Universities in the United Kingdom have been urged to cut emissions 50 percent by 2020 against 1990 levels, and 100 percent by 2050. This set of targets comes from the Higher Education Funding Council for England. The council says much of the goal can be met by increasing energy efficiency on campuses.

Cornell University (NY) and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory have launched a website to help campus-based institutions develop clean energy and carbon-reduction strategies. The Climate Neutral Research Campuses website provides campuses with a process to establish a baseline carbon inventory and develop and implement their own climate action plans. The core of the website is a resource center that describes 24 specific climate action options. For each action, the website provides a leading example of the related technology and reference links. It also offers guidance on selecting the right technology options for an individual campus.

Governor Jim Doyle has retracted a campaign promise that four University of Wisconsin campuses will be off the grid by 2012. Doyle had originally pledged that the campuses would become the first state agencies to purchase or produce as much energy from renewable sources as they consume. The governor backed off of this promise after determining that it was unrealistic. The institutions credit the challenge for encouraging them to conserve energy, study alternative fuels, and purchase more renewable sources.

11 signatory campuses of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) have submitted public greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin on November 16, 2009. The GHG inventory is the first major reporting requirement of the Commitment and is due within a year of signing. New inventories were submitted by: The Ohio State University; College of the Atlantic (ME); Auburn University (AL); University of Missouri, Saint Louis; University of Missouri, Kansas City; Clark University (MA); Luther College (IA); Smith College (MA); Santa Monica College (CA); Hamilton College (NY); and Monterey Institute of International Studies (CA).

6 new institutions have signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment since the last update in the November 16, 2009 issue of the AASHE Bulletin . In doing so, these campuses have committed to develop comprehensive plans for achieving climate neutrality. The new signatories are: Robert Smith of Slippery Rock University (PA); Alejandra Liora Adler of Gaia University (CO); Paul Pai of St. Louis Community College, Meramec (MO); Frank Toda of Columbia Gorge Community College (OR); and Scott Lesnik of Lake Land College (IL). 663 college and university presidents and chancellors have now signed the Commitment. In related news, Dalhousie University (NS) President Tom Traves has signed the University and College Presidents' Climate Change Statement of Action. Signing the document commits Dalhousie to significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Further, the University must complete an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions with a year; set targets and develop an action plan within two years; and take a leadership role within the community to educate about global climate change

Austin College (TX) has announced plans to offset 39 percent of the estimated carbon dioxide emissions from upcoming study abroad trips. Seven of the College's off-campus January Term courses elected to purchase offsets, encompassing travel to Peru; Ecuador; Galapagos; Costa Rica; South Africa; Berlin; Tokyo; Washington, DC; and New York. In total, carbon emissions for 124 students, seven faculty, and three alumni will be offset. One on-campus course also purchased credits to offset van travel. Participants are voluntarily paying the additional costs of the carbon offsets, purchased in partnership with NativeEnergy, which will be used to build a new wind farm in Greensburg, Kansas.

Austin College (TX) has announced plans to offset 39 percent of the estimated carbon dioxide emissions from upcoming study abroad trips. Seven of the College's off-campus January Term courses elected to purchase offsets, encompassing travel to Peru; Ecuador; Galapagos; Costa Rica; South Africa; Berlin; Tokyo; Washington, DC; and New York. In total, carbon emissions for 124 students, seven faculty, and three alumni will be offset. One on-campus course also purchased credits to offset van travel. Participants are voluntarily paying the additional costs of the carbon offsets, purchased in partnership with NativeEnergy, which will be used to build a new wind farm in Greensburg, Kansas.

