| Overall Rating | Bronze |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 41.82 |
| Liaison | Jasmine Petrov |
| Submission Date | Jan. 14, 2025 |
Fordham University
PA-2: Commitments and Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
6.00 / 6.00 |
Mayank
Singhal Sustainability Admin Assistant Office of Sustainability |
2.1 Public sustainability commitment
Narrative detailing the institution’s guiding vision or goals for sustainability and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Fordham University has committed to reducing its environmental impact through targeted, verifiable measures that focus on reducing our greenhouse gases generated from all aspects of our operations. Our focus has been concentrated on reducing emissions from our buildings, which constitute the majority of CO2 emitted from our campuses. This commitment is manifested by our early involvement with New York City’s Carbon Challenge, which started in 2007. Since joining the Challenge, we have reduced our CO2 equivalent intensity (CO2e) by 31.77%, on our way to meeting our commitment to reduce emissions 40% by the year 2030. The Climate Action Plan highlights the progress we have made through 2021 and establishes a framework to minimize our environmental impact in all areas of our operations. Fordham University remains committed to sustainability as a central consideration in all aspects of our activities, including curriculum, student development and education, faculty and staff involvement, and physical plant and campus operations. In keeping with the Jesuit traditions of the pursuit of wisdom and learning, educating the whole person, and respect for the environment, the University recognizes the tremendous importance and value of this undertaking. In the spring of 2021, the Vatican released the Pope’s Encyclical Letter on ecology, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, in which he calls on every person to acknowledge the immensity and urgency of the environmental challenges we face and to work together to address them. As an independent institution in the Catholic and Jesuit tradition, Fordham University was proud to commit to the goals outlined in the Encyclical Letter, which focus on integral ecology, with an understanding that everything is connected.
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the institution’s external sustainability commitments that include a reporting requirement:
https://www.fordham.edu/media/home/departments-centers-and-offices/sustainability-at-fordham/pdfs/Fordham-Climate-Action-Plan---Annual-Report.pdf
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
2.2 Measurable sustainability objectives
Narrative listing the institution’s measurable sustainability objectives that address teaching, learning, and research:
Fordham University has established measurable sustainability objectives that address teaching, learning, and research. These objectives are detailed in various university initiatives and plans.
- Host a biannual international sustainability conference to acquaint the University community with best practices and cutting-edge research toward solution-building. This conference will bring together representatives from the 68 colleges and universities that began action planning with Fordham.
- Create a set of environmental sustainability course modules, with resources, lesson plans, guest speakers, and activities that can be modified to fit into any undergraduate course, and connect that course and its areas of inquiry with the pressing imperatives of environmental justice and ecology.
- Partner with other colleges and universities, as well as with community and industry partners, to undertake broad STEM research projects including but not limited to fieldwork, soil and air quality analyses, data analysis, policy recommendations, and assessments of climate change.
- Create and host a set of sustainability immersion or study-away experiences in partnership with the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities network as well as our international college and university partners to offer one-to-two-week or semester-long sustainability experiences in NYC and at partner sites using the University’s Global Outreach program infrastructure and network.
- In partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society, build a student ambassador program centered on sustainability and advocacy.
- Create and mobilize undergraduate interdisciplinary tracks and micro-credentialing opportunities that offer the communications, STEM, and related skills necessary to advance in vocational and green job sectors.
https://www.fordham.edu/about/sustainability-at-fordham/teaching-learning-and-research/
Has the institution adopted one or more measurable sustainability objectives that address stakeholder engagement?:
Narrative listing the institution’s measurable sustainability objectives that address stakeholder engagement:
Laudato Si' Action Plan: Integrate sustainability into campus operations and faculty, staff, and student engagement.
The plan includes the active involvement of stakeholders in sustainability efforts through activities like sustainability conferences, workshops, and the development of sustainability programs.
This includes the goal to engage faculty and students in sustainability initiatives and track the number of sustainability-related events held annually, aiming for a measurable increase in engagement and participation over time.
Fordham has committed to regularly updating stakeholders on the progress of sustainability initiatives, including climate action and environmental impact reduction. This is reflected in their annual sustainability reports, with specific targets for stakeholder engagement in terms of report access and participation in surveys regarding sustainability topics. The university aims to increase stakeholder participation in sustainability-related surveys and events by 25% by 2030.
Has the institution adopted one or more measurable sustainability objectives that address campus operations?:
Narrative listing the institution’s measurable sustainability objectives that address campus operations:
- Undertake a study and outline steps and action items to review fossil fuel investment exposure and advance a disinvestment strategy as feasible.
