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
Latest News from AASHE Bulletin
New Resources
GHG Inventories and the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment: Benchmarking and Analysis
- Agnes Scott College (GA)
The higher education field lacks benchmarking methods in the area of greenhouse gas emission inventories. This study establishes useful benchmarks by examining the measurable characteristics of climate zone, size, and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Down to Zero: a 5-part strategy to achieve your GHG reduction goals at any scale
- Arup (NY)
A "green" reputation is increasingly seen as a differentiator for schools to attract funding, faculty, staff and students. 66% of college applicants search for information on a prospective school's commitment …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Pittsburgh Climate Initiative In Review
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
The Pittsburgh Climate Initiative (PCI) is a collaborative effort designed to lead Pittsburgh's residents, businesses, government, and institutions of higher learning in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The Pittsburgh …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A New Era in Campus Climate Action: Dynamic Online Inventory and Planning Tools
- Clean Air-Cool Planet (NH)
Standardized measurement and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions has played an important role in advancing the ability of higher education as a sector to provide leadership on the issue of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Corporate Climate Responsibility and the Race to the Top: Why Competition Will Save the World
- Climate Counts
Benefiting from worldwide media coverage, the Climate Counts Company Scorecard has rapidly emerged as a credible measure of corporate climate responsibility. The Scorecard is driving stakeholder dialogue and soul-searching in …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Pittsburgh Higher Education Climate Consortium: A Partner in Community Climate Action
- Duquesne University (PA)
The Pittsburgh Higher Education Climate Consortium (HECC) is one of the four sector-based elements of the Pittsburgh Climate Initiative (PCI) formally adopted by Pittsburgh City Council in August 2008. PCI …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Achieving Climate Neutrality by Building Local Partnerships: Local & High Quality Offset Purchasing
- Green Mountain College (VT)
Green Mountain College provides its students with opportunities to explore the meaning and significance of climate neutrality and encourages students to be engaged in the process of helping the College …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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eCO2village Solutions: A Model for Local Carbon Mitigation
- Living Routes, Inc. (MA)
Colleges and universities are key players in responding to global warming, but we are not reaching our full potential as agents of sustainable change. As educators, we need to move …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Climate Neutrality, Zero Net Energy Campuses, and Climate Action Plans - OH MY!
- Mount Wachusett Community College (MA)
As the number of signatories to the American College and University President's Climate Commitment increases and Sustainability Teams effectively strengthen the trend for Climate Action Plans that target Carbon Neutrality …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Participating in a Learning Community for Solutions to Climate Change
- Global Council Science and the Environment (DC)
Participating in a Learning Community for Solutions to Climate Change
CAMEL
Climate, Adaptation, Mitigation, E-Learning
Goals:
CAMEL is a FREE, COMPREHENSIVE, INTERDISCIPLINARY, ONLINE RESOURCE for educators to enable them to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Taking stock of iCAP: promises, promises, promises
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
Most member institutions of AASHE are also signatories of the American Colleges and Universities President's Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). ACUPCC requires signatory institutions to conduct a climate assessment, prepare a climate …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Integrated Climate Action Planning on a Budget
- University of Missouri (MO)
Of the close to 700 signatories of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), less than half have completed their Climate Action Plans. Those that have submitted plans …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Comparing Methods of Estimating GHG Emissions from Air Travel
- University of Arizona (AZ)
This talk presents the results of different methods used to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from official air travel by the University of Arizona, and discusses improving estimates through improved …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Key Ingredients for Institutional Success in Implementing Climate Change Solutions
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
The goal of achieving carbon-neutrality within institutions of higher learning is clear and measurable. In accordance with ACUPCC guidelines, climate action plans describe priorities, milestones, and the scale of the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable Building Energy Systems: Independent Evaluation for Improved Decision-Making
- EarthLinked Technologies (FL)
- Southern Research Institute (NC)
Southern Research Institute - an affiliate of UAB - operates the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Technology Center for the U.S. EPA. The GHG Center evaluates technologies that provide improved energy efficiency, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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goBEYOND: Student-led Initiatives to Bring Campuses Beyond Climate Neutral
- University of British Columbia (BC)
How can we do more to solve the problems of climate change than we do to cause them? This is the question that inspired a small group of students to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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How Institutional Factors are Related to Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
Increasingly, institutions are reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as a measure of sustainability. Higher education institutions are taking a leadership role as demonstrated by the American College and University Presidents …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Implementing a Climate Action Plan with a Campus-wide Committee
