Air & Climate
Introduction
Global climate change is having myriad negative impacts throughout the world, including increased frequency and potency of extreme weather events, sea level rise, species extinction, water shortages, declining agricultural production, and spread of diseases. The impacts are particularly pronounced for low-income communities and countries. In addition, institutions that inventory and take steps to reduce their air pollutant emissions can positively impact the health of the campus community, as well as the health of their local communities and regions.
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Climate Change and the Canadian Higher Education System: An Institutional Policy Analysis
- University of Rochester (NY)
- University of Saskatchewan (SK)
Climate change is a pressing concern. Higher education can address the challenge, but systematic analyses of climate change in education policy are sparse. This paper addresses this gap in the …
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Publications
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The Unsustainability of Academic Aeromobility in Australian Universities
- University of Melbourne (Victoria)
This article analyzes how certain forms of unsustainable hypermobility – primarily air travel – are embedded in the institutional orientations of Australian universities, and hence, into the professional practices of …
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Publications
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Towards Transformative Social Learning on the Path to 1.5 Degrees
- Wageningen University
- Rhodes University
- University of the Witwatersrand
This paper provides insights into learning orientations and approaches that encourage change and transformation on the path to achieving the 1.5 degree C target. This literature review of the climate …
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Publications
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Ontario Helping Colleges and Universities Fight Climate Change
- Ontario Tech University (ON)
- Upper Canada College (ON)
- Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (ON)
- Sheridan College (Ontario) (ON)
- Niagara College Canada (ON)
- Fairtrade Canada (ON)
Ontario is investing in colleges and university campuses to improve energy efficiency while also fostering student involvement. Ontario is helping fund green projects such as installing energy-efficient windows, high-efficiency boilers, …
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Purchasing Carbon Offsets 101
- Second Nature (MA)
"Join this webinar for an introduction to purchasing carbon offsets through the voluntary carbon market. The webinar will cover how schools can use verified carbon offsets to meet emissions reduction …
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Earth Institute Center for Environmental Sustainability
- Columbia University (NY)
The Earth Institute Center for Environmental Sustainability is dedicated to the development of a rich, robust and vibrant world within which we can secure a sustainable future. Through a diverse …
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Research Centers & Institutes
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Gardening for a Changing Climate
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
Thousands of students enjoyed the spring weather as they celebrated Earth Day and the UIC Climate Commitments at the Earth Day fair. This outdoor pop-up event, planned by UIC students …
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Photographs
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Emory Pollinator Protection Program
- Emory University (GA)
Concerned about the plight of bees and other pollinators, which are essential for two-thirds of the food crops we eat every day, Emory University developed a comprehensive Pollinator Protection Commitment …
- Posted May 4, 2018
- Case Studies
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Facilitating a World Climate Negotiation Simulation
- University of Massachusetts Lowell (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
The World Climate Simulation has been run with over 35,000 people in nearly 80 countries to enable people to experience the dynamics of the UN climate negotiations. Join this webinar …
- Posted April 26, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Climate Change and Art: Transparency with Miguel Barros
- Bow Valley College (AB)
To celebrate Earth Day 2018, the BVC Green team, Intercultural Centre, International Education, and Iniikokaan Aboriginal Centre at Bow Valley College partnered to host artist Miguel Barros' work Transparency, …
- Posted April 26, 2018
- Photographs
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Climate Change Minor
- Cornell University (NY)
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and dozens of courses at Cornell explore the many facets of a warming world – from impacts on …
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Climate Change Minor
- Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)
The Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University seeks to maintain a team of engaged professionals from a range …
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Human Dimensions of Climate Change Minor & Certificate
- University of Victoria (BC)
We focus on climate change from the perspectives of all the major disciplines that emphasize the human elements of climate change. This includes psychology, economics, geography, anthropology, law, philosophy, political …
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Climate Dynamics (PhD)
- George Mason University (VA)
The mission of this program is to train the next generation of scientists in climate dynamics and related fields. Through a comprehensive grounding in classwork, our students learn about how …
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Climate Change Certificate
- University of Utah (UT)
As the impacts of climate change become more severe over the coming years and decades, companies, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations will be required to adapt and respond to climate …
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Climate Change & Sustainability
- University of Massachusetts Lowell (MA)
an interdisciplinary minor, under the direction of the UMass Lowell Climate Change Initiative and housed in the Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department. A student enrolled in this minor will …
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Duke University Carbon Policy on the Road to 2024: Policy Proposals
- Duke University (NC)
The goal of our Bass Connections in Energy Team (henceforth “the Team”) was to research ways to measure and influence both individual and institutional change to reduce Duke University’s carbon …
- Posted April 11, 2018
- Publications