10 signatory campuses of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) have submitted public greenhouse gas inventories since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin on October 19, 2009. The GHG inventory is the first major reporting requirement of the Commitment and is due within a year of signing. New inventories were submitted by: University of Vermont; University of Maine at Machias; University of South Carolina, Upstate; University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh; University of Wisconsin, Whitewater; Goucher College (MD); Harvey Mudd College (CA); School for International Training (VT); Bellevue College (WA); and Houston Community College (TX). In related news, Washington University in St. Louis (MO) has also published a greenhouse gas inventory

Nine new institutions have signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment since the last update in the September 14, 2009 issue of the AASHE Bulletin . In doing so, these campuses have committed to develop comprehensive plans for achieving climate neutrality. The new signatories are: Philip Dubois of University of North Carolina at Charlotte (NC); Robert Davies of Eastern Oregon University; Stanley Jensen of Colorado Mountain College; Penelope Kyle of Radford University (VA); Richard D. McCrary of Brookhaven College (TX); Michael Viollt of Robert Morris University (IL); Robert Martin of the Institute of American Indian Arts (NM); Debra A. Derr of North Iowa Area Community College; and Warrick Carter of Columbia College, Chicago (IL). 659 college and university presidents and chancellors have now signed the Commitment.

21 signatory campuses of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) have submitted public greenhouse gas inventories since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin on September 21, 2009. The GHG inventory is the first major reporting requirement of the Commitment and is due within a year of signing. New inventories were submitted by: Tulane University (LA); North Carolina State University; Illinois State University; University of Mississippi; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; University of South Carolina, Salkehatchie; University of South Carolina, Beaufort; University of South Carolina, Aiken; New Mexico State University, Grants Branch; Seattle Pacific University (WA); Northland College (WI); Agnes Scott College (GA); Gainesville State College (GA); Framingham State College (MA); Kent State University, Stark Campus (OH); Norfolk State University (VA); Confederation College (ON); Naropa University (CO); Inver Hills Community College (MN); Rochester Community and Technical College (MN); and The National Graduate School of Quality Management (MA).

The American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) has joined the Climate Neutral Network (CN Net), an outreach initiative led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to promote a global transition to low carbon economies and societies. In joining CN Net, the ACUPCC has pledged to promote efforts by colleges and universities around the world to move towards climate neutrality and contribute to international knowledge-sharing of academic expertise, including "twinning" projects between universities in developed and developing countries. Other UNEP CN Net partner institutions include Allegheny College (PA); College of the Atlantic (ME); Evergreen State College (WA); Middlebury College (VT); the University of California, Berkeley; and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Furman University (SC) has received a 2009 Climate Champion Award from Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP) in recognition of the University’s leadership and excellence in finding solutions to global warming and climate change. Furman was recognized for its innovative climate action planning model, the breadth of its campus sustainability initiatives, and the visionary leadership in the higher education community of its President, Dr. David Shi.

59 signatory campuses of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) have submitted public greenhouse gas inventories since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin on August 10, 2009. The GHG inventory is the first major reporting requirement of the Commitment and is due within a year of signing. New inventories were submitted by: Adams State College (CO); Aquinas College (MI); Austin College (TX); Brandeis University (MA); Central Connecticut State University; Chabot College (CA); Chatham University (PA); Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (OH); Coastline Community College (CA); Colorado State University; Columbus State Community College (OH); DePauw University (IN); Drury University (MO); Emory & Henry College (VA); Georgian Court University (NJ); Golden West College (CA); Goshen College (IN); Green Mountain College (VT); Iowa Lakes Community College; James Madison University (VA); Kent State University. Stark (OH); Lansing Community College (MI); Las Positas College (CA); Linfield College (OR); McLennan Community College (TX); Metropolitan State University (MN); Montgomery County Community College (PA); Nassau Community College (NY); New Mexico State University; North Shore Community College (MA); Orange Coast College (CA); Pomona College (CA); Pratt Institute (NY); Prescott College (AZ); Rhodes College (TN); Seattle University (WA); Simpson College (IA); South Suburban College (IL); State University of New York at Binghamton; Texas Christian University; The New School (NY); Trinity College (CT); Truckee Meadows Community College (NV); University of California, Santa Barbara; University of Florida; University of Houston - Downtown (TX); University of Louisville (KY) ; University of Maine at Augusta; University of Maryland, Baltimore County; University of New Hampshire; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; University of South Carolina, Columbia; University of South Carolina, Salkehatchie; University of South Carolina, Union; University of Tennessee, Knoxville; University of Vermont; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Wisconsin-Stout; and Utah State University. In related news, the College of William & Mary has also published a greenhouse gas inventory.

