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 Benjamin Thompson, Graduate 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 Anthony Janetos, Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future Robert Kaufmann, Department of Earth & Environment Jonathan Levy, Environmental Health, School of Public Health Thomas Little, Electrical & Computer Engineering Jennifer Luebke, Anatomy & Neurobiology, School of Medicine Nathan Phillips, Department of Earth & Environment Pamela Templer, Department of Biology 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 approaches sustainability by developing initiatives to be overseen by the BU Sustainabiity office. This began in 2008 when BU establisehd a Sustainability Committee with a Steering Committee and four working groups which developed recommendations to integrate sustainability strategies into the structure and operations of the University. Once 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 developed a Climate Action Plan which was approved by the Board in December 2017 with five high level goals. BU Sustainability oversees the implementation and ongoing reporting of progress toward those goals. In 2019 BU assembled a 54-member task force to develop the Zero Waste Plan. The plan was released on March 3, 2021. Hundreds of BU faculty, staff, and students helped shape the plan through participation in forums, surveys, and more. The Plan outlines 21 different initiatives that focus on various important aspects of Zero Waste.

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 analytical initiatives that advance BU’s position as a leader in climate action and sustainability. In addition to collecting data, assuring data integrity, managing, analyzing, and reporting the multiple elements of the University’s sustainability metrics, this position will lead the advancement of data initiatives that are at the forefront of sustainability in the sector. This position will also support departments to improve operational performance, enhance institutional decision-making, and meet the University’s sustainability goals and climate commitments.

This represents FY2023 BU Metrics.