University of Massachusetts Boston
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

UMass Boston will array research, scholarship, and academic programming around four Grand Scholarly Challenges (GSCs). The aim is to address challenges that are faced by the diverse UMB community by conducting impactful research, in order to reach the goals outlined in the Universities strategic plan. The first GSC covered in the New Strategic Plan is climate equity and urban coastal areas, which states the following: "Climate change is the existential threat of our times. In our harbor city, it is a clear, urgent environmental challenge that touches upon health and wellness, our economic future, and the very livelihood affecting every individual, family, and community in Boston and beyond. UMass Boston will research, design, and implement leading-edge, equitable, and restorative adaptations to and mitigation of the impacts of climate change. And we will infuse an ethic of environmental care into our culture and curriculum through teaching, research, and service initiatives that promote knowledge and action on climate change mitigation and adaptation, and sustainable development moving forward."

The University of Massachusetts Boston aims to achieve a 95% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, by means of over time decarbonizing the central plant, increasing energy efficiency through major renovations, and comprehensive energy projects. All of these projects, and a proposed timeline for implementation can be found in The University's Energy and Carbon Master Plan.

The UMass Boston Strategic Plan includes priorities such as, "Deepen diversity: The UMass Boston community embodies the entire range of the
human condition—all continents, dozens and dozens of languages, all world religions, all identities, and more are represented on our campus. With a view to deepening our signature diversity, UMass Boston will implement practices and policies that facilitate diversity
hiring. And we will provide all UMass Boston employees—leaders, faculty, researchers, and staff—with increased opportunities for professional development in restorative justice, diversity and inclusion, and equity. Going forward, we will shape a comprehensive
plan for developing a diverse pipeline of early-career scholars from the ranks of our undergraduate, graduate, post-doctoral students"

and commitments such as, "Antiracist and Health-Promoting Culture."

"The Sustainability Policy exemplifies the long-term commitment of the five campuses
of UMass to be good stewards of fiscal and environmental resources. Our environmental responsibility is
rooted in the University’s founding as a land-grant institution, designed to bolster good stewardship of
land and industry as well as to serve the greater public good. With stewardship in mind, the efforts and
achievements of each campus are celebrated while striving to be sustainability leaders, fulfilling our
mission of advancing knowledge, and improving the lives of the people of the Commonwealth, nation,
and world"

All five campuses in the UMass System agree to be "responsible stewardship of resources and to demonstrate leadership in sustainable business practices"