16 new institutions have signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment since the last update in the May 11, 2009 issue of the AASHE Bulletin . In doing so, these campuses have committed to develop comprehensive plans for achieving climate neutrality. The new signatories are: Mark Keenum of Mississippi State University; John Dunn of Western Michigan University; Claibourne Smith of Delaware State University; Dr. Stewart Edelstein of The Universities at Shady Grove; Earl H. Potter of St. Cloud State University; Dario Cortes of Berkeley College (NY); Stephen Kinslow of Austin Community College District (TX); Earl Richardson of Morgan State University (MD); Thomas Ramage of Parkland College (IL); Dianne Boardley Suber of Saint Augustine’s College (NC); Ted Landsmark of Boston Architectural College (MA); Carol Lucey of Western Nevada Community College; Dr. Robert Dunker of Western Iowa Tech Community College; Steve Cooper of Tech University of America; Edna Baehre of Harrisburg Area Community College (PA), and M. Sue Collins of Hibbing Community College (MN). 650 college and university presidents and chancellors have now signed the Commitment.

Over 250 higher education leaders attended the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment Leadership Summit in Chicago, IL. Speakers included former President Bill Clinton; Martha J. Kanter, US Undersecretary of Education; S. Richard Fedrizzi, President, CEO, and Founding Chairman of the U.S. Green Building Council; Peter M. Senge, author of The Fifth Discipline and founding chair of the Society for Organizational Learning; and Janine Benyus, biologist and author of six books including Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature .

Six universities from the US, UK, Spain, and China have become the first academic institutions to join the Climate Neutral Network (CN Net), an initiative led by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to promote global action to de-carbonize our economies and societies. CN Net participants have agreed to take leadership on the issue of climate change at the local, national, and international levels. The US charter members include College of the Atlantic (ME), The Evergreen State College (WA), and Middlebury College (VT).

20 signatory campuses of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) have submitted public greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin . The GHG inventory is the first major reporting requirement of the Commitment and is due within a year of signing. New inventories were submitted by: University of California, Berkeley; University of Minnesota-Twin Cities; University of Illinois at Chicago; Furman University (SC); University of Wyoming; University of South Carolina, Sumter; University of Minnesota-Duluth; State University of New York at Albany; Franklin College (IN); Castleton State College (VT); Cabrillo College (CA); Fairfield University (CT); University of Saint Thomas (MN); San Joaquin Delta College (CA); Springfield College (MA); Gateway Community College (AZ); Lake Superior College (MN); Washtenaw Community College (MI); Coppin State University (MD); and Johnson County Community College (KS). In related news, Michigan Technological University has also published a greenhouse gas inventory.

35 signatory campuses of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) have submitted public greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin . The GHG inventory is the first major reporting requirement of the Commitment and is due within a year of signing. New inventories were submitted by: University of Delaware; University of Connecticut; University of Utah; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; University of South Florida; Appalachian State University (NC); American University (DC); George Washington University (DC); Rice University (TX); Seattle Pacific University (WA); Washington State University, Spokane; Washington State University, Tri-Cities; Washington State University, Vancouver; University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute; University of Minnesota, Crookston; University of South Carolina, Columbia; State University of New York at Fredonia (NY); Case Western Reserve University (OH); Bucknell University (PA); Drew University (NJ); New College of Florida; Governors State University (IL); Colby College (ME); College of Saint Rose (NY); Antioch University Seattle (WA); Lake Michigan College; Wentworth Institute of Technology (MA); Carteret Community College (NC); Western Technical College (WI); Scottsdale Community College (AZ); Tompkins Cortland Community College (NY); Shoreline Community College (WA); Lorain County Community College (OH); Vermilion Community College (MN); and St. Clair County Community College (MI).

Green Mountain College (VT) President Paul J. Fonteyn has announced that the campus will be carbon neutral by 2011. Through a combination of a combined heat and power biomass facility and measures aimed at improving energy efficiency on campus, the College projects a 64 percent reduction in emissions outputs between 2007 and 2011. GMC already receives 50 percent of its electricity through Central Vermont Power Service’s Cow Power program, which creates biogas from cow manure on Vermont dairy farms.

Inside Higher Ed has published an article on the progress of American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment signatories. Currently 78 percent of signatories are meeting their reporting deadlines. The article includes interviews with presidents from several signatory institutions.

