AASHE Releases 2023 Annual Report

Including the most-clicked Bulletin stories of 2023 (page 22), AASHE's recently published annual report captures achievements and impactful initiatives, providing insights on collective efforts and milestones in advancing sustainability in higher education.

U Wisconsin Madison Unveils Environmental Sustainability Goals

The chancellor recently unveiled an environmental sustainability strategy structured around five goals–launching a sustainability research hub; renewable energy procurement; sustainability education; zero waste; and achieving STARS Gold.

Trinity College Dublin Releases Sustainability Strategy

The university's newly published Sustainability Strategy 2023-2030 focuses on environmental sustainability, specifically climate change, biodiversity loss and human health, with a lens of health an equity. Key targets include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 51 percent by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2040 across all categories of emissions; be nature positive by 2030 by conserving at least 30 percent of land area, and supporting a cultural shift to recognize the interrelatedness of planetary and human health.

Northern Michigan U Finalizes Carbon Neutrality Plan

The plan calls for reducing emissions by 25 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040, then eliminating remaining emissions by 2050. It includes five key strategies for achieving its goal: reduced energy use; optimized infrastructure to minimize operational costs and emissions; a “right size” campus physical footprint to maximize use and efficiency of new and existing spaces; renewable energy investments; and increased carbon sequestration on university land.

AASHE Announces the 2023 Sustainability Award Winners

AASHE recently announced the 10 award winners, selected by cohorts of peer judges. Dr. Peggy Barlett was chosen as this year's Lifetime Achievement Award winner, while Emory University claimed the Campus Sustainability Achievement Award, and the University of Southern California received the Racial Equity and Sustainability Collaboration Award. Other categories include the Student Sustainability Leadership Award and the Campus Sustainability Research Award. The winners represent sustainability leadership from across the globe–Australia, Canada, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and the United States.

Kalamazoo College Publishes Sustainability and CAP

The college's recently published, five-year plan identifies an overarching goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 and includes measurable actions in the areas of resource conservation, student learning outcomes, and environmental responsibility.

George Washington U Announces Unification of Campus Sustainability

The university recently announced the Alliance for a Sustainable Future, a university-wide initiative combining research institutes, academic programs, offices, organizations and individuals dedicated to the shared mission of combating climate change and promoting healthy and thriving resource systems. The alliance will report to the Office of the Provost.

AASHE Reveals 2023 Sustainability Award Finalists

With the help of volunteer judges from the community, 43 finalists were selected from 300 submissions submitted across five categories. The 43 finalists represent high-impact sustainability projects, pioneering research and student leadership in environmental, social and economic health. To discover the winners, register to attend the free, virtual AASHE Sustainability Awards ceremony on Dec. 7 at noon Eastern.

Princeton Review Releases 2024 Guide to Green Colleges

Princeton Review's latest Guide to Green Colleges features sustainability-related distinctions from 522 higher education institutions, plus the Top 50 Green Colleges ranking. The highlighted institutions were selected based on survey data from attending students and administrators. Of the schools selected, 474 are in the U.S., 30 are in Canada, four are in Ireland, three are in United Arab Emirates, two each are in Australia and Mexico, and one each is in Azerbaijan, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Greece, Morocco, Philippines and Taiwan.