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.
Featured Resources
New Resources
Reuse or Build New? A Tale of Two Carbon Footprints
- Hampshire College (MA)
- Bruner/Cott Architects (MA)
What role does embodied and operational carbon play in making campus development decisions? What role do offsets have in balancing the equation? In light of the ever-growing stock of buildings ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Climate Action (re)Boot Camp!
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- Second Nature (MA)
Join us for a climate action boot camp! This workshop will provide a refresher on the basic components of climate action planning, and bring you up to date on reporting ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Teaching Climate Change Across the Curriculum
- Southwestern University (TX)
- Trinity University (TX)
The complexities of climate change can only be understood through multiple disciplinary lenses. Faculty at Southwestern University and Trinity University have developed curricula that promote interdisciplinary student learning about this ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainable Transportation Programs: Nationwide Trends & Practical Case Studies
- American University (DC)
- University of Arkansas (AR)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
- Gordian (SC)
Emissions created by commuting-related activities are a major component of many institution's greenhouse gas inventories. Yet, these emissions sources are notoriously difficult to mitigate. There are a number of ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Climate Leadership Commitment Signatory Networking Session
- Second Nature (MA)
Climate Leadership Commitment Implementation Liaisons and those interested in learning about the Climate Leadership Network will hear from Second Nature staff about recent accomplishments, progress, and activities. This includes progress ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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A Guide to Using the new Campus Carbon and Nitrogen Footprint Tool
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- University of Virginia (VA)
A new version of the web-based Campus Carbon Calculator will be launched in fall 2017: SIMAP (Sustainability Indicator Management and Analysis Platform). Join us for this session to learn about ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Spatial Estimation and Visualization of CO2 Emissions for Campus Sustainability: The Case of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Makkah)
A total of 21 metric tons of CO2 per person in terms of per capita emissions from consumption of energy was recorded in Saudi Arabia in 2011 and forecasts have ...
- Posted Nov. 30, 2017
- Publications
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Ten Tools for Moving Your Campus to 100% Clean Energy
Environment America designed a series of 10 fact sheets as a resource for students, faculty and administrators interested in moving their campus toward sustainability. The fact sheets have been crafted ...
- Posted Nov. 8, 2017
- Publications
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Carbon Markets & Offsets Guidance
- Second Nature (MA)
This document was developed as a resource for higher education institutions implementing one of the Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitments. It outlines the concept of carbon offsets, how offsetting can be ...
- Posted Nov. 7, 2017
- Publications
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New Drivers for Campus Microgrids: Resiliency, Community, Research, Jobs & Cost Savings
Colleges and universities were among the first to adopt microgrid technology in North America. Initially they did so to ensure electric reliability on a grid that had yet to fully ...
- Posted Oct. 25, 2017
- Publications
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Bates College Students Install Solar
- Bates College (ME)
Working with local solar installer Revision Energy, Bates College students work on the roof of our Shortridge Research Facility to install enough solar panels to cover 100% of the building ...
- Posted Oct. 20, 2017
- Photographs
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Bates College Students Install Solar Panels on Research Faciltiy
- Bates College (ME)
Working with local solar installer Revision Energy, Bates College students work on the roof of our Shortridge Research Facility to install enough solar panels to cover 100% of the building ...
- Posted Oct. 20, 2017
- Photographs
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Bates College's New Wood-based, Liquid Fuel Boiler
- Bates College (ME)
In January of 2017, Bates College began using a fuel which no other college or university in the United States has used before. Known as Renewable Fuel Oil, it is ...
- Posted Oct. 20, 2017
- Photographs
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Middlebury College Land Conservation at Bread Loaf
- Middlebury College (VT)
Middlebury's conserved lands around the Bread Loaf campus provides a scenic backdrop for numerous activities.
- Posted Oct. 20, 2017
- Photographs
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Middlebury's Bread Loaf Mountain Campus and Surrounding Conserved Lands
- Middlebury College (VT)
Middlebury College's 2100 acres of conserved land is surrounded by Green Mountain National Forest land. Middlebury's conserved lands are enjoyed by participants of its summer programs at the ...
- Posted Oct. 20, 2017
- Photographs
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2020 Sustainability Scholar in the Field
- Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
Lia Bobay works with mentor Adam Fudickar to band and measure birds to track bird migration affected by climate change.
- Posted Oct. 14, 2017
- Photographs
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CV Theis Groundwater Observatory
- University of Cincinnati (OH)
The University of Cincinnati has completed the construction of the Great Miami Groundwater Observatory to continuously monitor water quality for over two million Ohio residents who rely on the Great ...