26 signatory campuses of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) have submitted public greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin . The GHG inventory is the first major reporting requirement of the Commitment and is due within a year of signing. New inventories were submitted by: Oregon State University; University of Southern Mississippi; University of North Texas; Sewanee: The University of the South (TN); Brandeis University (MA); University of Alaska, Anchorage; University of Minnesota-Rochester; Oregon Institute of Technology; New England Institute of Technology (RI); Xavier University (OH); University of Baltimore (MD); St. Mary's College of Maryland; Life University (GA); Loras College (IA); Temple University (PA); Illinois College; Roger Williams University (RI); The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey; Bergen Community College (NJ); Lewis and Clark Community College (IL); SUNY Rockland Community College; Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MN); The Community College of Baltimore County (MD); Manchester Community College (NH); Durham Technical Community College (NC); and Bristol Community College (MA). In related news, Elon University (NC) has also published a greenhouse gas inventory.

Johns Hopkins University (MD) Task Force on Climate Change has released its final report. The document recommends that the University reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 51 percent by the year 2025. The report also calls for the University to expand its focus on the student experience, ensuring that students have more opportunities to get involved in climate change research activities, community-based learning, and sustainability-related social activities. Likewise, the report recommends that academic leadership find creative ways to match interested professors with meaningful sustainability projects on the Johns Hopkins campuses and in the surrounding communities. During the next several months, the University plans to develop an implementation plan based on the report.

Mount Allison University (NB) has adopted a campus-wide Carbon Emission Reduction Policy. The Policy concentrates on three major areas responsible for most of the University’s emissions: heating, electricity, and transportation. Reduction strategies include fuel-switching to lower emission sources as they become available and represent viable options, priority purchasing of high efficiency model appliances and computer hardware, and creating a central accounting system to monitor travel distances and mode of all university expensed travel.

18 new institutions have signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin. In doing so, these campuses have committed to develop comprehensive plans for achieving climate neutrality. The new signatories are: Dr. William W. Destler of Rochester Institute of Technology (NY); Karen Lawrence of Sarah Lawrence College (NY); Richard F. Celeste of Colorado College; Patrick J. Schloss of Valdosta State University (GA); Dr. Lloyd Jacobs of University of Toledo (OH); Dr. David Fuller of Minot State University (ND); Dr. Stephen B. Jones of Urbana University (OH); Dr. Christopher Blake of Mount Mercy College (IA); Gary A. Lewis of Shasta College (CA); Dr. Thomas Ramage of Parkland College (IL); Jean Conway of Eastfield College (TX); Dr. Richard W. Cummins of Columbia Basin College (WA); Dr. E. Joseph Lee of Saint Joseph’s College of Maine; David L. Levinson of Norwalk Community College (CT); Dr. Gena Proulx of Joliet Junior College (IL); Russell A. Davis of Gloucester Community College (NJ); Dr. J. Larry Keen of Fayetteville Technical Community College (NC); and Barbara Woodlee of Kennebec Valley Community College (ME). 633 college and university presidents and chancellors have now signed the Commitment.

The U.S. Green Building Council has announced that it will award Saint Xavier University (IL) with its 2009 Natural Leader Award. Saint Xavier will be recognized with the SMALL feet/large FEAT award for excellence in organizational change. The award recognizes Saint Xavier’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality.

123 signatory campuses of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) have submitted public greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin . The GHG inventory is the first major reporting requirement of the Commitment and is due within a year of signing. In related news, the University of Texas at Austin has also published a greenhouse gas inventory.

Inside Higher Ed has published an article on higher education initiatives that aim to make studying abroad more sustainable. The article discusses a report submitted to NAFSA: Association of International Educators by a national task force on environmental sustainability in study abroad, new sustainability standards being proposed as additions to the Forum on Education Abroad's Standards of Good Practice, and the Green Passport Program, a new social networking site that aims to raise student awareness of their ecological and social impacts abroad. Higher education institutions highlighted include Augsburg College (MN); Marlboro College (VT); Warren Wilson College (NC); University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Middlebury College (VT); and Willamette University (OR).

