Times Higher Education Releases 2022 Impact Rankings
The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings include metrics based on the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals across four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching. This year, 1,406 universities from 106 different countries/regions are ranked in the overall table.
Harvard U Dedicates $100M to Legacy of Slavery Report Recommendations
The report of the Presidential Committee on Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery released in late April describes the university's historical ties to slavery and how they contributed to the institution's rise. The report also offers a series of recommendations, including the inauguration of a $100 million fund to implement the recommendations and a sustained endowment.
Health Students Release 'Planetary Health Report Card'
The Planetary Health Report Card is a metric-based tool for evaluating and improving planetary health content in health professional schools. Featuring responses from students and faculty from 74 medical schools across the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Germany, Malaysia and Japan, the report grades medical schools on their sustainability performance.
Gallaudet U to Install Photovoltaic & Energy Storage Microgrid
Expected to go online by fall of 2023, the microgrid will consist of 2.5 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic panels spread across numerous campus rooftops and parking garages, a 1.2 MW/2.5-megawatt-hour (MWh) lithium-ion battery energy storage system, and a 4.5 MW combined cooling, heat, and power system.
U Massachusetts Amherst Announces 100% Renewable Power By 2032 Goal
The university on Earth Day unveiled UMass Carbon Zero–a vision to power the university's 1,500-acre flagship campus with 100 percent renewable energy by approximately 2032. Among other changes, the university plans to transition from fossil fuel-based steam and electricity production to a low-temperature hot water heating system paired with ground-source heating and cooling, and to use a combination of on-site battery-stored solar energy and purchased clean energy.
Cornell U Achieves STARS Platinum
Points of distinction in Cornell's recently earned AASHE STARS Platinum rating include its sustainability-focused module for all first-year and transfer students and a living laboratory project focused on ground-source heating.
California State Polytechnic U Humboldt Releases Climate Action Plan
The newly released roadmap introduces 35 actions to help the university achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 and build climate resilience. The actions span buildings, energy and fuels, transportation, waste and purchasing, carbon offset and sequestration, academics and research, and resilience.
Hamilton College Sets 2030 Carbon Neutrality Goal
The college's board of trustees voted this spring to set a new carbon neutral date of 2030, 20 years earlier than the original target of 2050. The college plans to invest in energy upgrades to campus buildings, manage parts of campus to increase carbon sequestration in its lands, and continue to study and implement additional opportunities for emission reductions.
Bentley U Commits to Carbon Neutrality By 2030
The university's new Sustainability and Climate Action Plan focuses on climate resilience, equity, education and further reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The plan sets a goal to purchase 100 percent of its electricity to power the campus from renewable sources by 2026 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
