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
Accelerating Campus Climate Initiatives: Breaking Through Barriers
- Rocky Mountain Institute (CO)
- AASHE (MA)
Published by Rocky Mountain Institute with support from AASHE, this is a practical guide for anyone working to reduce GHG emissions on campus. Offering real-world examples, the book helps readers ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Cool Campus! A How-To Guide for College and University Climate Action Planning
- AASHE (MA)
This manual is designed to assist colleges and universities in creating climate action plans. It is intended to fill the gap in currently available resources by outlining a how-to approach ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Western Michigan University GHG Inventory (Baseline Year 2007)
- Western Michigan University (MI)
We believe that a prerequisite to thoughtfully assessing the feasibility of signing the ACUPCC, is to have a rich understanding of Western Michigan University's (WMU) current GHG emissions. For ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Campus Climate Neutrality -- Yes We Can! It's a Big Challenge, But Here's How to Do it
- APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities (VA)
As the challenges sink in, those charged with achieving climate neutrality maybe wondering how to achieve it. The author provides and in depth, step-by-step plan on how to get there.
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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The Educational Facilities Professionals Practical Guide to Reducing the Campus Carbon Footprint
- APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities (VA)
As more institutions respond to the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, or are otherwise responsible for campus environmental stewardship, this implementation guide gives educational facilities professionals a practical ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Carbon on Campus
The ACUPCC requires signatories to “complete a comprehensive inventory of all greenhouse gas emissions (including emissions from electricity, heating, commuting and air travel) and update the inventory every other year ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Guide to Climate Action Planning: Pathways to a Low-Carbon Campus
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
- Society for College and University Planning (MI)
Increasing numbers of schools have started—or soon will start—planning to reduce their net emissions. Whether prompted by state law, grassroots demand, administrative mandate, requirements of the American College ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Campus Climate Planning: A Best Practices Guide
- Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
The purpose of this guide is to provide decision makers at colleges and universities with best practices for developing climate plans at their campuses in order to avert dire consequences ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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It's Not Easy Being Green: Assessments and Strategies for Sustainable Institutions
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
Colleges and universities in the United States are responsible for 3 to 9 percent of domestic climate change emissions and have about 16% of the US population currently enrolled. Bringing ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Strategies for Carbon Neutrality
More than 400 colleges and universities have committed to addressing climate change in a meaningful way, including exploring strategies for becoming climate neutral. Since there is no blueprint for achieving ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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The Impact of Carbon Sequestration at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
- California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CA)
Sequestration Project Focus: As part of our requirements for the course RS 599: Methods and Applications in Regenerative Systems, our group was charged with researching carbon sequestration on campus. This ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Carbon Neutral U
- Columbia University (NY)
- Harvard University (MA)
- Yale University (CT)
In the age of global warming, the greening of the American college campus is a largely grassroots effort driven by students, faculty, and in-house staff dedicated to sustainable thinking.
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Striving for Climate Neutrality on Campus: 7 Steps to Writing a Climate Action Plan for a Reduced Carbon Footprint
- Environmental Health & Engineering, Inc. (MA)
A climate action plan (CAP) is a university-sanctioned strategic infrastructure planning document that provides a roadmap for achieving a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target. It provides the decision-making framework to ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Higher Education in a Warming World - The Business Case for Climate Leadership on Campus
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
This richly detailed guide to climate action at colleges and universities focuses on the numbers -- with examples showing how schools cut emissions, saved money and made a difference. It gives ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Developing a Climate Action Plan for UNH: Analysis, Collaboration and Implementation
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
Under its American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment obligation, the University of New Hampshire is developing a climate action plan to address the threat of global climate change by ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Tracking Greenhouse Gas Emissions on College Campuses in the U.S.
- Harvard University (MA)
This paper discusses the methodology behind reporting an institution (or regional) greenhouse gas inventory; explaining the scope of emissions included in GHG inventories, standards and variations in reporting GHG inventories ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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U.S. higher education and global climate change: An exploration of institutional factors that affect greenhouse gas emissions
- Tufts University (MA)
In this study, I explored the differences between greenhouse gas emissions of different colleges and universities in the U.S.A. and analyzed some of the factors that might explain ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
- Calvin University (MI)
In Fall 2007, students in two capstone courses at Calvin College were challenged with the question "What would it take to make Calvin College carbon neutral?" Twenty-four Engineering and Biology ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Report 1995-2005
- California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CA)
This report summarizes Cal Poly Pomona’s anthropogenic green house gas emissions for fiscal years 1995-2005. The inventory process is a first step towards quantifying the environmental impact of the ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Carbon Neutrality Makes the Grade
Business schools are enlisting students' help in developing their own carbon-neutral schemes, and they may develop leaders of tomorrow's sustainable economies.
