The Climate Action Plan is the culmination of the collaborative efforts of numerous individuals across campus, including the members of the Sustainability Working Group which has faculty, staff, and students representatives. President Edward Ayers signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2007, thereby committing the University to measuring the University’s carbon footprint and developing a plan to reach climate neutrality. The plan was approved by the Board of Trustees in December 2010 and the first update was completed in January 2012.
Timeline
The University has set 2050 as the target date for neutrality, with an interim target of a 30% reduction by 2020.
The plan proposes various action items under each of the following categories: administration, infrastructure energy use, transportation, materials management, and education.
The plan is a living document and will be reviewed and revised periodically as UR progresses toward climate neutrality. New technologies, economic conditions, and changes in climate science will potentially necessitate changes to the University’s strategies.
The original version of the University of Richmond's Climate Action Plan was completed and approved by the Board of Trustees in December 2010.
Please keep in mind that this document is designed to be flexible over time and is subject to change. An update was completed in January 2012; the next update is scheduled for January 2014.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Megan Zanella-Litke, sustainability coordinator, at (804) 287-1268 or mzanella@richmond.edu.