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
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 ...
- 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 ...
- 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 ...
- 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 + headliners ...
- 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 ...
- 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 ...
- Posted Jan. 26, 2023
- Videos & Webinars
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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 ...
- 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 ...
- 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 a 500-room ...
- 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 - and is highlighted ...
- Posted Aug. 8, 2022
- Photographs
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Climate Action Exhibition
- American University of Sharjah (Ash Shariqah)
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 ...
- 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 network. Niyoyabikoze ...
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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Community tour of UMN Morris 240kW solar PV agrivoltaic field
- University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)
During the UMN WCROC Midwest Farm Energy Confererence, Vice Chancellor of Finance and Facilities, Bryan Herrmann gave visitors a tour of the new 240kW solar PV agrivoltaic field. This installation ...
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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Agnes Scott College - Rebekah Scott Hall LEED Platinum Renovation / Restoration
- Agnes Scott College (GA)
Rebekah Scott Hall is the third LEED-certified building on Agnes Scott’s 100 acre campus. The 1905 new Italian Renaissance Revival structure underwent renovation between May 2017 to August 2018 ...
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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Notre Dame, Indiana Michigan Power 'flip the switch' on new solar facility
- University of Notre Dame (IN)
Notre Dame Solar investment - In 2021, University of Notre Dame and Indiana Michigan Power held a ribbon cutting for St. Joseph Solar Farm, a 210-acre solar facility located about seven ...
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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The David A. Tepper Quadrangle at Carnegie Mellon University
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
Carnegie Mellon University's David A. Tepper Quadrangle, home of the university's Coulter Welcome Center and the Tepper School of Business, earned LEED Gold certification in 2019.
CMU will ...
- Posted July 27, 2022
- Photographs
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Luther College Gateway Prairie
- Luther College (IA)
Gateway Prairie, a 39.3-acre prairie and oak savanna, a part of 90 acres of restored prairies at Luther College. Students are drawn to prairies for restoration activities, research and ...
- Posted July 25, 2022
- Photographs
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How to reach net-zero emissions? Extract CO2 and put it to better use
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Excess carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere can be isolated and transformed into value-added chemicals for fuels, a team of researchers in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering say ...
- Posted July 25, 2022
- Photographs
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Trimming Energy use in Buildings
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Because climate change is fueled in part by buildings’ energy use, Manish Dixit, Texas A&M assistant professor of construction science, is studying how to reduce structures’ energy needs with a ...
- Posted July 25, 2022
- Photographs
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Climate Action Plan RFP Guidelines: an open-source collaboration
- Brailsford & Dunlavey (DC)
Overview The purpose of this document is to support staff members tasked with writing an RFP for a: Climate Action Plan Carbon Mitigation Plan Climate Action and Resilience Plan Climate ...
- Posted July 18, 2022
- Tools
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Campus Garden to Bring New Opportunities for Self-Sustainability
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Cal State Fullerton recently broke ground on a new campus garden that will serve as a tool for hands-on student learning. The ceremony was part of Cal State Fullerton’s ...
- Posted July 18, 2022
- Photographs
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Webinar: Strategic Planning and Pathway Development for Significantly Reducing GHG Emissions (Scopes 1 and 2)
- University of Chicago (IL)
- AASHE (MA)
- Edison Energy (CA)
Meeting the urgent call to mitigate the impacts of climate change: Given the early success with meeting GHG reduction targets by 2025, the University of Chicago has developed more ambitious ...
- Posted June 14, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Scope 3 Business-related air travel Greenhouse Gas emissions at Royal Roads University, Victoria BC
- Royal Roads University (BC)
I completed an analysis of GHG emissions for all air travel during the 2019 calendar year at Royal Roads University; this analysis included travel emissions of the University Executive; its ...
- Posted June 13, 2022
- Publications
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Anthropology - Climate Change and Human Solutions BA
- University of California, San Diego (CA)
This is an major in climate change solutions that will give students the knowledge and skills needed to help the world meet the challenges of climate change. It combines the ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Climate Change Studies Minor
- University of California, San Diego (CA)
This interdisciplinary minor curriculum highlights UC San Diego’s broad campus expertise in understanding and responding to the challenges of climate change. The minor covers an understanding of the scientific ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Graduate Certificate in Climate Change, Hazards & Green Infrastructure Planning
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
The Graduate Certificate in Climate Change, Hazards and Green Infrastructure Planning provides students with a credential showing that they have unique skills in one of the most pressing topic areas ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Environmental Engineering BEng
- University of Guelph (ON)
This interdisciplinary major fuses engineering and science principles together. Students will design treatment processes and systems to identify, prevent and clean up pollution of our land, water and air. Gain ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Climate Science and Solutions MS
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
The Climate Science & Solutions (CSS) Professional Science Master’s program combines a foundation of climate science and sustainable systems studies with professional training and organizational skills to help graduates ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Atmospheric Sciences BS
- University of Utah (UT)
The Department of Atmospheric Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree and a minor for undergraduate students. Students with interest in severe weather, climate change, forecasting, broadcast meteorology ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Enviornmental Geoscience Emphasis
- University of Utah (UT)
The Department of Geology and Geophysics offers Bachelors of Science (B.S.) degree programs that are designed for students who wish to pursue professional careers in the Earth sciences or ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Atmospheric Sciences MS
- University of Utah (UT)
The graduate program has been carefully designed to provide students with a solid foundation in a broad spectrum of the atmospheric sciences while allowing students to specialize for their thesis ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Atmospheric Sciences PhD
- University of Utah (UT)
The graduate program has been carefully designed to provide students with a solid foundation in a broad spectrum of the atmospheric sciences while allowing students to specialize for their thesis ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Climate Change Minor
- Texas A&M University (TX)
The Climate Change minor emphasizes both the science and politics of climate change
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Climate Science MS
- George Mason University (VA)
The MS in Climate Science educates students to be climate professionals who can analyze and model advanced climate data. Students in the program learn to solve quantitative problems about atmospheric ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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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.