| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.54 |
| Liaison | C Jane Hagen |
| Submission Date | Sept. 3, 2024 |
Virginia Commonwealth University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
C Jane
Hagen Sustainability Data Analyst Sustainability |
Local advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:
RVAgreen 2050 is the City of Richmond’s equity-centered climate action and resilience planning initiative, spearheaded by the RVA Office of Sustainability, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030, achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and help the community adapt to Richmond’s climate impacts of extreme heat, precipitation, and flooding. RVAgreen 2050 is a community-driven initiative that has relied on ongoing community support and participation. Members of the topical working groups represent a wide variety of community partners, as well as local and state organizations that bring together multiple perspectives, constituencies, and ideas. VCU is an official community partner that is publicly in support of this climate action plan process and implementation. In addition, in 2021, students in Dr. Meghan Gough’s URSP 637 Sustainable Community Development course were asked to provide an external evaluation of the RVAGreen 2050 planning process. A report was then provided that summarized the findings of this evaluation and highlighted recommendations for how to improve equity-centered engagement processes moving forward. The support of VCU is helping to drive the City of Richmond to create a more equitable, healthy, and resilient Richmond through the RVAgreen 2050 planning process.
URLS:
https://www.rva.gov/sites/default/files/2023-01/FullDocumentRVAgreenClimateEquityActionPlan2030.pdf
Regional advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
Virginia Commonwealth University has a formal partnership with the Greater Richmond Transit Authority (GRTC) to subsidize the GRTC Transit System and Pulse Bus Rapid Transit, local and express routes for all. In 2021, VCU pledged around 3.9 million to match grant funding to make this public transportation free for all riders. The GRTC network provides VCU students and employees greater access to VCU, VCU Health and the entire Richmond region. In addition to connecting the Monroe Park and MCV Campuses, students and employees can access doctors, shopping malls, parks, arts, restaurants, community resources and more. GRTC officials credit the launch of the Pulse bus rapid transit line, a 2018 partnership with VCU, and an overhaul of bus routes for reversing ridership decline. The VCU-GRTC partnership seeks to spur further efficiency and technological improvements for GRTC that will benefit our whole region going forward and VCU's support has helped to usher in a free public transit option that serves the entire greater region, not just the city.
National advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:
Within the last years, VCU's leadership has advocated for the conservation and restoration of Shad, a type of fish that is very important to the ecosystem and culture around the James River, through VCU's formal written appropriations request to Congress, which is signed by President Rao and forms the basis of federal appropriations lobbying efforts. Through this letter, President Rao requested funding for "academic research institutions to research, monitor, conserve, and restore the American Shad and other anadromous fishes, in collaboration with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, state government agencies and local tribal governments." Lobbying and advocacy from both VCU leadership and experts from VCU's Rice Rivers Center resulted in language in two seperate appropriations bills that directed funding for the purposes of Shad conservation.
International advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
Optional Fields
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.