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
Reducing Energy in the Campus Theatre Complex
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Rudder Theatre Complex (RTC) supports a large variety of campus events. Whether it is a Broadway show or new student and family orientation session, the RTC experiences high usage year-round. …
- Posted May 22, 2023
- Photographs
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Regional Decarbonization Framework (RDF) - Integrated Long-Term Planning from San Diego County
- San Diego County (CA)
The global scientific consensus is unequivocal: the world is in the midst of a climate crisis and our window to meaningfully reduce greenhouse gas emissions is closing. In order to …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Co-Learning Partnerships & Carbon Management in Denmark & Canada
- University of Northern British Columbia (BC)
- Aarhus University
Businesses are increasingly interested in carbon management as a climate change mitigation tool. They want to respond to climate policy targets aimed at keeping global warming within a two-degree centigrade …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Keynote: Peter Kalmus
- University of British Columbia (BC)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (MD)
"I’ve realized that the main impact of reducing our emissions isn’t the emissions reduction itself: by modeling change, we tell a new story of what’s possible, shifting the culture and …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Carbon Offsetting: Using high-impact carbon credits to further your sustainability goals
- Patch (CA)
The latest IPCC report recognizes carbon removal as critical to addressing climate change, but the voluntary carbon market today often leaves institutions of higher education out of the picture as …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Implementing a Proxy Carbon Price (Carbon Pricing 201)
- Cornell University (NY)
- Princeton University (NJ)
- Smith College (MA)
- University of California, Davis (CA)
- University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)
This live session builds upon the on-demand session "Determining a Proxy Carbon Price (Carbon Pricing 101)" which is in an introduction to carbon pricing and will help you decide how …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Understanding your University's Emissions from Purchasing and Investments (Scope 3)
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (MA)
- Persefoni (AZ)
This session will focus on providing universities information on understanding their own Scope 3 as it relates to their purchasing practices and supply chains. The panel will feature ASU to …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Is the Word “Net” Compromising True De-Carbonization?
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
- M-RETS (MN)
Colleges and universities are relying upon “carbon accounting” that needs to be improved in order to meet our cardinal principle of evidence-based physical measurement. The physics of the grid—unless behind …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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From the Amazon to Florida: Climate Change Education at Miami Dade College
- Miami Dade College (FL)
This educational session will showcase how the high-impact teaching approaches used in Miami Dade College’s Global Sustainability and Earth Literacy Studies (GSELS) learning network are also efficacious climate change education …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Determining a Proxy Carbon Price (Carbon Pricing 101)
- Cornell University (NY)
- Princeton University (NJ)
- Smith College (MA)
- University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)
This session in an introduction to carbon pricing and choosing a carbon price. For additional information on implementing a carbon price on your campus, please also attend the "Implementing a …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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The UBC Climate Studies and Action Certificate as a Response to the Climate Emergency Declaration
- University of British Columbia (BC)
This certificate is a response to the climate emergency 1. Creating justice centered, action oriented, accessible, interdisciplinary and hopeful climate education opportunities was one of six strategic priorities in the …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Building Decarbonization Education for the Next Generation
- Howard University (DC)
- Stanford University (CA)
In order to prepare the next generation of building professionals, engineering education must adapt. The Stanford Building Decarbonization Learning Accelerator (BDLA) provides free teaching resources to professors so they can …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Fossil Fuel Divestment in US Schools: Lessons From Analysis
- Smith College (MA)
The fossil fuel divestment movement was started in 2011 as a response to the climate crisis. Since the first divestment announcement from a U.S. higher education institution (HEI) in 2012, …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Lightning Talks: Governance & Administration
- Austin College (TX)
- Ball State University (IN)
- Southern New Hampshire University (NH)
This session consists of 3 15-minute Lightning Talk sessions related to governance and administration. The Lightning Talks are: Harvesting Carbon Capital: Using the Carbon Credit Purchasing Program (C2P2) - This …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Lightning Talks: Campus Operations (Group 2)
- Stanford University (CA)
- Center for Resource Solutions | Green-e (CA)
- Timber Framers Guild (NH)
This session consists of 3 15-minute Lightning Talk sessions related to campus operations. The Lightning Talks are: Stanford Shines: A Decade-Long Decarbonization Journey .. and We've Just Gotten Started - …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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GHG Solutions Lab: Developing a Peer Review Process for Higher Education Institutions
- Dallas College (TX)
STARS does not currently specify a peer review methodology for the greenhouse gas emissions inventory (GHG) in OP-1 and OP-2. Dr. Kathleen Klaniecki at Central Washington University and Mr. Brandon …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Making Study Away Programs More Climate Conscious
- Williams College (MA)
The presentation will illustrate opportunities and challenges in measuring and reducing the carbon footprint of study away programs using data from Williams College. A growing number of students opt to …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Lightning Talks: Campus Operations (Group 3)
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
- Polytechnique Montréal (QC)
This session consists of 2 15-minute Lightning Talk sessions related to campus operations. The Lightning Talks are: Reducing Faculty Travel GHG Emissions: An Acceptability Survey - This session presents the …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Measuring Emissions From Student Travel
