Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.90
Liaison Steve Mital
Submission Date March 6, 2020

STARS v2.2

University of Oregon
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Steve Mital
Office of Sustainability Director
Finance & Administration
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the municipal/local level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:

The University of Oregon works directly with the City of Eugene to advocate for and support the City's climate action plan. Specifically, University of Oregon is one of several local "large lever" institutions that are working directly with the City to develop local emissions reduction goals, plans and timelines.

https://www.eugene-or.gov/3936/CAP20-Background


Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:

UO's advocacy at the state level supports a range of sustainability objectives. Recent examples at the state level include:

1. Advocating for Alert Wildfire, a network of Pan-Tilt-Zoom fire cameras that can help public land managers, firefighters and first responders locate, monitor, and contain fires that negatively impact environmental ecosystems and infrastructure

2. Advocating for legislation leading to development of an earthquake early warning system known as ShakeAlert. ShakeAlert is a partnership with the US Geologic Survey and four universities (UO, UW, Caltech and Berkeley) that operate three seismic networks. UO advocacy supports goal to bring ShakeAlert to all Oregonians and could save lives and infrastructure in a high-magnitude earthquake along the Cascadia subduction zone.

All official advocacy at state level is reviewed and supported by UO's senior administration.


Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the national level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:

University of Oregon is closely participating in efforts to push back against the trend of undercutting federal scientists and the role of science in federal decision-making.

Many of our efforts represent advocacy at federal levels. Recent examples include:

1. Advocating for the federal University Transportation Center program.

2. Advocating for build-out of Alert Wildfire, a network of Pan-Tilt-Zoom fire cameras that can help public land managers, firefighters and first responders locate, monitor, and contain fires that negatively impact environmental ecosystems and infrastructure;

3. Advocating for federal funding for research focusing on the advancement of mass timber and structural wood products building solutions. This work can dramatically reduce embodied carbon in new building construction.

4. Advocating for legislation that supports federal investment in an earthquake early warning system known as ShakeAlert.

5. Additional areas of focus and interest in the 116th Congress include research and policy implications associated with improving indoor air quality.

Note: All official advocacy at the federal level is vetted by UO's senior administration.


Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the international level?:
No

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
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A brief description of other political positions the institution has taken during the previous three years (if applicable):
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A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):
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Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.