New York University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

The Office of the Provost aims to encourage (1) 4-5 awards of up to $5,000 to foster new Cross-school/Interdisciplinary Collaborations, and (2) 4-5 awards of up to $20,000 to develop Inter- or Transdisciplinary Research that will lead to securing external funding.

This is published on the website:https://www.nyu.edu/about/leadership-university-administration/office-of-the-president/office-of-the-provost/cross-cutting-initiatives/climate-change/climate-change-research-resources---funding.html

• Class presentations 

• Sustainability Leaders Fellowship

• Summer Internship Grant

• Environmental and Racial Justice Network

• Sustainability-Related Events

• Newsletter and Social Media

These are further expanded on and available on our website: https://www.nyu.edu/life/sustainability/climategoals/engagement.html

Measurable sustainability goals include climate neutrality by 2040 and 25% reduction in GHG emissions from food purchasing by 2030. They are described here and the commitments are public.

https://www.nyu.edu/life/sustainability/climategoals.html

From the Board of Trustees statement, “New York University commits to avoid any direct investments in any company whose primary business is the exploration or extraction of fossil fuels, including all forms of coal, oil, and natural gas, and not to renew or seek out any dedicated private funds whose primary aim is to invest in the exploration or extraction of fossil fuels. New York University will continue to seek out investments in comingled funds that would reduce the endowment's indirect exposure to companies whose primary business is the exploration or extraction of fossil fuels while maintaining the financial health of the endowment.”

NYU has a Global Inclusion Officers Council that has representation from each department at the university. The council ensures alignment across the university regarding diversity equity and inclusion. https://drive.google.com/file/d/17XkBE5M8RqUdK8ifiy8YNM7KdHz1AT6a/view

A formal sustainability commitment for NYU was issued by the President, Provost, and Executive Vice President on February 15, 2023, covering environment performance, teaching and research, and community and public engagement. (This particular statement was not specifically endorsed by the Board of Trustees.)

The Board of Trustees, in a letter from William R. Berkley, Chair of the Board, stated in a public letter to students on August 18, 2023: “We believe that NYU must continue to play a role in environmental sustainability and we have taken tangible and impactful actions to reduce our carbon footprint and to address climate change. Since 2007, we have reduced our greenhouse gas emissions intensity from building energy use by 30% - the equivalent of planting all of Manhattan, and all of Brooklyn, in trees, and have look-forward goals of a net 50% reduction by 2025 and climate neutrality by 2040. In addition, given our understanding that agriculture is one-quarter of global emissions, we are focused on reducing our greenhouse gas emissions from our food purchases by 25% by 2030. Together, buildings, energy, and food represent over half of humanity's contribution to global climate change, and NYU is doing its part to address this significant issue.”

In its climate commitment, NYU introduced sustainability as “responsible stewardship of environmental resources, prioritizing sustainability in decision-making, and setting a powerful example of leadership on climate change and other environmental issues.” The document goes on to give specific examples of each of these areas.

NYU has committed to reducing emissions by 50% by 2025 over the 2006 baseline year and being carbon neutral by 2040. The University is a part of many emissions reduction and sustainability initiatives including the New York City Carbon Challenge, "We're still in" for the Paris Climate Accord, and Second Nature's Carbon Commitment. These are all integral in the comprehensive strategy NYU is taking to reduce emissions. Through these programs, NYU is able to leverage the community's support and guidance as well as express leadership through our own initiatives. All of this is essential to meeting our carbon reduction goals.