A University of Michigan student is attempting to cut his carbon footprint in half and has started a blog on his experiences. "Going Green: Cutting Environmental Impact on Campus" seeks to answer questions such as "what ways can I reduce my carbon footprint that are easy and effective?" and "given the tight budget of the average college student, what are the cheapest ways to do it?" The blog, which is hosted by Fox News, will also feature videos, tips, and how-tos for readers who want to go green.

9 new institutions have signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin. In doing so, these campuses have committed to develop comprehensive plans for achieving climate neutrality. The new signatories are: Dr. Jake B. Schrum of Southwestern University (TX), Dr. David R. Smith of the State University of New York Medical Center, Dr. Alan R. Davis of the State University of New York, Empire State College, Dr. William Hartley of Anaheim University (CA), Dr. Paulette Perfumo of Pasadena City College (CA), Richard Berman of Manhattanville College (NY), Bonnie Laing-Malcolmson of Oregon College of Art & Craft, George C. Bradley of Paine College (GA), and Dr. Raul Rodriguez of San Joaquin Delta College (CA). 616 college and university presidents and chancellors have now signed the Commitment.

The University of British Columbia, the University of California, San Diego, and Prompt, Inc, a non-profit corporation that fosters research and development, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on their campuses while developing information technology that improves energy efficiency and reduces the impact of emissions on climate change. The MOU stipulates that signatories will explore a system whereby “carbon offsets earned through a variety of GHG reduction mechanisms” would be traded between participating institutions in exchange for access to cyber-infrastructure resources, including, for example, grid computational cycles, wide area network bandwidth, other virtual services and even research funding. The initial collaboration focuses on university emissions, but signatories believe it will set the stage for longer-term initiatives that will have an impact well beyond their campuses.

The Yale University (CT) School of Forestry and Environmental Studies has purchased carbon offsets to compensate for the air miles traveled by FES students on school-related trips in 2008. The offsets purchased will fund two carbon offset projects: a Pennsylvania family farm that captures methane gas released by manure, and uses it to generate electricity and heat and a New York landfill that traps and destroys methane gas. The two projects will compensate for 1.25 million pounds of carbon dioxide.

8 new institutions have signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin. In doing so, these campuses have committed to develop comprehensive plans for achieving climate neutrality. The new signatories are: John Quistgaard of Bemidji State University (MN), Wellington Reiter of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (IL), John Erwin of Illinois Central College, Henry D. Shannon of Chaffey Community College (CA), Dr. Shirley Mullen of Houghton College (NY), Gwendolyn W. Stephenson of Hillsborough Community College (FL), Bryan D. Albrecht of Gateway Technical College (WI), and Dr. Constance Mierendorf of Sussex County Community College (NJ). 607 college and university presidents and chancellors have now signed the Commitment.

The Princeton University (NJ) Sustainable Energy Transition has begun the Princeton Alumni Climate Effort. The project aimed to reach, and has attained, 100 endorsers from 30 classes who agree to encourage their alma mater to become a leader in climate change practice. After going live in early October, the Princeton Alumni for Climate Excellence (PACE) campaign has connected with alumni over email, on Facebook, and at alumni events in New York City. The statement signed by over 100 alumni calls on the University to aim for climate neutrality in its campus operations by 2030.

16 new institutions have signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment since the last update in AASHE Bulletin. In doing so, these campuses have committed to develop comprehensive plans for achieving climate neutrality. The new signatories are: Gary Forsee of the University of Missouri, Roger G. Brown of the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga, Rebecca Chopp of Colgate University (NY), Kevin Wildes of Loyola University , New Orleans (LA), Danielle N. Ripich of the University of New England (ME), John P. Minahan of Western Oregon University, Lisa Marsh Ryerson of Wells College (NY), Roy C. Hudson of Mississippi Valley State University, Jesse W. Rogers of Midwestern State University (TX), Leonard Schlesinger of Babson College (MA), Marcia Pfeiffer if St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley (MO), Jeanne Swarthout of Northland Pioneer College (AZ), Thomas Chema of Hiram College (OH), Andrea Lee of College of St. Catherine (MN), Thomas Keegan of Peninsula College (WA), and Kenneth A. Boham of Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute (NC). 602 college and university presidents and chancellors have now signed the Commitment.