- Posted Oct. 14, 2017
- Photographs
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Timothy Dwight College
- Yale University (CT)
View of Timothy Dwight College in the evening
- Posted Oct. 12, 2017
- Photographs
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STEM Kit for National Park Service
- Colorado State University (CO)
The Education and Outreach Center in the College of Natural Sciences at Colorado State University has been contracted by the National Park Service to develop hands-on STEM kits for 4th-12th ...
- Posted Oct. 12, 2017
- Photographs
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Campus Commute
- Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) (IN)
The Campus Commute shuttle system offers faculty, staff, students, and the general public value for their work-related travel between the IUPUI and IU Bloomington campuses.
There are five key benefits ...
- Posted Oct. 11, 2017
- Photographs
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Smith College Study Group on Climate Change
- Smith College (MA)
Here are several photos that we were utilized in the Report of the Smith College Study Group on Climate Change to illustrate campus work and initiatives in sustainability, including the ...
- Posted Oct. 10, 2017
- Photographs
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Fear Appeals and College Students’ Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions Toward Global Warming
This study used Witte's extended parallel process model to examine the relationships between the use of fear appeals and college students’ attitudes and behavioral intentions toward global warming. A ...
- Posted Aug. 28, 2017
- Publications
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Tracking the Carbon Footprint of Outdoor Recreation Programs: A Case Study of Texas Tech University's Outdoor Pursuits Center
- Texas Tech University (TX)
Outdoor leaders are already sensitive to the ethics of immediate actions related to use and care of wilderness areas. Considering the impact of our activities on global climate, however, requires ...
- Posted Aug. 18, 2017
- Publications
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The World Climate Simulation
- University of Massachusetts Lowell (MA)
The importance of sustainability will only grow during our students’ lifetimes, as will the need for sustainability-literate citizens and professionals of all types. We have developed an interactive and engaging ...
- Posted July 21, 2017
- Course Materials
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The climate mitigation gap: education and government recommendations miss the most effective individual actions
Current anthropogenic climate change is the result of greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere, which records the aggregation of billions of individual decisions. Here we consider a broad range of ...
- Posted July 13, 2017
- Publications
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Not Business as Usual: Fostering Civic Engagement on Climate Change
- AASHE (MA)
- U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
- Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) (PA)
- Citizens' Climate Lobby (CA)
Scientists are in consensus that the world needs to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, and this cannot be accomplished by ...
- Posted July 13, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Using a class to conduct a carbon inventory: A case study with practical results at Macalester College
- Macalester College (MN)
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the practical realities of using a college seminar to fulfill the carbon audit requirement for signatories to the American College and University ...
- Posted June 22, 2017
- Publications
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Energy Master Plan - St. John's University, New York
- St. John's University, New York (NY)
St. John's University is preparing to commit to deeper carbon emissions reductions. As a participant in the New York City Carbon Challenge since 2007, SJU will achieve its commitment ...
- Posted June 22, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Hot Air: University Climate Action Plans and Disarticulated Federalism
Individual states and academic institutions have taken leadership on climate change policy in the United States. Without unified national policy, a patchwork of state policies fosters geographic variation among climate ...
- Posted June 20, 2017
- Publications
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Climate Change Research at Universities: Addressing the Mitigation and Adaptation Challenges
This book provides a multidisciplinary review of current, climate-change research projects at universities around the globe, offering perspectives from all of the natural and social sciences.
Numerous universities worldwide pursue ...
- Posted June 8, 2017
- Publications
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Put a Price on It: Bringing Higher Education into the Carbon Pricing Dialog
- Swarthmore College (PA)
- AASHE (MA)
This webinar explores the role of institutions of higher education in the emerging national carbon pricing dialog. Institutions of higher education have an immense capacity to educate a broad audience ...
- Posted May 25, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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University of California Climate Lab, Video Series Episode Six: Scientists really aren't the best champions of climate science
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
This is the sixth episode of Climate Lab, a six-part series produced by the University of California in partnership with Vox. Hosted by Emmy-nominated conservation scientist Dr. M. Sanjayan, the ...
- Posted May 25, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Reducing Carbon Emissions in a Third Level Educational Institution in Sub-Sahara Africa
- Strathmore University
The effort to reduce carbon emissions as the arguably most prevalent cause of global warming has been a positive trend in most African countries. One of the most successful strategies ...
