Duke U Reaches Carbon Neutrality
Having reduced its greenhouse gas emissions 31 percent since 2007, the university reached carbon neutrality through a combination of energy savings, investments in renewable energy and retiring 232,000 offset credits amassed from multiple projects.
Endicott College Publishes Sustainability Plan
The university's recently released Sustainability Plan includes a goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2039. Centered around four pillars—climate and energy; campus operations; health and equity; and experiential learning—the plan includes milestones such as develop new onsite renewables and energy infrastructure to support 25 percent of campus power by 2030 and support the Center for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
U Virginia Begins Decarbonization Academy
Over the course of the eight-week, immersive learning experience program, students from various disciplines work with faculty and staff to advance the university's 2030 carbon-neutral and 2050 fossil-free goals. Students spend 40 hours per week on projects and receive a $5,000 stipend.
Dartmouth College Announces Climate Collaborative
The Dartmouth Climate Collaborative is comprehensive program to address climate change through academic enterprises, campus operations and community engagement. As part of the initiative, the university will invest over $500 million over five years in improvements to campus infrastructure. It also launched the Climate Futures Initiative, a year-long effort to identify opportunities to drive climate scholarship and solutions.
Franklin U Switzerland Purchases 100% Hydroelectricity
The university recently announced the purchase of Guarantees of Origin to buy hydroelectricity to meet 100 percent demand for 2024 and 2025. The university's 2024 participation in the hydroelectricity program is sponsored by a company that is partnering with the sustainability office to develop an internship program to communicate the company’s sustainability commitment and efforts.
Johns Hopkins U Launches Campus as Lab Grants
Launched by the university's Sustainability Leadership Council and the Office of Sustainability, the new program enables Johns Hopkins researchers and instructors to test scalable sustainability solutions within the context of university infrastructure, operations, and administration. Researchers can get grants up to $50,000 while instructors are eligible for $12,000 and students $10,000.
Students at Six Universities File Legal Complaints About Fossil Fuel Investments
Student organizers at six universities in the U.S. wrote to the attorneys general of their respective states asking officials to scrutinize their universities’ investments. The students argue that by investing in coal, oil and gas, the schools are violating their obligations as non-profit organizations to prioritize the public interest.