Pace University has accepted New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s challenge to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent within the next ten years. As a 2030 Challenge Partner under the City’s PlaNYC initiative, Pace University will conduct comprehensive carbon inventories on all its campuses, devise a plan to attain the reductions, and begin implementing and supplementing measures to reduce its carbon footprint. Pace has also announced plans to launch a climate change track in its Master's of Environmental Law curriculum. The new track will be available to students in the spring of 2009 and will provide students the opportunity to focus their studies on climate topics such as eco-markets and trading, climate and insurance, disaster management, and coastal adaptive management. Pace has also joined the Clinton Climate Initiative, a program that helps implement large scale energy saving building retrofits.

Over 200 signatory campuses of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) have submitted public greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories through the ACUPCC's online reporting system. The GHG inventory is the first major reporting requirement of the Commitment, and is due within a year of signing. Signatories reported on emissions from on-site combustion, mobile combustion (fleet), purchased electricity, student, faculty and staff commuting, and institution-funded air travel, among other things. Over the next year, these signatories will work to create a plan for reducing their emissions.

The Suffolk University (MA) Law School has joined the American Bar Association-Environmental Protection Agency Law Office Climate Challenge. The program, which has over 100 participants, is open to law offices and law-related entities that adopt best practices for office paper management or participate in one or more of three EPA voluntary partnership programs. The Climate Challenge is designed to encourage the conservation of energy and resources, as well as to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. Suffolk's Law School is the third in the country to participate in the program.

The University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria, and Thomson Rivers University have begun piloting the "goBEYOND" Initiative before it expands to other B.C. institutions in 2009. Funded by the B.C. government and B.C. Hydro, the program will engage students through lectures, workshops, presentations, and challenges to take climate action -- as individuals, on campus, and in their community. The program plans to launch a website that will offer students training and tools to reduce their emi

The Rocky Mountain Institute has invited 12 U.S. campuses to host a two-day site visit by RMI this fall and later to collaborate with each other, RMI and AASHE in a workshop to reduce the barriers to becoming a carbon neutral campus. Participating institutions, which had to apply to be invited, include Harford Community College (MD), Richland College (TX), Lakeshore Technical College (WI), the University of Minnesota, Morris, Furman University (SC), Unity College (ME), Luther College (IA), Colorado State University,the University of Vermont, the University of Missouri, Tufts University (MA), and Yale University (CT).

17 new institutions have signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment since the last update in AASHE Bulletin. In doing so, these campuses have committed to develop comprehensive plans for achieving climate neutrality. The new signatories are: Al Bowman of Illinois State University, Jay Gouge of Auburn University (AL), Brian W. Casey of De Pauw University (IN), Larry L. Earvin of Huston-Tillotson University (TX), Dr. Bruce Leslie of the Alamo Community Colleges System (TX), Dr. Jackie Claunch of Northwest Vista College (TX), Dr. Ana Guzman of Palo Alto College (TX), Dr. Adena Loston of St. Philip’s College (TX), Dr. Eric Reno of Northeast Lakeview College (TX), Dr. Robert Zeigler of San Antonio College (TX), Betsy Boze of Kent State University Stark Campus (OH), David Beyer of Everett Community College (WA), Felix A. Zamora of Mountain View College (TX), Gregory DeCinque of Jamestown Community College (NY), Ronald H. LaFayette of North Seattle Community College (WA), Kathleen Nelson of Lake Superior College (MN), and Cheryl Frank of Inver Hills Community College (MN). 582 college and university presidents and chancellors have now signed the Commitment. Dartmouth College (NH) has also made a climate commitment. Dartmouth President James Wright has announced that the College will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2015, 25 percent by 2020, and 30 percent by 2030. At each milestone, the goal for the upcoming milestone will be reviewed and made more aggressive if possible. Additionally, The Dartmouth Board of Trustees has approved a $12.5 million investment to improve the energy efficiency of current facilities.

Keene State College (NH), Salisbury University (MD), and Stonehill College (MA) are all participating in Mac-Gray Campus Solutions' new "Lighten the Load" program to operate carbon neutral laundry rooms. Mac-Gray Campus Solutions, a contract operator of card- and coin-operated laundry facilities in college and university residence halls, has announced a partnership with Carbonfund.org aimed at making its college and university accounts carbon neutral. The "Lighten the Load' program is offered to all of Ma

Colorado State University has announced the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2020 without the use of carbon credits. The University plans to reach its goal by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions through conservation and alternative energy sources. The University has already begun a carbon footprint assessment and plans to spend the next three years placing an emphasis on conservation.

