| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.78 |
| Liaison | Kelly Wellman |
| Submission Date | Dec. 20, 2023 |
Texas A&M University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Kelly
Wellman Sustainability Director Office of Sustainability & Campus Enrichment |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
The Texas A&M University Superfund Research Center and Center for Environmental Health Research partnered with the Environmental Defense Fund, Darkhorse Analytics, and the Texas Transportation Institute to develop the U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI).
Pulling in 184 sets of data to rank more than 70,000 U.S. Census tracts, the U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index helps you see which communities face the greatest challenges from the impacts of a changing climate. This tool shows what is driving the challenges, so policymakers and communities themselves can take action to build climate resilience where it is needed most.
The U.S. CVI provides the means to understand and visualize how long-standing inequities disadvantage communities across the United States. This mapping tool combines collective environmental, social, economic, and infrastructure impacts that shape a community’s ability to respond and adapt to climate change. Better understanding of the intersection of vulnerability and climate change risks is key to effectively building resilience because it helps define where climate action and investments are needed most.
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Public Engagement
Air & Climate
Website URL where more information about the accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Name of a second highlighted sustainability program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Texas A&M Athletics is a nationally prominent force that is dedicated to creating opportunities through championship athletics. The Home of the 12th Man is the pinnacle in opportunities realized through sport: championships won, diplomas earned, leaders equipped and launched to impact the world. Texas A&M Athletics is a proud member of the Southeastern Conference, with more than 650 Texas A&M student-athletes competing at the NCAA Division 1-A level in 20 varsity sports.
The Texas A&M Athletics Department stepped to the forefront of national sustainability efforts with a first-of-its-kind master plan. The Aggies announced the release of the initial Athletics Sustainability Master Plan (ASMP), becoming the first athletics department in the country to embark on such an effort.
The purpose of the ASMP is to create a living strategic document that complements and serves as a guide for how the athletics department will support Texas A&M University in achieving the goals and actions set forth in its 2018 Campus Sustainability Master Plan for the next decade and beyond.
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Public Engagement
Coordination & Planning
Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Name of a third highlighted program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Texas A&M University began receiving up to 50MW offsite solar from the Samson Solar project. Samson is located in Franklin, Lamar, and Red River Counties in Northeast Texas and when complete will generate 1020 megawatts of sustainable energy. This long term PPA emphasizes the University's commitment to shift over 20% of the campus's electricity needs to a renewable source.
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Energy
Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.