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Planning for Campus-Community Resilience to Climate Change in Champaign-Urbana
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
This literature study involves a two-prong analysis. The first part (Chapter 2) will involve review of literature, reports, websites of organizations who are involved in sustainability and resilience planning. The …
- Posted April 11, 2018
- Publications
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Building a Carbon Footprint of Clemson University's Main Campus
- Clemson University (SC)
Greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories have become a popular means for colleges and universities to better understand their environmental impact and quantify sustainability efforts. Clemson University is one of the many …
- Posted April 6, 2018
- Publications
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Example RFP and Scorecard for Procurement/Advisory Services for Large Scale Renewable Energy
- AASHE (MA)
This is an example RFP for a professional services firm to provide renewable energy procurement services that include the development and execution of an integrated strategy to procure renewable energy …
- Posted April 6, 2018
- Tools
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Taking Action to Mitigate Climate Change on Campus and Beyond
- Colby College (ME)
- University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)
- Clean Air-Cool Planet (NH)
- AASHE (MA)
- Energy Action Coalition
"Scientific instruments showed that the gas had reached an average daily level above 400 parts per million — just an odometer moment in one sense, but also a sobering reminder …
- Posted April 3, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Enhancing Sustainability and Climate Focused Curricula with AMS Climate Studies
- Coppin State University (MD)
- Second Nature (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
- American Meteorological Society (DC)
The intention of this webinar is to highlight the important of studying climate science and global change topics and working toward a climate literate society. Presenters will inform participants about …
- Posted March 29, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Sustainability is Central-Volume III 2012-2015
Biennial report of the comprehensive, campus-wide sustainability program at Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan. This report summarizes all sustainability actions on campus and provides quantitative data on carbon footprint …
- Posted March 29, 2018
- Publications
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Pros and cons of online education as a measure to reduce carbon emissions in higher education in the Netherlands
- Avans University of Applied Sciences
- Open University of the Netherlands
Dutch institutions of higher education have to meet stringent requirements for energy efficiency and reduction of carbon emissions imposed by the national government and through voluntary agreements on energy-efficiency. This …
- Posted March 29, 2018
- Publications
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Experiential Learning and Pathways to Carbon Neutrality
- University of Montana- Missoula (MT)
To date, more than 650 university presidents across the United States have become signatories of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). A central goal of being a …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
- Publications
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State Of Sustainability In Higher Education 2017: Trends In Climate Change Mitigation And Adaptation
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- Gordian (SC)
Over the past decade, higher education business, facilities, and sustainability officers have invested a great deal toward reducing campus resource use, waste, and negative ecological impact.
This year’s State of …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
- Publications
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Critical success factors for embedding carbon management in organizations: lessons from the UK higher education sector
- De Montfort University
- Nottingham Trent University
Organizations are under increasing pressure from governments and stakeholders to reduce carbon emissions from their business operations for climate change mitigation. Universities are not exempt from this challenge and are …
- Posted Feb. 15, 2018
- Publications
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Arizona State University Urban Forestry and Carbon Offsets Pilot
- Arizona State University (AZ)
In 2017, the University Sustainability Practices (USP) office at Arizona State University (ASU) piloted a new urban forestry program to explore the viability of generating carbon offsets through local tree …
- Posted Feb. 15, 2018
- Case Studies
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Climate change and higher education: Assessing factors that affect curriculum requirements
- Vanderbilt University (TN)
Pervasive misinformation about climate change might be reduced if colleges were to include the topic within general education curriculum. This paper analyzes the general education (or “core”) curriculum in the …
- Posted Feb. 12, 2018
- Publications
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Carbon lock-in: an obstacle in higher education’s decarbonization pathways
- University of Dayton (OH)
Carbon lock-in describes a force that perpetuates the fossil fuel energy system despite known risks and cost-effective alternatives, a consequence of which is the slow rate of diffusion of low-carbon …
- Posted Feb. 12, 2018
- Publications
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Connecting Cities and Campuses through Climate Leadership Initiatives
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
- Second Nature (MA)
Climate change presents one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity. Opportunities for inter-sectoral collaboration to drive climate solutions are beginning to emerge and mature with the higher education sector …
- Posted Feb. 5, 2018
- Publications
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Uncovering Risk in the Voluntary Carbon Market
- AASHE (MA)
- Urban Offsets, Inc.
Carbon offsets are often viewed by voluntary buyers as untrustworthy and providing little to no overall value to their core business. Six billion metric tons of carbon offsets trade annually, …
- Posted Feb. 1, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Talking Truth: Finding Your Voice Around the Climate Crisis
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
Talking Truth was initiated in fall 2015 to support and build on understanding of climate disruption. Our experiential events employ storytelling, film screenings, art making, author talks, and reflective writing. …
- Posted Jan. 3, 2018
- Case Studies
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Best Option For Reducing On-Campus Private Car-Based CO2 Emissions: Reducing VKT Or Congestion?