- University of Wyoming (WY)
The University of Wyoming Campus Sustainability Committee (CSC) was established in 2006 by President Tom Buchanan after students from the Campus Sustainability class (ENR 4600/5600) garnered support and proposed such …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building Climate Action Plans from Existing Plans, Targets and Laws
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (WI)
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh submitted its first Climate Action Plan (CAP) to ACUPCC in 2009. The Director of Sustainability (author) was asked to develop the CAP in approximately one …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Portland Community College-Measuring Progress of Climate Action Plan Implementation
- Portland Community College (OR)
Portland Community College (PCC) developed a Climate Action Plan (CAP) adopted in September 2009. The PCC CAP sets forth broad objectives and specific strategies for achieving the college's greenhouse gas …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Connecting Students and Communities through Climate Change Support Internships
- Strategic Energy Innovations (CA)
Local governments are increasingly compelled to take action on climate change, but are extremely challenged to respond as a result of limited resources, staff capacity and technical knowledge. In the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Small is Beautiful: Climate Action Planning Opportunities for Small Colleges
- Randolph College (VA)
Randolph College is a Charter signatory of the ACUPCC. Developing a Climate Action Plan (CAP) is a major undertaking. Many institutions hire consultants to carry out the task, but other …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Accelerating Campus Climate Initiatives
- Furman University (SC)
- Luther College (IA)
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- AASHE (MA)
This panel highlights inspiring examples from the book, "Accelerating Campus Climate Initiatives," a collaborative project by RMI and AASHE. Panelists from Furman University, Luther College, and University of Colorado at …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Accelerating Climate Action through Local, State and Regional Networks
- Georgia Southern University (GA)
- Macalester College (MN)
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
With more and more colleges and universities beginning to create climate action plans and implement sustainability initiatives, the need for developing networks to accelerate learning through peer-to-peer interaction and best …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Local Carbon Offset Projects: Lessons Learned from Yale, Furman, and Duke Universities
- Duke University (NC)
- Furman University (SC)
- Yale University (CT)
Universities and Colleges across the nation are currently addressing climate change by making significant commitments to reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions. To meet their aggressive reduction targets campuses are identifying …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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ACUPCC: Writing, Implementing and Supporting Climate Action Plans
- San Francisco State University (CA)
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Over 600 chancellors and presidents have signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment. However, making the commitment and meeting it represent two very different tasks, the challenges which …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Calculating and Communicating the Carbon Benefit of Campus Trees
- Chatham University (PA)
- Clean Air-Cool Planet (NH)
This dialogue and discussion session will facilitate creation of a peer-reviewed methodology for calculating and reporting the carbon sequestration of campus trees, to further the design of responsible policies for …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Lessons from COP15 and Moving Forward on Climate Education
- Dickinson College (PA)
- Ithaca College (NY)
Our institutions provide hope in a time of discouragement. The UNFCCC 15th Conference of the Parties in December 2009 resulted in the Copenhagen Accord, a document which failed to live …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Creating a Learning Community for Solutions to Climate Change
- Chatham University (PA)
- Samford University (AL)
The rapidly evolving and interdisciplinary nature of climate change presents a challenge to colleges and universities as they seek to educate undergraduate students. To address this challenge, the National Council …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Carbon Offsets in a Local Setting: Final Results from the Green House Project
- Ohio University (OH)
The Green House Project was a split-incentive and education program which targeted both student renters and their landlords (hence the "split") in the Athens OH area in order to improve …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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goCARTS: Driving Learning Through Climate Action Plan Implementation
- Ithaca College (NY)
Ithaca College has pledged to achieve climate neutrality by the year 2050. Climate neutrality means zero NET emissions. Interim goals include a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2015, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Measuring Change in Pro-environmental Behavior: SJSU's Ecological Footprint Challenge
- San Jose State University (CA)
In 2009, the Sustainability Initiative at San Jose State University created two unique programs to engage its 25,000 students, faculty, and staff in understanding and taking action on the impact …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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AMS Climate Studies: Dynamic Climate Science Exploration for College Students
- American Meteorological Society (DC)
The American Meteorological Society has a long history of developing introductory college-level courses and has found them to be important avenues for advancing scientific literacy among the public. As a …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Assessing the Sustainability of Carbon Sequestration through Reforestation
- George Mason University (VA)
Ashley Mott, M.S.