- Stanford University (CA)
While organizations, institutions, and companies routinely report emissions from Business Travel and Employee commuting, emissions from student travel are another source of air travel emissions that higher education institutions may …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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University Power Grid Resilience Teaches Steps to Carbon Neutrality
- Chatham University (PA)
- Green Business Certification Inc (DC)
Chatham’s Eden Hall Campus is designed to be a living lab for sustainability and resiliency where students can drive progress while developing their skills. Advancing progress towards carbon neutrality required …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Building Carbon Offset Projects: Two Case Studies from Quebec Universities
- McGill University (QC)
- Université de Sherbrooke (QC)
As universities around the world set and tackle institutional carbon neutrality targets in response to climate change, debates are ongoing about the importance of and approaches to carbon offsetting to …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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From Planning to Implementation: Swarthmore College's Roadmap to Zero Carbon
- Swarthmore College (PA)
In February 2021, Swarthmore College’s Board of Managers approved the College’s Energy Plan, a comprehensive energy and utility plan that charts the path to decarbonizing campus infrastructure in order to …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Breakup With Your Spreadsheet: The case for a code-based ghg inventory
- Brown University (RI)
- Johns Hopkins University (MD)
To combat climate change, organizations and individuals must dramatically decrease greenhouse gas emissions and fast. Many Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have risen to the challenge by setting ambitious carbon reduction …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Zero Hour for Net Zero at University of Tasmania
- University of Tasmania (TAS)
While the University of Tasmania has been certified carbon neutral since 2016, delivery of a holistic Emissions Reduction Strategic Plan has come to fruition in 2022. Our approach to emissions …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Beyond Carbon Neutral – Our Path to Climate Positive
- University of Toronto (ON)
The University of Toronto is committed to taking decisive action against climate change, one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Our commitment is to go beyond carbon neutral …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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The Wild West of Scope 3 Mitigation
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- Brailsford & Dunlavey (DC)
Join California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and the University of California (UC) System as they share their measurable Scope 3 mitigation solutions approach. In collaboration with the Brailsford & …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Dissecting Decarbonization: Proven Clean Energy Solutions for Campuses
- Bard College (NY)
- Colorado State University (CO)
- Pace University (NY)
- United States Department of Energy (DC)
Decarbonization is the latest buzzword around energy and climate solutions. What do campus decarbonization projects look like on the ground? How are they financed and implemented? Which technologies are proven, …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Effective Decarbonization Strategies for Large Campus Buildings
- Boston University (MA)
To meet the imperative to decarbonize as quickly and as deeply as possible, the U.S. existing commercial building sector offers significant potential to pay early dividends on climate action. U.S. …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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A Student-led Process for University Carbon Footprinting
- Michigan Technological University (MI)
Students at Michigan Technological University have been calculating the institution’s carbon footprint for over 20 years as part of a project-based academic course. We will share the contours of the …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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EarthFest 2023
- Cleveland State University (OH)
EarthFest is an annual event thrown by Cleveland State's Office of Sustainability. The mission of EarthFest is to celebrate Earth Day by engaging students, faculty and staff to create a …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Photographs
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The Week: The New Playbook for Climate Mobilization
- The Week
The Week is a climate mobilization tool that anyone can pick up and use, for free, to create courageous conversations about climate breakdown, and what we as a society can …
- Posted May 10, 2023
- Tools
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Franklin University Switzerland’s ACT Program: A Case Study in Stakeholder Carbon Markets for College Campuses
- Franklin University Switzerland (Ticino)
At Franklin University Switzerland, Academic Travel (“AT”) has historically been the university-funded activity that generates the greatest amount of carbon emissions by the Franklin community each year. In order to …
- Posted May 8, 2023
- Case Studies
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The Interdisciplinary Turn: A New Model for Climate Crisis Awareness and Action in Higher Education
- Santa Clara University (CA)
- AASHE (MA)
This webinar takes participants through the process of designing a successful, effective climate crisis awareness and action week at their own institutions, schools, or groups, using the tUrn partners + …
- Posted April 18, 2023
- Videos & Webinars
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Building a Circular Campus: Scope 3 Emissions, Community Resilience, & Justice
- Barnard College (NY)
- AASHE (MA)
As Barnard College defines a pathway to net zero emissions, we are paying particular attention to our Scope 3 emissions and using the principles of circularity to address them. Measuring …
- Posted March 9, 2023
- Videos & Webinars
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Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Graduate Certificate
- University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)
- University of South Florida (FL)
The certificate program in Climate Mitigation and Adaptation is intended to prepare students to address complex regional, national and global challenges associated with climate change adaptation and resilience. This concentration/certificate …
- Posted Feb. 23, 2023
- Academic Programs
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Is the Word “Net” Compromising True De-Carbonization?
