U Manchester Divests From Fossil Fuels
(U.K.) The university's recently published Responsible Investment Report indicates that it is now divested from fossil fuel companies and has exceeded its target for reducing the carbon intensity of its other holdings.
U California Los Angeles Publishes Sustainability Plan
UCLA’s new sustainability plan, which includes input and feedback from more than 1,000 community members, includes specific initiatives related to sustainable transportation, climate, food systems, water and zero waste, among others. It highlights the intersections of planetary and human health, and begins the work to ensure that equity, diversity, inclusion and justice are integrated into campus sustainability policies and programs.
Stanford U Receives $1B for School of Sustainability
Stanford’s first new school in 70 years will launch this fall as the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, recognizing a $1.1 billion gift from John and Ann Doerr. The school will have academic departments that advance subject understanding, interdisciplinary institutes that innovate across fields, and an accelerator focused on developing near-term policy and technology solutions. (Image credit: Edward Caldwell)
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 onsite battery-stored solar energy and purchased clean energy.
