the Lewis Center for Environmental Studies and famed university sustainability guru, David Orr, Oberlin College is a predictable member of the early adopters category. Like all of the other universities and colleges that have signed this commitment they are currently in the planning stages.
The Oberlin College: Climate-Neutral by 2020 report was created in 2002 to chart a possible path to climate neutrality. It was written by the Rocky Mountain Institute.
