| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.19 |
| Liaison | Kimberly Reeves |
| Submission Date | Nov. 22, 2024 |
Agnes Scott College
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Kimberly
Reeves Executive Director Center for Sustainability |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s featured program initiative, or accomplishment:
Since the start of our sustainability program, Agnes Scott’s principal sustainability focus has been on climate change and carbon neutrality. The college was a charter signatory of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2007, setting a goal to be carbon neutral by 2037. It was the belief of President Emerita, Elizabeth Kiss, that in order for Agnes Scott to deliver on its mission to educate women to both “live honorably” and “engage in the intellectual and social challenges of their times,” that students must have a robust understanding of climate change and climate justice.
All policies and programs implemented by the Center for Sustainability are driven by the goal of reducing the college’s carbon footprint. We established a LEED building policy, not for the purpose of designing more innovative buildings, but in order to renovate and build buildings with the lowest carbon footprint possible. We established a nationally recognized Green Revolving Fund in order to finance energy efficiency in order to reduce the college’s carbon footprint. We installed a quarter megawatt of solar on campus, despite the fact we would not directly benefit from the energy produced, to reduce regional demand for greenhouse gasses, water consumption, and toxic air pollution, which disproportionately impacts Environmental Justice communities in Georgia.
Seventeen years into our climate action, justice and sustainability program, we are delivering on our commitment to carbon neutrality. To date, we have reduced our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 51.8%. We established a landmark partnership with the City of Decatur to create a joint Climate Resilience Plan, with successful implementation starting Spring 2022. And most importantly as a higher education institution, we are training a new generation of sustainability professionals that have the skills and passion to not just address climate change, but to ensure women and climate justice are at the heart of all climate change policy and programs.
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Name of a second featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the second featured program initiative, or accomplishment:
A photograph or document associated with the second featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Name of a third featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the third featured program initiative, or accomplishment:
A photograph or document associated with the third featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Notes about the information provided for this credit:
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