| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.39 |
| Liaison | Michelle Patterson |
| Submission Date | March 4, 2022 |
Washington University in St. Louis
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Rose
Windmiller Assistant Vice Chancellor Government and Community Relations |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Local advocacy
Yes
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:
Washington University partnered with the City of St. Louis to develop the Building Energy Performance Standard ordinance, which was adopted in May 2020. The policy was the fourth such policy to pass in the US and the first in the Midwest. A full-time University staff member supported data analysis and policy development and later supported the Building Energy Improvement Board in establishing the compliance targets for the BEPS policy. More on BEPS here: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-safety/building/building-energy-improvement-board/beps-targets.cfm
In addition, Washington University partnered with the local USGBC chapter to develop and publish the following policy toolkit: Advancing Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy & Electric Vehicle Policy in the St. Louis Region. https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/sites.wustl.edu/dist/7/1875/files/2019/03/Advancing-EE-RE-EV-in-St.-Louis_August2020.pdf
In addition, Washington University partnered with the local USGBC chapter to develop and publish the following policy toolkit: Advancing Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy & Electric Vehicle Policy in the St. Louis Region. https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/sites.wustl.edu/dist/7/1875/files/2019/03/Advancing-EE-RE-EV-in-St.-Louis_August2020.pdf
Regional advocacy
Yes
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
Washington University was a key supporter and funder of a ballot initiative in 2020 in which voters adopted a constitutional amendment to expand the state’s Medicaid program to an additional 270,000 low-income Missourians, as authorized by the Affordable Care Act. The University continues to work with a coalition of healthcare stakeholders to ensure Missourians have access to affordable health care.
National advocacy
Yes
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:
Washington University is a signatory on We Are Still In and published the following in response to the US leaving the Paris Agreement: https://source.wustl.edu/2019/11/washu-experts-on-the-u-s-withdrawal-from-the-paris-agreement/
Through the Midwest Climate Collaborative, Washington University organized a virtual event with federal leaders from the White House, DOE, EPA, and DOT to foster engagement around new federal climate policy and the role of the Midwest.
The University has advocated for robust federal funding for basic research at the U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and National Institutes of Health. Those agencies support research and programs at the University and beyond that improve sustainable practices and systems – from improving energy and resource utilization, to encouraging healthier lifestyles, to the development of new materials and manufacturing processes.
Through the Midwest Climate Collaborative, Washington University organized a virtual event with federal leaders from the White House, DOE, EPA, and DOT to foster engagement around new federal climate policy and the role of the Midwest.
The University has advocated for robust federal funding for basic research at the U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and National Institutes of Health. Those agencies support research and programs at the University and beyond that improve sustainable practices and systems – from improving energy and resource utilization, to encouraging healthier lifestyles, to the development of new materials and manufacturing processes.
International advocacy
Yes
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
The Director of Washington University's Climate Change Program, Professor Beth Martin, serves as the co-focal point for the Research and Independent Non-Governmental Organizations constituency to the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties. Through this role, Professor Martin advocates for science to form the basis of international climate policy-making. Professor Martin also leads a group of students to COP each year where they have the opportunity to learn and engage in the process. The university supports this applied learning expereince by funding travel.
The university also signed the "We are still in" pledge when former President Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement.
The university also signed the "We are still in" pledge when former President Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement.
Optional Fields
---
None
A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):
---
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.