Seattle University is a charter signatory of the American College & University President's Climate Commitment. We believe higher education must educate students and conduct research to develop the social, economic and technological solutions to reverse global warming and lead by example to reduce our campus’s operational emissions.
We've committed to achieving these goals in our Climate Action Plan:
- Educate undergrad and grad students about sustainability and climate change in the classroom and in co-curricular programs, for example, student activities, housing and residence life, commuter and transfer student services.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 12% by 2020 and 51% by 2035 from our buildings, solid waste, university-owned vehicles, business and athletics air travel, and commuters to campus.
- Share our increasing knowledge and expertise on sustainability more widely through partnerships and community engagement.
Progress
We've made the following progress with guidance from the President's Committee for Sustainability:
Academics
.jpg?n=705 "Annual campus recycling event collected 8,800 pounds of electronics and metal scrap")
Co-curricular Programs
Operations
- Our greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by 14% in fiscal year 2013 as compared to 2009.
- We switched our heat source from steam and natural gas to gas only and installed new efficient gas boilers, reducing our building's carbon emissions by 18%.
- Created an annual recycling event for campus members and our neighbors to bring their hard-to-recycle items to campus .
Marketing & Communications
- Lunch time discussion groups on ways to live a healthier life while improving your community’s health, the connections between our lifestyle and food choices, and the condition of the Earth have been offered 4 quarters since Spring 2012. They have attracted 62 staff and faculty.
- www.seattleu.edu/sustainability was recreated with a new look, navigation and content