Boston University
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

In September 2016, as part of their response to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing (ACSRI), the Boston University Board of Trustees authorized President Brown to form a Task Force of faculty, staff, and students to develop a Climate Action Plan (CAP) for the University. The charge to the CAP Task Force included multiple components:

1) medium and longer term plans to minimize the greenhouse gas emissions that result from the operation of Boston University.
2) a resiliency plan for our campus to address the effects of anthropogenic climate change, including rising temperatures, more frequent extreme weather, and rising sea level.
3) a plan for enhancing education and research activities that address climate change and its impact.

In May 2022, the Operations Climate Action Committee was formed to enhance collaboration across functional areas and is tasked with providing stewardship, accountability, and leadership to the growing complexity of the Climate Action Plan.

The committee will develop a strategic roadmap to accomplish (1) the goals set forth in the University’s Climate Action Plan, and (2) the emissions and reporting standards set forth in the new Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO 2.0).

The Climate Action Plan Task Force included:
Chair:
Anthony Janetos, Director, Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future
Members:
Sean Attri, Graduate Student, Questrom School of Business
Mun Pan Aung, Graduate Student, School of Public Health
Bridget Baker, Undergraduate Student, College of Arts & Sciences
Dennis Carlberg, Director of Sustainability
Madhu Dutta-Koehler, Associate Professor of the Professional Practice and Program Coordinator, City Planning and Urban Affairs, Metropolitan College
Elijah Ercolino, Director of Building Automation
Peter Fox-Penner, Director, Institute for Sustainable Energy, and Professor of Practice, Questrom School of Business
Michael Gevelber, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Lucy Hutyra, Associate Professor, Department of Earth & Environment

The Operations Climate Action Committee includes:
Chair:
Brian Raymond, Assistant Vice President, Operations
Members:
Dennis Carlberg, Associate Vice President for Sustainability
Elijah Ercolino, Executive Director of Planned Maintenance & Engineering
Karl Green, Assistant Vice President, Informatics & Strategic Initiatives
Maria Cruz, Associate Vice President for Budget, Planning & Business Affairs
Sonia Richards, Associate Vice President, Planning, Design & Construction
Bill Walter, Associate Vice President for Facilities Management & Operations

BU Sustainability office is located within Operations which provides critical access to ongoing collaboration opportunities within the University’s operational staff and infrastructure. The University employs seven full-time sustainability professionals: Associate Vice President for Sustainability, Sustainability Director, Director of Data Analytics, Assistant Director of Communications, Engagement Manager, Zero Waste Manager, and Sustainability Director for Dining Services. Longer-term, student interns provide substantial support in communications and outreach, recycling, green building certification, green office certification, sustainability metrics tracking and reporting, and administrative support.

Boston University's Sustainability Committee was established in 2008 with a Steering Committee and four working groups. After developing recommendations to integrate sustainability strategies into the structure and operations of the University, and seeing them integrated, the Sustainability Committee was no longer necessary and was discontinued. At the direction of the President as authorized by the Board of Trustees in 2016, the University embarked on the development of a Climate Action Plan.

In 2016 Boston University received another Greenovate Boston Award for its efforts to prepare its campuses for the impacts from climate change.

Develop and implement a strategy to integrate sustainability principles and Climate Action Plan into the operational functions of the University. Communicate, inform and promote these principles and programs throughout the University. Act as the campus spokesperson on sustainability and provide outreach to local and national organizations as well as funding agencies.

-Collaborating on the University Climate Action Plan and its implementation
-Supporting sustainable campus operations
-Engaging the University community in achieving our climate commitments and sustainability goals
-Supporting the University’s educational mission by using the campus as a living learning laboratory.

This position is responsible for leading the execution of communication activities connected to the Climate Action Plan and the University’s sustainability initiatives. This position is responsible for increasing the internal and external visibility of BU Sustainability by maximizing the dissemination, coverage and impact of the University’s sustainability and climate action efforts, and to promote the office’s programs, initiatives, events and activities among decision-makers, influencers, partners, the media, members of the University community, and the general public. This position will collaborate closely with the BU Sustainability team and Marketing & Communications on strategy and content development, and with other departments at Boston University including Public Relations and Government & Community Affairs to coordinate on external communications. Build relationships with relevant partners to advance the office’s goals.

This represents FY2022 BU Metrics.