- Middle East Technical University
Reducing carbon footprint, especially from private cars, is an inevitable goal of sustainable transportation programs. Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkey, has a fairly large campus, for which …
- Posted Dec. 22, 2017
- Publications
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Networks as a Tool for Social Change
- Power Shift Network (DC)
Mass social change requires mass, popular social movements that are aided by the support of a vast network of change makers. Decentralized networks, in particular, are well suited to catalyze …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Climate Communications: Strategies to Build Political Will
- Care About Climate, Inc (AZ)
Care About Climate is working to improve the marketing of what can be done to address climate change. We believe it is time to change the tenor of the conversation …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Opening Keynote - Katharine Hayhoe
- Texas Tech University (TX)
Katharine Hayhoe, this year's opening keynote speaker, is an accomplished atmospheric scientist with over 120 peer-reviewed publications focusing on what climate change means for people and the environment. A professor …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Corrugated Pallets: How Campus Procurement Policies Can Drive National Change to Reduce Emissions, Advance Zero Waste, and Protect Employees
- Change the Pallet (OR)
Change the Pallet is a national non-profit dedicated to reducing carbon emissions massively through education and advocacy with respect to the tremendous environmental benefits of corrugated paper pallets vs. traditional …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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16 Billion Trees Fell Last Year, Is Anyone Listening?
- TreeZero Paper (GA)
Poster will detail impacts and risks of deforestation; opportunities for reducing paper use and example of easy solution to add to your sustainability efforts to reduce impact on deforestation, climate …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change film screening
- Bullfrog Films (PA)
A 127-minute feature documentary. Filmmaker Josh Fox continues in his deeply personal style, investigating climate change in 12 countries, acknowledging that it may be too late to stop some of …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Beyond Offsetting: Onsetting Scope 3 Emissions and Supporting Innovative Local Projects
- Earth Deeds (MA)
Universities struggle to find meaningful ways to address their Scope 3 emissions, especially with regard to staff travel and study abroad. This session will explain carbon onsetting as a positive …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Multi Modal Sustainability FREE My Open Road App - A Great Tool to Reduce Carbon Footprint, Get Fit & Get Rewarded
- My Open Road (CA)
My Open Road is a multimodal sustainability FREE mobile app that can help universities, MPOs to: Reduce traffic congestion; Encourage healthy lifestyles; Measure and record reductions in carbon emissions; Raise …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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A Path Towards Reaching Nitrogen Footprint Reduction Goals at the University of Virginia
- University of Virginia (VA)
A nitrogen (N) footprint is the amount of reactive nitrogen (Nr; all N compounds except N2) released to the environment as a result of an entities' resource use. At the …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Institutional challenges in CO2 footprint goals, inventorying, and implementing cost effective measures to meet the goals.
- University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)
Presentation addresses challenges in setting actionable goals for sustainability in educational institutions. Students have great passion but no experience; academics want hands-on and research opportunity; facility managers are pragmatic and …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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The Climate Commitment: Getting the President to Move From 'no' to 'yes' -- and Then Maximizing the Impact of the Signature
- Concordia College (NY)
At many colleges and universities, the president is highly reluctant to sign the Climate Commitment (of Second Nature), with its pledge to achieve carbon neutrality and increase community resilience. At …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Offsetting University Travel Through Energy Efficiency on Campus
- Portland State University (OR)
At Portland State University (PSU), business travel is responsible for approximately 6,009 metric tons of carbon emissions, or 1,265 cars on the road, each year. Acknowledging that travel is mission …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Academicians: How to Teach with Paul Hawken's 'DrawDown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming'
- Oklahoma State University (OK)
Educators curious about how to adapt Paul Hawken's new book 'Drawdown' for use in the classroom (or for campus facilities and operations) should gather to share lessons learned and successful …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Applying LEAN Concepts to Data Capture for Greenhouse Gas Reporting
- Berea College (KY)
The Berea College Office of Sustainability submits yearly reports on greenhouse gas emissions based on travel done by faculty, staff, and students on behalf of the college. The types of …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Cutting Carbon Through Electricity Diversification
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Renewable energy procurement can be a complicated process and projects are often not implemented due to institutional financial requirements, unclear or unfamiliar decision making processes, organizational inertia, concerns about technology, …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Saying No and Saying Yes: The Strategy of Campus Climate Activism
- Bard College (NY)
- Our Climate (OR)
With the dramatic change in Washington DC policy towards climate, environment and sustainability, there has been a major upswing in campus activism. How can this student activism be most effective? …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.
All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.
OP 1: Emissions Inventory & Disclosure
- Description of the methodology and/or tool used to complete the GHG emissions inventory
- GHG emissions inventory (upload)
- Brief description of the GHG inventory verification process
- Brief description of the methodology for completing an air emissions inventory
OP 2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user, performance year
- Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year
- A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives
- Website URL where information about the institution's GHG emissions is available
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.