Solutions

Resources

To help institutions implement the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment and achieve climate neutrality, we have gathered key resources on the following topics:

• Overview & Examples of Climate Action Plans
• Academics
• Energy
• Green Building
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories
• Transportation
• Procurement
• Recycling and Waste Management
• Carbon Offsets
• ACUPCC Implementation Progress Reports
  
  

ACUPCC Academic Guidance Document

Signatories to the ACUPCC have committed to take “actions to make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum and other educational experiences for all students.” This guidance document, Education for Climate Neutrality and Sustainability, is intended to give high-level guidance to college and university decision-makers and key staff to clarify the intent of this element of the Commitment, and to provide some resources for signatories to create strategies for fulfilling this commitment. This document is designed to identify some of the best practices across higher education and to provide resources to assist signatories.

For more information on the academic guidance document, please contact Amy Hattan, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Second Nature at ahattan@secondnature.org.

ACUPCC - Online Reporting Tool & Annual Reports

Regular, public reporting is a central component of the ACUPCC. Reporting helps signatories learn from one another, and demonstrates to external audiences the seriousness with wich signatoires are implementing the Commitment. More...

Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program

The Clinton Climate Initiative and the ACUPCC are partnering to exponentially increase the number of large scale energy saving retrofit projects in campus buildings.  Through this program, colleges and universities will dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions while lowering their energy bills, without dipping into their capital budgets or increasing monthly operating expenses. More...

ACUPCC Voluntary Carbon Offset Protocol

The ACUPCC Voluntary Carbon Offset Protocol (the “Protocol”) project is a coordinated effort of the American academic community to develop a formal voluntary protocol to guide ACUPCC institutions and others through the process of evaluating and investing in the voluntary carbon offset market. This project is being developed by College of the Atlantic through its participation in the ACUPCC with coordination and support services provided by Second Nature. It is bringing together interested parties from the over 500 ACUPCC institutions, as well as experts in finance, policy, energy, land-use, climate science, and other relevant arenas. More...

For more information on the Protocol, please contact Georges Dyer, Senior Fellow at Second Nature at 978-879-4589 or gdyer@secondnature.org.

ACUPCC Webinar Series

The ACUPCC Webinar Series is a part of our Corporate Partners Program, which was designed as a learning community to provide a milieu for knowledge-sharing between the higher education and private sectors. They are designed to support signatories in meeting their commitments to climate neutrality by providing insight into topics relevant to the Commitment. More...

For information on joining our Corporate Partners Program, please contact Andrea Putman, Director of Corporate Partnerships of Second Nature at 703-528-8579 or aputman@secondnature.org.

ACUPCC-related Publications

The Educational Facilities Professional’s Practical Guide to Reducing the Campus Carbon Footprint (APPA, 2009)                                                                                                                     This implementation guide is intended to give educational facilities professionals a practical companion framework for moving forward in their unique role within the process of fulfilling the ACUPCC. The intent is to help facilities professionals maximize their specific contributions and share their expertise and knowledge while working in tandem with
other campus stakeholders to meet their institutions’ goals of carbon neutrality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Authors: Karla Hignite and the Participants in the APPA Thought Leaders Sustainability Symposium (Generously sponsored and supported by AEI, Affiliated Engineers Inc.)

Guide to Climate Action Planning: Pathways to a Low-Carbon Future (NWF, 2008)
A comprehensive review of the strategies and steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on campus, with best practices from U.S. colleges and universities.  Authors: David J. Eagan, Terry Calhoun, Justin Schott, and Praween Dayananda.  Co-sponsored by SCUP, Energy Action Coalition, and AASHE.

The Green Campus: Meeting the Challenge of Environmental Sustainability (APPA, 2008)  
This anthology explores the meaning of genuine environmental sustainability while profiling excellent campus environmental programs. Includes a chapter on the ACUPCC and other chapters about global warming and climate planning. Offers guidance and inspiration to campus leaders and advocates and addresses these fundamental questions: • What does it mean to be a green campus? • Is it possible for educational institutions to effectively reduce their sizable environmental footprints? • How can individuals make a difference?  A vital tool that administrators, faculty, staff, students, and concerned citizens can use to help the education community serve a higher purpose.  Author: Walter Simpson (former U. Buffalo Energy Officer)

A Call for Climate Leadership: Progress and Opportunities in Addressing the Defining Challenge of our Time (PDF) (ACUPCC, 2007)
Makes the case for signing the ACUPCC, with sections on "Benefits and Opportunities," "Climate Leadership in Action," "Roadmap to Climate Neutrality," "Program Overview," and more.  Editors: Jennifer Schroeder (Clean Air-Cool Planet) and Anthony Cortese (Second Nature).  Contributing Authors: Julian Dautremont-Smith (AASHE), Nancy Gamble (Clean Air-Cool Planet), Robert Perkowitz (ecoAmerica), David Rosenfeld (Student PIRGs).

The following organizations and initiatives offer resources and support signatories may find useful in fulfilling the Commitment: