American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment Celebrate Successful First 5 Years

The American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment and its almost 700 signatories have made some remarkable strides combating climate change, according to Celebrating Five Years of Climate Leadership, the ACUPCC’s five-year report.

The report quantifies the progress of the initiative, which represents an agreement between nearly 700 colleges and universities to promote sustainability through teaching and action. These actions include reducing carbon emissions on their campuses; deploying sustainable practices; revising their curricula and culture to raise awareness of sustainability in students and graduates; sponsoring research and developing best case practices; and engaging local economies and communities.

The report was released in conjunction with the ACUPCC’s annual Climate Leadership Summit, which was held at American University in Washington, DC in June. The report’s highlights include:

• More than 675 signatories, representing 6 million students or 30 percent of the nation’s college and university population, have committed to the ACUPCC.

• Collectively, the entire network has reduced gross greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent since 2007.

• By 2022, the signatories are projected to reduce their gross emissions by over 50 percent.

• More than 30 percent of signatories have targeted climate neutrality within 20 years.

• Signatories collectively represent the third-largest purchasers of Renewable Energy Credits in the U.S.—enough green power for 130,000 American households.

• Almost 200 signatories offer nearly 10,000 courses focused on sustainability.

The report also offers 21 case studies that showcase institutional success stories that highlight achievements in preparedness, opportunity and innovation.

Learn more at PresidentsClimateCommitment.org.

Source: American College & University President’s Climate Commitment