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
- AASHE (MA)
- M-RETS (MN)
Colleges and universities are relying upon “carbon accounting” that needs to be improved in order to meet our cardinal principle of evidence-based physical measurement. The physics of the grid—unless behind …
- Posted Jan. 26, 2023
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
Putting an Award-Winning Climate Action Plan into Action
- Mt. San Antonio College (CA)
- AASHE (MA)
Learn from Mt. San Antonio College’s (Mt. SAC) Sustainability Director and Sustainability Coordinator about how their college’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) has been put into action! Conventional climate action plans …
- Posted Jan. 11, 2023
- Videos & Webinars
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UMass Dining Carbon Rating System
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
Announced on Earth Day, 2022, and in partnership with My Emissions, UMass Dining, the nation's award winnning and largest higher education internally operated dining program, has launched an A-E carbon …
- Posted Jan. 10, 2023
- Case Studies
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Webinar: Overcoming Your Barriers to Achieving Carbon Neutrality
- AASHE (MA)
- Nelnet Business Solutions, Inc. (IL)
We asked, you answered. Our survey of 252 sustainability professionals from universities in the US and around the world revealed the most common barriers to achieving carbon neutrality on campus. …
- Posted Dec. 14, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Webinar: An Accessible Roadmap to Healthy Indoor Air Quality
- University of Georgia (GA)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
- AASHE Test Campus
- Healthy Schools Campaign (IL)
Two years ago it was a struggle to generate interest in topics like ventilation and HVAC maintenance, but the COVID pandemic has highlighted just how much the air we breathe …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Climate Emergency: Feedback Loops
- Moving Still Productions Inc.
Teach climate change with the following free resources: Climate Emergency: Feedback Loops, a series of five short films narrated by Richard Gere, featuring twelve renown climate scientists, and endorsed by …
- Posted Oct. 19, 2022
- Course Materials
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Sustainability Management Simulation: Net Zero
- Harvard University (MA)
In the Sustainability Management Simulation: Net Zero - Winner of the 2022 Gold Medal at the International Serious Play Awards - learners play the role of the General Manager of …
- Posted Oct. 19, 2022
- Course Materials
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Driving Change: Understanding Climate Impacts on Campus Transportation
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County (MD)
- AASHE (MA)
The continental United States is experiencing an increase in the frequency and intensity of precipitation events which often lead to flooding. In the state of Maryland, between 2006 and 2020, …
- Posted Sept. 1, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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TRU Campus Tree Program: What We Learned From Year One
- Thompson Rivers University (BC)
The TRU Sustainability Office started the new TRU Campus Tree Program in September 2021 as a one year pilot. The program was designed to allow members of the TRU community …
- Posted Sept. 1, 2022
- Case Studies
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Farmington Solar Facility
- Amherst College (MA)
- Bowdoin College (ME)
- Hampshire College (MA)
- Smith College (MA)
- Williams College (MA)
Farmington Solar Project - The New England College Renewable Partnership (NECRP) is a consortium of five small New England liberal arts colleges - Smith, Amherst, Bowdoin, Hampshire, and Williams - …
- Posted Aug. 8, 2022
- Photographs
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Climate Action Exhibition
- American University of Sharjah
As part of developing AUS' Climate Action Plan (CAP) an exhibition was held to engage the entire AUS community. The exhibition explained the main focal points of the CAP, which …
- Posted Aug. 4, 2022
- Photographs
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Center for Development Economics at Williams College
- Williams College (MA)
The Center for Development Economics (CDE) at Williams College offers an intensive, 10 month (one academic year), master’s degree program designed for economists from low and middle-income countries who have …
- Posted Aug. 3, 2022
- Photographs
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Kim Abeles: Smog Collectors, 1987–2020
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION Kim Abeles: Smog Collectors, 1987-2020, at the Begovich Gallery will be the first time this seminal series is shown in its entirety. The exhibition features thirty years …
- Posted Aug. 3, 2022
- Photographs
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Planetair ÉTS Portfolio (Applied Research) - Carbon credit project
- École de Technologie Supérieure (QC)
Details of the PlanetairÉTS product
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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Greening Burundi Project launches with support from Cornell Climate Online Fellows
- Cornell University (NY)
Emmanuel Niyoyabikoze, right, founder of the Greening Burundi Project, enjoys planting a few trees – on his way to a million trees – with a few children in his social …
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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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.