George Mason University, 2010
Project Director:
Dr. Sharon DeMonsabert
George Mason University began to address its greenhouse gas emissions with its Climate Action Plan commitment to climate …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Partnerships for Change: The Nova Scotia Community Emissions Challenge
- Acadia University (NS)
As part of the Arthur Irving Academy for the Environment's mandate to foster sustainability both on campus and in the community an emissions reduction outreach program targeted to Nova Scotia …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Beyond GHG Reduction. Climate Change adaptation for Dalhousie University.
- Dalhousie University (NS)
Global and local environmental and sustainability challenges such as energy security, efficiency, and climate change are compounding. Universities across the world have responded by signing commitment statements, conducting GHG inventories, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Innovative Campus Sustainability Initiatives at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida
- Eckerd College (FL)
Eckerd College signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2007. The College has data on campuswide greenhouse gas emissions since 2002. We will present this data, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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International Collaborative Approaches to Tackling Climate Change Through Higher Eduction
- Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges (EAUC) (Gloucestershire)
Following the success of the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), Scotland's universities and colleges have publicly declared their intention to address the challenges of climate change and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Why Ohio U Won't Cede or Sell Its Renewable Energy Credits
- Ohio University (OH)
Increasingly, colleges and universities are being approached by third party developers to install alternative energy systems on campus with little to no upfront capital investment. The catch? As part of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Setting Ambitious Climate Action Targets
- University of British Columbia (BC)
UBC adopted a Climate Action Plan in 2010 to advance towards a low-carbon future, committing the university to aggressive greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets. Compared to 2007 levels, GHGs will …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Performance Matters, Tangible Progress on Mitigating Climate Change
- University of Calgary (AB)
The University of Calgary (U of C) is a signatory to the University and College Presidents' Climate Change Statement of Action for Canada. This session will highlight how the U …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Clarifying Climate Confusion: Lessons from Climate Literacy
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
Described by one observer as "as imperative for survival," climate literacy is a Presidential Priority. Yet tremendous work needs to be done particularly in higher education, to increase the number …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Climate Neutral Research Campuses
- Alliance for Sustainable Energy (CO)
Climate Neutral: Research Campuses
Center of Excellence Provides Resources to Achieve Climate Neutrality
Abstract
A new climate action resource center illustrates the full range of campus climate action options with …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Corporate Climate Responsibility: Why Competition Will Save the World
- Climate Counts
Benefiting from worldwide media coverage, the Climate Counts Company Scorecard has rapidly emerged as a credible measure of corporate climate responsibility. The Scorecard is driving stakeholder dialogue and soul-searching in …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Teaching Climate Change Across the Disciplines
- Dickinson College (PA)
Global climate change has far reaching implications for the environment, social justice, and economic wellbeing, now and in the future. Effective teaching that enables students to think critically about climate …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Collaborative Approach to Creating a More Sustainable Campus
- Eastern Connecticut State University (CT)
As an early signatory of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, (ACUPCC), Eastern Connecticut State University made clear its ongoing commitment to leadership in environmental responsibility. We are …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Assessment of emission reduction as a function of biomass boiler installation
- Franklin Pierce University (NH)
Life cycle analysis of biomass (wood pellet) production demonstrates significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, when compared to the life cycle analysis of No. 2 heating fuel. Life cycle analysis …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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We're on board with ACUPCC: Now what?
- Hillsborough Community College (FL)
Almost 700 institutions of higher education are signatories to the ACUPCC and it is encouraging to note that this momentum appears to be building. Community or 4-year colleges, that have …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Interweaving Academic Reading Skill Development with Global Warming and Sustainability Education
- Montgomery College (MD)
There are still people who do not know much about, or even deny the existence of, global warming. Education may, therefore, play a role in our efforts to reduce the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Predictive Modeling of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Oregon Institute of Technology (OR)
Climate action plans currently developed by institutions of higher education across the country need to provide various mitigations strategies to achieve carbon neutrality in the "near future". These strategies are …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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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.