The University of Maryland, College Park has released its inaugural inventory of campus greenhouse gas emissions. In Fiscal Year 2007, the University emitted 352,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. The major sources of campus emissions were from the electricity and steam produced by the campus co-generation plant (38%), purchased electricity (25%), and transportation including the daily commuting of the campus community (19%), air travel (13%), and the University fleet including the campus shuttle bus system (2%). Total emissions during the 2002-2007 study period decreased slightly, despite campus growth, due to the installation of a combined heat and power plant, which began operating in FY 2004, and greater on- and near-campus student housing. Work will soon begin on the FY 2008 GHG inventory.

13 new institutions have signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment since the last update in AASHE Bulletin. In doing so, these campuses have committed to develop comprehensive plans for achieving climate neutrality. The new signatories are: E. Gordon Gee of Ohio State University, Barbara Snyder of Case Western Reserve University (OH), Bob Kerrey of The New School (NY), David B. Ashley of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, James R. Ramsey of the University of Louisville (KY), Steven G. Poskanzer of the State University of New York at New Paltz, Joseph L. Kennedy of the State University of New York at Canton, Dennis Dease of the University of St. Thomas (MN), Oscar C. Page of Austin College (TX), John W. Byrd of Simpson College (IA), Michael Alexander of Lasell College (MA), Gary Tollefson of Skagit Valley College (WA), and Judith Cardenas of Lansing Community College (MI). 565 college and university presidents and chancellors have now signed the Commitment.

Harvard University has released the report of its Task Force on Greenhouse Gas Emissions. In the report, the task force, appointed by President Drew Faust in February, proposes elements of a framework for much-intensified efforts to reduce the University's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as part of a broader effort to promote environmental sustainability. In a statement following the release of the report, President Faust outlined a set of substantive intentions and procedural next steps drawing on the report's analysis and proposals. As an initial short-term goal, Harvard will aim to reduce its GHG emissions, including those associated with prospective growth, by 30 percent - relative to its 2006 baseline - by 2016, as the task force recommended.

Champlain College (VT) has released the first phase of its "Carbon Profile Assessment Results." The study shows that in 2007, the College emitted 5,237 metric tons of carbon dioxide, or 2.7 tons per full-time student. The study inventoried emissions related to facility heating, electricity purchases, student, faculty, and staff commuting, college fleet fuel usage, class field trips, travel to conferences and student recreational trips, travel from student hometowns to campus, travel to study abroad locati

The George Washington University (D.C.) Law School has become the first law school to participate in the "Law Office Climate Challenge", an initiative created by the American Bar Association and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to promote environmental sustainability. GW's Law School is meeting the challenge by participating in the "Best Practices for Office Paper Management" program. It now uses 30 percent recycled content paper for copying and printing, has requested its staff to use double-sided cop

The University of Minnesota, Morris Alumni Association Board of Directors has designated funding from the UMMAA Impact Fund for carbon credit purchases to offset carbon emissions produced by UMM’s campus service fleet, a significant percentage of which are hybrids. The University hopes to generate its own carbon credits in the future.

The University of Texas at Arlington has released a draft report of its first carbon footprint analysis. The report has been prepared for the President’s Sustainability Committee by an interdisciplinary student/faculty team through a summer course in the School of Urban and Public Affairs. It characterizes the university’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2005, forecasts emissions in 2010 and 2020, then proposes a framework for setting reduction targets and develops reduction scenarios based on those targets. The report, produced in a very short time frame, is being issued in draft form so that members of the committee and other interested parties can participate in reviewing it. Comments are invited.

Appalachian State University (NC) has designed its first carbon neutral study abroad program. The first program, which will take students to New Zealand for one month this summer, requires the eighteen students and five professors to plant trees in New Zealand and to purchase green power both at home and abroad to completely offset the expected 73 tons of carbon dioxide associated with their air and ground travel. The month-long trip cost the group $782 to offset their travel emissions.