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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MSc in Carbon Management
- University of Edinburgh
Carbon management is at the heart of tackling climate change and has rapidly become a central part of the global business environment. This is a growing sector with excellent employment …
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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MSc in Carbon Storage & Capture
- University of Edinburgh
Geological reservoirs are vital for the hydrocarbon industry, drinking water supply and geological carbon storage. This programme provides training in reservoir geology and an overview of geological carbon storage including …
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
- Academic Programs
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Takeaways from UConn at COP21
- University of Connecticut (CT)
Now that we’ve had a month or so since our return from Paris to reflect, what are the key takeaways from UConn’s first-ever participation in the UN’s annual Climate Summit? …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Guest Post: UConn COP21 Update
- University of Connecticut (CT)
Gazing out at the cacophony of asphalt, metal, and concrete, an inner conflict is brewing. As the scenes of Connecticut civilization blur by the bus window on the first leg …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Guest Post: Bonjour from UConn @ COP21
- University of Connecticut (CT)
We have finally arrived in Paris at the UN’s 21st annual international climate summit or Conference of the Parties (aka COP21). After a 3-hour bus ride from Storrs to JFK, …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Universities, Colleges and Students Mobilize for Paris Climate Action
- AASHE (MA)
The time to address climate change is now. AASHE believes the higher education community is poised to find and implement solutions to the drastically changing climate patterns that are sure …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Climate Change Resiliency: Campus Microgrid Feasibility Study
- Middlebury College (VT)
Background: The submitted research paper "Campus Microgrid Feasibility Study" is the result of a combination of learning opportunities that evolved into the final product. It began in summer 2014 at …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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STARS Findings on Campus Infrastructure and Sustainable Development
- AASHE (MA)
This article looks at infrastructure development among colleges and universities participating in STARS. Data related to building construction and maintenance, GHG emissions, and energy consumption can shed light on how …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Envisioning the Carbon-Neutral Campus: Planning for Reduced Energy Consumption at St. Olaf College
- St. Olaf College (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Four practices impacting campus carbon neutrality are increasingly common at Colleges and Universities in the United States: faculty and students are engaging in hands-on sustainability curriculum, facilities personnel are analyzing …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Federal Advisory Committee Draft Climate Assessment Report
- U.S. Global Change Research Program (DC)
The U.S. Global Change Research Program has released the Third National Climate Assessment. A 60-person Federal Advisory Committee (The "National Climate Assessment and Development Advisory Committee" or NCADAC) oversaw the …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Rio+20 Outcomes Document-What will it say?
- AASHE (MA)
As the heads of state have been meeting in Rio the past two days there appears to be little effort or desire to take on changing the text of the …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Rio+20 Has Officially Begun
- AASHE (MA)
Earlier this morning the official opening of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) occurred amid dreams, hopes and disappointment. The watering down of the language to achieve greater …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Rio+20 - Fear and Hope
- AASHE (MA)
As the negotiations continue at both Rio+20 and the G-20 Summit I'm seeing reports of both hope and fear. The hope seems to be coming from the non-government and business …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Rio Update – Monday June 18, 2012
- AASHE (MA)
The international sustainability scene is getting increasingly complex. Not only is UNCSD aka Rio+20, the world’s biggest meeting on sustainability, taking place this week but the agenda for the G-20 …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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What’s going on at Rio+20
- AASHE (MA)
As we go into the last few days before the official Rio+20 conference, I think it is important to reflect on not only what is happening there but how it …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Converting university spending to greenhouse gas emissions: A supply chain carbon footprint analysis of UC Berkeley
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
This senior thesis study calculates a supply chain carbon footprint for UC Berkeley based on procurement expenses in fiscal year (FY) 2009. The study presents recommendations to reduce supply chain …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Cool Campuses?! The National Movement for Campus Climate Action Deserves High Grades But a Greater Effort is Needed to Address the Growing Climate Crisis
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
- Cornell University (NY)
- Ithaca College (NY)
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
- Tompkins Cortland Community College (NY)
- Ball State University (IN)
Who will lead this energy revolution? One hopeful possibility is higher education. As one example, many institutions of higher education are already involved through the American College & University Presidents …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Reducing Dickinson's Carbon Footprint
- Dickinson College (PA)
Findings from an evaluation of Dickinson College's Climate Action Plan and recommendations are presented. The evaluation was conducted by students in the spring 2011 course Practicum in Sustainability: Reducing Dickinson's …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Cross-Border Carbon Footprints: University Study Abroad and Carbon Offsetting Programs
- American University (DC)
The progress made in the past decade in incorporating higher education institutions into the carbon emissions reduction equation is remarkable. Organizations like the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Financing Models of Campus Charging Infrastructures For Electric Vehicles
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
California is always a leader in mitigating and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions in coordination with our climate change mitigation policies as outlined in AB32. UC Berkeley, one of the …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Creating Carbon Offsets: A New Alternative for Colleges and Universities?
- Whitman College (WA)
Mandatory and voluntary carbon offsets have been promoted as an important part of the solution to the climate crisis. They are touted for their economic and environmental efficiency as well …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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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
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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
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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 our …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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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
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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
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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
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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 and University …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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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
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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
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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 these differences. …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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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
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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 University’s …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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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
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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 response …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 throughout …
- 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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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.