Started in 2006, the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) was a “high-visibility effort” to address

global warming In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to E ...

(global climate disruption) by creating a network of colleges and universities that had committed to reduce their

greenhouse gas emissions Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities strengthen the greenhouse effect, contributing to climate change. Most is carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas. The largest emitters include coal in China and lar ...

and accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth's climate. This work reflects global

sustainable development Sustainable development is an organizing principle for meeting human development goals while also sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services on which the economy and society depend. The des ...

efforts. In October 2006, planning sessions were held at

Arizona State University Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the ...

with the twelve founding signatory Presidents, Second Nature, ecoAmerica, and AASHE. ACUPCC was launched in December 2006, when the founding Presidents sent a letter to nearly 400 of their peers to invite them to join in the initiate. In June 2007, with a signatory group of 284, the ACUPCC was launched to the public at the first Climate Leadership Summit. Part of ACUPCC's goals were to encourage higher education institutions to give their students tools to think with a sustainable perspective for the future. Today, Second Nature is the primary organization responsible for managing what is now known as the
Presidents' Climate Leadership Commitments
. Second Nature is a nonprofit organization that "has worked with over 4,000 faculty and administrators at hundreds of colleges and universities to help make the principles of sustainability fundamental to every aspect of higher education.". This work continues unde
Second Nature's Climate Leadership Network

Mission

The ACUPCC sought (and the Presidents' Climate Leadership Commitments continue to seek)sought to create connections with higher educational institutions in order to carry out two goals: * Have colleges and universities sign an agreement committing to eliminate their net greenhouse gas emissions from specified campus operations. * Focus on education and the

higher education Higher education is tertiary education leading to award of an academic degree. Higher education, also called post-secondary education, third-level or tertiary education, is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs after completi ...

institutions’ ability to promote research from sustainability programs and empower the higher education sector to educate students, create solutions, and provide leadership-by-example for the rest of society. The Climate Commitments provide a framework and support for America's colleges and universities pursuing

carbon neutrality Carbon neutrality is a state of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. This can be achieved by balancing emissions of carbon dioxide with its removal (often through carbon offsetting) or by eliminating emissions from society (the transition to the "p ...

and resilience. The program and collaboration relies on institutions of higher education to be role models for their communities as well as students, and to educate people who will contribute to fighting to reverse global warming and create a sustainable society.

ACUPCC Agreement

ACUPCC institutions agreed to: * Complete a

greenhouse gas A greenhouse gas (GHG or GhG) is a gas that Absorption (electromagnetic radiation), absorbs and Emission (electromagnetic radiation), emits radiant energy within the thermal infrared range, causing the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse ...

emissions inventory. * Set a target date and interim milestones for becoming climate neutral (within two years of commitment). * Take immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by choosing from a list of short-term actions. * Integrate sustainability into the curriculum and make it part of the educational experience. * Make the action plan, inventory, and progress reports publicly available. Second Nature's Presidential Climate Commitments hav
these same commitments
in addition to: * Complete annual greenhouse gas emissions inventories * Creating internal university structures to implement commitments * Update university climate action plans every five years.

12 founding ACUPCC signatories

* Loren Anderson, president, Pacific Lutheran University * Michael Crow, president, Arizona State University *

Nancy Dye Nancy Schrom Dye (March 11, 1947 – October 28, 2015) was an American historian and philosopher and college academic who served as the first female president of Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio. As a professional historian, she was the author o ...

, president, Oberlin College * Jo Ann Gora, president, Ball State University * David Hales, president, College of the Atlantic *

Bernard Machen James Bernard Machen (; born March 26, 1944) is an American university professor and administrator. Machen is a native of Mississippi, and earned several academic degrees before becoming a university administrator and president. Machen had been t ...

, president, University of Florida *

Gifford Pinchot III Gifford Pinchot III (born December 29, 1942) is an American entrepreneur, author, inventor, and president of Pinchot & Company. He is credited with inventing the concept of intrapreneurship in a paper that he and his wife, Elizabeth Pinchot, wrote ...

, president, Bainbridge Graduate Institute * Kathleen Schatzberg, president, Cape Cod Community College * Mary Spilde, former president, Lane Community College * Douglas Treadway, president, Ohlone College * Darroch Young, chancellor, Los Angeles Community College District * Paul Zingg, president,

California State University, Chico California State University, Chico, or commonly, Chico State, is a public university in Chico, California. Founded in 1887, it is the second oldest campus in the California State University system. As of the fall 2020 semester, the university had ...

Evolution

By 2010, a total of 697 universities and colleges in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, representing a student population of over 5.6 million as signatories. Current and reporting signatories are accessible vi
Second Nature's reporting platform

External links

Second Nature

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)

References

www.secondnature.org www.aashe.org www.fastcompany.com/blog/tony-cortese/green-u/higher-education-s-purpose-healthy-just-and-sustainable-society {{DEFAULTSORT:American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment Climate change organizations based in the United States