- Reduce CO2 from campus facilities 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050.
- Reduce single-rider transportation to and from campus through parking-fee reductions and other incentives for carpoolers and incentives for using public transportation.
- Analyze Ram Van and other campus transportation systems for energy effectiveness and efficiency; commit to necessary changes.
- Assess the feasibility to transform Ram Van fleet to biodiesel or electric vehicles by 2030.
- Invest institutional resources (time, research, money) into clean energy projects and initiatives, especially as led by the Gabelli School of Business.
- Partner with small businesses and grassroots organizations in New York City to offset carbon and green energy taxes and fees, which can be untenable and can then be passed down to the consumer or the civilian.
https://www.fordham.edu/media/home/departments-centers-and-offices/sustainability-at-fordham/pdfs/Fordham-Climate-Action-Plan---Annual-Report.pdf (Climate Action Plan)
Has the institution adopted one or more measurable sustainability objectives that address racial equity and social justice?:
Narrative listing the institution’s measurable sustainability objectives that address racial equity and social justice:
- Intentionally center women and BIPOC individuals as leaders for sustainability initiatives.
- Partner with the Center for Community Engaged Learning on a cluster of 10 community engaged learning (CEL) courses on environmental justice and environmental sustainability. Increase the number of courses by five each year for a total of 40 new sustainability-themed CEL courses by 2030.
- Establish a sustainability subcommittee of Fordham in Community to locate and grow sustainability initiatives in the Bronx that are asset-based and partner-led.
- Partner with CSTEP and HEOP to advance opportunities for women and BIPOC students in STEM to collaborate on sustainability-centered research projects, undertake fieldwork, and gain valuable mentorship from upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty.
- Support faculty acquisition of STEM grants that support historically underrepresented students and that support sustainability initiatives.
Has the institution adopted one or more measurable sustainability objectives that address administration and finance?:
Narrative listing the institution’s measurable sustainability objectives that address administration and finance:
- Undertake a study and outline steps and action items to review fossil fuel investment exposure and advance a disinvestment strategy as feasible.
- Invest institutional resources (time, research, money) into clean energy projects and initiatives, especially as led by the Gabelli School of Business.
- Partner with small businesses and grassroots organizations in New York City to offset carbon and green energy taxes and fees, which can be untenable and can then be passed down to the consumer or the civilian.
- Update technologies in classrooms, offices, and other campus buildings to be energy efficient.
- Work toward LEED certification for each building, tripling current certification by 2040.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
2.3 Climate resilience assessment and planning
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s climate resilience assessment:
Does the institution participate in an ongoing campus-community task force or committee that is focused on climate resilience?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the campus-community task force or committee focused on climate resilience:
UNIVERSITY SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL
In 2012, Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham University at the time, established the Sustainability Council. Through collaboration with independent sustainability consultants, the Council seeks to foster a University-wide discussion related to meeting the growing challenges of climate change by collaborating and developing partnerships and fostering initiatives. The Council, which consists of administrators, faculty, staff, students, and consultants, meets throughout the year to discuss keys issues such as improvements to recycling, University-wide energy and greenhouse gas reduction initiatives, and other sustainability efforts.
Has the institution incorporated climate resilience strategies and/or goals into one or more of its published plans?:
Narrative listing the institution’s climate resilience strategies and goals and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Fordham University has incorporated climate resilience strategies and goals into its published plans, particularly through its Laudato Si’ Action Plan and Climate Action Plan. These plans outline the university's commitment to sustainability and climate resilience, and they detail various goals and strategies related to adaptation and resilience in response to climate change.
- Reforestation and ecosystem restoration: Fordham is committed to reforesting and restoring ecosystems, both on and off-campus, as part of its climate resilience efforts. This is aimed at enhancing natural carbon sequestration and reducing the urban heat island effect.
- Building resilient infrastructure: The university is working to enhance the resilience of its buildings and infrastructure to withstand the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, heatwaves, and flooding.
- Partner with community organizations (Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, and Hester Street) to undertake a Bronxwide biodiversity and reforestation initiative in Bronx green spaces.
- Stop overwatering the campuses and, where possible, work to promote indigenous and biodiverse planting on campus.
https://www.fordham.edu/media/home/departments-centers-and-offices/sustainability-at-fordham/pdfs/Fordham-Climate-Action-Plan---Annual-Report.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com (Climate Action Plan)
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Optional documentation
Additional documentation for this credit:
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.