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
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Getting to Zero: Integrating Carbon Neutrality Planning with a Campus Utility Master Plan at a Small Liberal Arts College
- Swarthmore College (PA)
- Stone House Group (PA)
This presentation will cover how a small liberal arts college undertook an integrated Campus Utility Master Plan and Net Zero Carbon Strategy. It will explore how the Director of Sustainability …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Bundled Offsets: Manage Risk and Benefit Local Communities
- Duke University (NC)
- Urban Offsets, Inc.
The strategy of offset bundling involves pairing 3rd party verified carbon offsets with local high co-benefit projects to assure climate impact and build local resilience. Tani Colbert-Sangree, of The Duke …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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How to Drive the Transformation Change Needed in your Institution to Achieve Climate Neutrality
- Ameresco, Inc. (MA)
Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, Western society has been built on the use of fossil fuels. In fact, energy consumption per capita is higher in Canada and the …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Trends in climate change mitigation strategies. Which institutions are meeting their greenhouse gas reduction targets and why.
- Ameresco, Inc. (MA)
In the last decade nearly 500 colleges and universities in North America have publicly declared their intention to combat climate change by reaching carbon neutrality. Of those, 325 have committed …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Climatepedia: A Climate Action Network for the Nation
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
Climatepedia was founded by undergraduate students in 2011 by UCLA students. It is now an emerging 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with chapters at UC Irvine, UCLA, and Yale University. Our organization …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Collaborative Studio Re-Imagining Wood Design and Construction
- University of Arkansas (AR)
In the face of new and shifting demands for sustainable practices imposed upon the building industry and the world of design, wood is gaining popularity as a biodegradable and renewable …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Engaged Scholarship with Community Partners: What We Can Learn From our Peers' Greenhouse Gases
- Colgate University (NY)
Through the class Sustainability & Climate Action Planning for Local Government at Colgate University, students engaged in community projects, one of which aimed to benchmark the University among its peer …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Carbon Pricing & Higher Ed: Internal Carbon Fees, Using Shadow Prices for Life Cycle Analysis, & Engaging Beyond the Campus
- Swarthmore College (PA)
- Yale University (CT)
This interactive workshop will examine different models for internal carbon pricing, including models adopted by Yale, Vassar and Swarthmore. We will cover revenue neutral prices, prices that generate funds for …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Riverbank Climate Collaboration: How MIT and BU are preparing for Climate Change from Both Sides of the River
- Boston University (MA)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
Preparing urban university campuses for the complexities and uncertainties of new and intensifying climate risks requires aggregating diverse expertise and resources including climate science, urban planning, utility and building systems …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Needed: Systemic Change and Collaboration to Confront Shared Challenges - PepsiCo, UC Boulder, and other Universities break new
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- PepsiCo (IL)
Sustainability leaders are no longer asking themselves 'how can we do better,' and instead are asking, 'how can we do enough?' To answer that question we are partnering with universities …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Carbon Footprint of Higher Education
- Loyola University Chicago (IL)
Loyola University Chicago set out to inventory the greenhouse gas emissions of the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. In doing so, they found interesting trends and …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Resilient Randolph: analyzing risks and establishing measurable strategies for campus-community climate resilience
- Randolph College (VA)
Institutions, businesses, and communities are increasingly incorporating resilience strategies as an essential element of climate action planning to help prepare for the adverse impacts of climate change. In January 2017, …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Getting Started with Local Carbon Offsets: Spotlight on Urban Forestry
- Davidson College (NC)
- Duke University (NC)
For many schools working towards carbon neutrality, carbon offsets will play an important role. While offsets can be purchased on the open market, it is possible to have an even …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Climate Leadership Network Carbon Offset Projects Networking
- Duke University (NC)
- Second Nature (MA)
This networking meeting will focus on the development of 'peer reviewed' and 'innovative' carbon offset projects for colleges and universities. Please join us if you are interested in exploring options …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Utilizing Innovative and Peer Reviewed Carbon Offsets with the Second Nature Climate Leadership Commitments
- Duke University (NC)
- Second Nature (MA)
Many institutions use carbon offsets to help them attain carbon neutrality and achieve their goals under the Second Nature Climate Leadership Commitments. Since 2008, Second Nature has provided guidelines for …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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The Growth of Renewable Energy in Higher Education: Can It Get Us to Our GHG Goals?
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- Edison Energy (CA)
Is higher ed on track to achieve its GHG reduction targets? Not without massively ramping up renewables. A new study by the University of New Hampshire and Altenex compiles and …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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A New Tool for Campus Carbon and Nitrogen Footprints: Perspectives from Users
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- University of Virginia (VA)
A new online tool for calculating and managing both campus carbon and nitrogen footprints has been created by combining the Campus Carbon Calculator tool and the Nitrogen Footprint Tool for …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Climate Action Data: New Tools & Metrics
- Second Nature (MA)
Carbon and resilience reporting can be a moving target with the protocols, tools, and data inputs constantly changing! Stay on top of recent changes and new tools in this session. …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Lead your school to carbon neutrality and 100% renewable energy.
- Second Nature (MA)
- Environment America (MA)
The Climate Leadership Network comprises more than 600 colleges and universities in every state and the District of Columbia who have committed to take action on climate and prepare students …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Developing Carbon Credits on Your Campus through the Voluntary Carbon Market
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
- Second Nature (MA)
For the past year, a handful of schools have been third party verifying and selling carbon credits on the Voluntary Carbon Market through Second Nature's Carbon Credit and Purchasing Program. …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Carbon Pricing in Higher Education: Panel with 3 Models for Internal Carbon Pricing and Engaging in National Leadership
- Swarthmore College (PA)
- Yale University (CT)
Learn about what models other colleges are using to inform your own carbon pricing design and implementation strategy! At our panel discussion, we will discuss the systems that Vassar, Swarthmore …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Creating political will for climate action: the role of higher education
- Bard College (NY)
- U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
- Citizens' Climate Lobby (CA)
Political engagement in America is at an all time high; how do we channel that energy to create meaningful change? How can higher education avoid being partisan while building the …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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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
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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 ways …
- 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's …
- 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's …
- 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 Bread Loaf …
- 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 Indianapolis (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 pretest-posttest …
- 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 to …
- Posted June 22, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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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.