| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.21 |
| Liaison | Stephen Ellis |
| Submission Date | June 9, 2023 |
Boston University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Dennis
Carlberg Associate Vice President for Sustainability BU Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1. Measurable sustainability objectives
Academics
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to academics and the plan(s) in which they are published:
The Climate Action Plan includes the creation of an academic Initiative on Climate Change and Sustainability to integrate these subjects into the education and research missions of the University. Precisely, the initiative would work with departments and schools to characterize the suite of courses that address climate and sustainability issues, identify gaps, and advocate for strategies that would address those gaps. For more information on academic sustainability objectives, refer to pages 23-24 of BU's Climate Action Plan: https://www.bu.edu/sustainability/files/2021/05/BUClimateActionPlan_Report_FINAL.pdf
Engagement
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to engagement and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Key Performance Indicators developed in the Climate Action Plan include formalizing the use of the campus as a living-learning laboratory for climate change and sustainability, integration of the CAP into the University's Strategic Plan, providing community-wide training, and improvements to sustainability communications and outreach:
The Campus Climate Lab launched in the summer of 2020 as a partnership between BU Sustainability and BU Research.
https://www.bu.edu/igs/research/campus-climate-lab/
The Climate Action Plan is integrated into the University’s Strategic Plan
https://www.bu.edu/plan2020/
BU Sustainability provides community-wide engagement, training, and is continuously improving sustainability communications and outreach.
https://www.bu.edu/sustainability/take-action/
The Campus Climate Lab launched in the summer of 2020 as a partnership between BU Sustainability and BU Research.
https://www.bu.edu/igs/research/campus-climate-lab/
The Climate Action Plan is integrated into the University’s Strategic Plan
https://www.bu.edu/plan2020/
BU Sustainability provides community-wide engagement, training, and is continuously improving sustainability communications and outreach.
https://www.bu.edu/sustainability/take-action/
Operations
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to operations and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Reduce energy consumption by 31% by 2032: https://www.bu.edu/sustainability/files/2021/11/CAP-Energy-Report-2017-11-25.pdf
https://www.bu.edu/sustainability/projects/net-zero-direct-emissions/
https://www.bu.edu/sustainability/projects/net-zero-direct-emissions/
Administration
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:
On September 22, 2021, Boston University's Board of Trustees approved a plan for 100% divestment from fossil fuels while investing instead in fossil fuel-free energy production: https://www.bu.edu/trustees/boardoftrustees/committees/acsri/investment-issues/2020-2021-investments-in-the-fossil-fuel-industry/
Part 2. Sustainability in institution’s highest guiding document
Yes
The institution’s highest guiding document (upload):
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Website URL where the institution’s highest guiding document is publicly available:
Which of the following best describes the inclusion of sustainability in the highest guiding document?:
Major theme
Optional Fields
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Website URL where the institution's sustainability plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body?:
Yes
The formal statement in support of sustainability:
At its December 2017 meeting, the Board of Trustees approved a bold Climate Action Plan to prepare the campuses for the impacts from climate change and sets a goal to reduce emissions from operations to net zero by 2040. The first major step to achieve this goal is BU Wind, a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to match this University’s electricity demand with 100% renewable energy. This project, completed in 2020, reduces the University’s emissions by 53%.
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
N/A
Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
| Yes or No | |
| The Earth Charter | No |
| The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) | No |
| ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter | No |
| Pan-Canadian Protocol for Sustainability | No |
| SDG Accord | No |
| Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment | No |
| The Talloires Declaration (TD) | No |
| UN Global Compact | No |
| Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) | Yes |
A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
UC3:
On the heels of the adoption of a bold BU Climate Action Plan, Boston University accepted the invitation to join the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3). Launched in February 2018, UC3 is a coalition of Tier 1 research universities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico that champions a model for mobilizing resources to accelerate climate action in collaboration with cities, businesses, and each other. By becoming part of UC3, BU has joined other top-tier research institutions, like Arizona State University, University of Maryland, and The University of California, who are the forefront of progressive and comprehensive climate action.
American Campuses Act on Climate Pledge:
In 2015, weeks before the historic agreement on climate change was signed at COP21 in Paris, Boston University was represented at the White House by Andrew Cho (CAS’16), student body president, and sustainability@BU intern Lindsey Chew (Questrom’16) to affirm our commitment to address climate change through the American Campuses Act on Climate Pledge.
We Are Still In:
We have joined Mayor Walsh and now over 3,500 mayors, college and university leaders, governors, businesses, and investors that intend to continue to support the climate action necessary to meet the Paris Agreement and say that we are still in. For its part in the Paris Agreement, the US committed it would reduce emissions from 2005 levels 26 to 28 percent by 2025. At BU, we are well on our way to meeting the commitments in the University’s Climate Action Plan to achieve net carbon neutrality for its operations by 2040.
https://www.bu.edu/sustainability/about/
On the heels of the adoption of a bold BU Climate Action Plan, Boston University accepted the invitation to join the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3). Launched in February 2018, UC3 is a coalition of Tier 1 research universities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico that champions a model for mobilizing resources to accelerate climate action in collaboration with cities, businesses, and each other. By becoming part of UC3, BU has joined other top-tier research institutions, like Arizona State University, University of Maryland, and The University of California, who are the forefront of progressive and comprehensive climate action.
American Campuses Act on Climate Pledge:
In 2015, weeks before the historic agreement on climate change was signed at COP21 in Paris, Boston University was represented at the White House by Andrew Cho (CAS’16), student body president, and sustainability@BU intern Lindsey Chew (Questrom’16) to affirm our commitment to address climate change through the American Campuses Act on Climate Pledge.
We Are Still In:
We have joined Mayor Walsh and now over 3,500 mayors, college and university leaders, governors, businesses, and investors that intend to continue to support the climate action necessary to meet the Paris Agreement and say that we are still in. For its part in the Paris Agreement, the US committed it would reduce emissions from 2005 levels 26 to 28 percent by 2025. At BU, we are well on our way to meeting the commitments in the University’s Climate Action Plan to achieve net carbon neutrality for its operations by 2040.
https://www.bu.edu/sustainability/about/
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
This represents FY2022 BU Metrics.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.