- Posted May 25, 2017
- Publications
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University of California, Climate Lab, Video Series Episode Five: The fight to rethink (and reinvent) nuclear power
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
This is the fifth episode of Climate Lab, a six-part series produced by the University of California in partnership with Vox. Hosted by Emmy-nominated conservation scientist Dr. M. Sanjayan, the ...
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
Swarthmore Carbon Charge Program
- Swarthmore College (PA)
Swarthmore’s Carbon Charge seeks to systematically incorporate the unfelt global impacts of our emissions into our decision-making, both individually and as a college.
The scope of the work necessary ...
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Case Studies
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University of California, Irvine's Pump2Plug Electric Vehicle Adoption Program
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
The UCI Pump2Plug Electric Vehicle (EV) Adoption Program is widely recognized as the first university incentive programs for EV adoption through the replacement of gas-powered vehicles with electric vehicles. With ...
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Case Studies
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Report of the Smith College Study Group on Climate Change
- Smith College (MA)
In this report, the Study Group on Climate Change (SGCC) presents its recommendations for climate action by Smith College. By implementing these recommendations, the college will coherently integrate climate action ...
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Case Studies
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Cascadia Campus Climate Conversation (C4)
- Cascadia College (WA)
-On October 25th, 2016, the senior cohort of the Bachelors of Applied Science in Sustainable Practices (BASSP) program at Cascadia College, Bothell, WA, held the first campus dialogue to discuss ...
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Case Studies
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How Middlebury College Achieved Carbon Neutrality
- Middlebury College (VT)
This past winter, Middlebury College achieved an ambitious goal of carbon neutrality that had been officially set in 2007. When it became clear that the College’s initial of goal ...
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Case Studies
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Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions at the University of Calgary
- University of Calgary (AB)
At University of Calgary, our buildings are very large contributors to our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With the goal of being a leading Canadian post-secondary institution in the area of ...
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Case Studies
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Using classroom schedule data to reduce energy consumption
- Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
Most Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems (HVAC) are designed to provide a ventilation based on the assumption that the rooms are fully occupied, when real occupancy is most often ...
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Publications
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Reducing the Nitrogen Footprint of a Small Residential College
- Dickinson College (PA)
The release of reactive nitrogen contributes to its accumulation in the environment, causing a variety of harmful effects. To measure Dickinson College’s contribution to nitrogen pollution, and quantify the ...
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Publications
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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 19, 2017
- Publications
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Enhancing climate change adaptation: strategies for community engagement and university-community partnerships
- Antioch University, New England (NH)
This paper discusses current opportunities for universities to partner with local governments and NGOs to support local level adaptation to climate change and a proposed ten-stage model which delineates the ...
- Posted May 19, 2017
- Publications
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Work-based learning as a catalyst for sustainability: a review and prospects
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to highlight the continuing dearth of scholarship about the role of work-based learning in education for sustainable development, and particularly the urgent demands ...
- Posted May 19, 2017
- Publications
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McGill Students Lobby to Create Climate Officer Position
- McGill University (QC)
In Spring 2016, Management PhD student Amir Nosrat, and other colleagues at the Post-Graduate Students' Society of McGill University, came up with the idea to create a Climate Officer position ...
- Posted May 19, 2017
- Case Studies
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Stanford achieves dramatic greenhouse gas emissions reductions to surpass state, national, and international climate targets
- Stanford University (CA)
Stanford Energy System Innovations (SESI) is a new campus energy system powered by renewables, designed to meet the current and future energy needs of Stanford University in an environmentally, socially ...
- Posted May 18, 2017
- Case Studies
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American University in Cairo 2017 Carbon Footprint Report
- American University in Cairo (Cairo)
The first step of reducing a university’s carbon footprint is measuring its current size. The 2017 Carbon Footprint Report is the 4th in the American University in Cairo’s ...
- Posted May 18, 2017
- Case Studies
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Project Green Step 2030: Catawba College Campus Solar Energy Installation
- Catawba College (NC)
Catawba College completed a solar energy project in 2016 that is projected to produce more solar electricity than all the other North Carolina colleges and universities combined. This was the ...
- Posted May 18, 2017
- Case Studies
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Oregon Climate Change Research Institute
- Oregon State University (OR)
The Oregon Climate Change Research Institute is an institute underneath Oregon State’s Advancing the Science of Earth’s Ecosystems center. The institution was created by the Oregon Legislature and ...
- Posted May 15, 2017
- Research Centers & Institutes
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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.