Princeton University
PAE-4: Sustainability Plan

The development of Princeton’s Sustainability Plan grew out of the efforts of the Princeton Sustainability Committee (PSC) (formerly the Princeton Environmental Oversight Committee, or PEOC), which was established in 2002 by President Shirley M. Tilghman. The committee consisted of students, faculty and staff, and realized that exemplary campus stewardship and preparing Princeton's students to become engaged environmental citizens required a comprehensive plan. In 2006, Shana Weber joined the staff as the University's first sustainability manager, and established the Office of Sustainability. She began working with the committee to organize 10 working groups of students, faculty, and staff that assessed existing stewardship initiatives and potential opportunities across the institution. The three priority areas—Greenhouse Gas Reduction, Resource Conservation and Research, Education & Civic Engagement—identified in the Sustainability Plan emerged from that assessment. The plan provides the framework for members of the University community, individually and collectively, to help Princeton play a leading role in the global effort to achieve a sustainable future for everyone.

The Sustainability Plan proposes aggressive but achievable goals in three priority areas: Greenhouse Gas Reduction; Resource Conservation; and Research, Education and Civic Engagement. Currently, Princeton's sustainability goals include: Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals: 1) decrease campus carbon dioxide to 1990 levels by 2020, and 2) decrease by 10 percent the number of cars commuting to campus by 2020. Resource Conservation Goals: 1) increase sustainable food purchases to 70 percent by 2012; 2) reduce and recycle food waste; 3) encourage sustainability in the supply chain and procurement of purchased goods and services; 3) reduce overall waste from campus; 4) increase reuse and recycling; 5) create a vibrant and sustainable landscape; 6) reduce overall campus water usage; 7) manage stormwater events with an integrated campuswide ecosystem approach. Research, Education and Civic Engagement Goals: 1) Develop leaders among students to advance global sustainability; 2) Encourage campuswide student initiatives in sustainability; 3) Promote sustainable practices among University community members through action and by example; 4) Expand the discourse about sustainability on campus, in the local community and across the nation.

Progress against the sustainability goals is assessed and published on at least an annual basis.

Note Princeton's broader sustainability goals listed are associated with specific strategies. For more information, please visit http://www.princeton.edu/reports/2011/sustainability/