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Evergreen's Comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Inventory
- Evergreen State College, The (WA)
This study provides the results of The Evergreen State College's comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory. In light of the latest scientific research on the issue of global warming and in ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Degrees That Matter: Climate Change and the University
- Tufts University (MA)
Universities and colleges are in a unique position to take a leadership role on global warming. As communities, they can strategize and organize effective action. As laboratories for learning and ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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A Call for Climate Leadership: Progress and Opportunities in Addressing the Defining Challenge of our Time
- Second Nature (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
- ecoAmerica (DC)
Higher Education has a unique role in society. It has been granted tax-free status, the ability to receive public and private funds, and academic freedom, in exchange for educating students ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Campus Climate Action and Multilevel Environmental Governance
The growing recognition that the future of the climate regime may also lie in strong local and regional initiatives (Dimitrov, et al., 2004) stems from the belief that our familiar ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Higher Education: Good for the Planet?
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
It is clear that humans face an urgent challenge to learn how to live in a manner that does not endanger the Earth. Even as universities teach students that the ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Climate@Emory: an inter-disciplinary, university-wide initiative to advance climate change scholarship, teaching, partnership, and engagement at Emory and beyond
- Emory University (GA)
Climate@Emory is a university-wide initiative at Emory University with the mission of advancing climate change scholarship and teaching. This interdisciplinary initiative involves more than 50 faculty from 20 departments ...
- Posted June 11, 2015
- Case Studies
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To Green and Beyond: Excellence Through Sustainability at University of Illinois at Chicago
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
The Sustainability Strategic Thinking process -To Green and Beyond- was undertaken to innovatively weave together the UIC Climate Action Plan and its other broad strategic plans and look beyond commonly-held ...
- Posted June 11, 2015
- Case Studies
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Duke University Carbon Offsets Initiative - Working with students, staff, and faculty to reduce GHG emissions through rooftop solar
- Duke University (NC)
In Spring 2015, Duke University launched a pioneering, renewable energy discount program for University employees. This program, developed by the Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative (DCOI) and its partners, helps reduce ...
- Posted June 10, 2015
- Case Studies
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AC Climate Aware
- Algonquin College (ON)
AC Climate Aware is a collaborative grassroots effort designed to promote sustainability and internationalization. Under the leadership of SEATS, the campaign encourages dialogue within the Algonquin College community about these ...
- Posted June 10, 2015
- Case Studies
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Climate Quest
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
Climate Quest is a team-based challenge to design practical, high-impact solutions to mitigate or adapt to climate change. After launching in April 2014, 25 teams were selected from a pool ...
- Posted June 8, 2015
- Case Studies
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Neutral Gator
- University of Florida (FL)
Neutral Gator provides UF with high-impact, local carbon offsets by performing energy efficiency upgrades of low-income families' homes and planting indigenous trees on conservation land in Gainesville, FL. Through this ...
- Posted April 10, 2014
- Case Studies
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Should Higher Ed. Go Carbon Neutral: A Look at Forest Carbon
- Clarkson University (NY)
This project analyzes the benefits, barriers, and perceptions that institutions of higher education have for forest carbon offset projects. In particular the benefits of investing in certified offsets were weighed ...
- Posted March 28, 2014
- Case Studies
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Advanced Climate Action: Stanford Energy and Climate Plan
- Stanford University (CA)
Stanford has historically done much to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts and in late 2007, the university set out to develop a formal action plan incorporating existing best practices in ...
- Posted May 17, 2013
- Case Studies
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Communicating Carbon: Visualizing Energy Inputs, Activities, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- University of Oregon (OR)
Sustainability decision-making requires both accurate and informative data, and effective stakeholder communication. Higher education sustainability professionals must not only estimate energy inputs, activities, and greenhouse gas emissions data, they must ...
- Posted April 30, 2013
- Case Studies
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Implementing UBC's Climate Action Plan
- University of British Columbia (BC)
The University of British Columbia (UBC)'s comprehensive Climate Action Plan, launched in 2010, is the result of a multi-year planning process that involved over 200 students, staff and faculty ...
- Posted July 9, 2012
- Case Studies
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Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative
- Duke University (NC)
The Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative (DCOI) was established in 2009 in order to help Duke University achieve carbon neutrality by 2024. Duke University is one of the only universities in ...
- Posted June 29, 2012
- Case Studies
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DukeEngage Carbon Offsets Pilot Project at Duke University
- Duke University (NC)
In May 2010, DukeEngage collaborated with Sustainable Duke and the Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative to offer the students, faculty and staff of DukeEngage the opportunity to go "carbon neutral" with ...
- Posted July 1, 2010
- Case Studies
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Pulling it all together: a comprehensive approach to climate neutrality
- University at Buffalo (NY)
The University at Buffalo has charted a course toward climate neutrality that - however trite the terms might have become - is both strategic and holistic. It is designed to vest the ...
- Posted July 1, 2010
- Case Studies
- View more
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.