The ACUPCC: Reflection on Progress and Goals for the Next 5 Years

By Timothy P. White, Chancellor of University of California, Riverside and Chair of the ACUPCC Steering Committee
(This article appears in the July, 2012 issue of The ACUPCC Implementer)

Last month at the ACUPCC Climate Leadership Summit graciously hosted by American University, we released a special 5^th anniversary report titled CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF CLIMATE LEADERSHIP:  The Progress & Promise of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. This report shares the tremendous progress being made by the 677 signatories that make up the ACUPCC network. Congratulations for the remarkable progress to all involved. To share a few examples:

• In the first 5 years the entire network has reduced gross greenhouse gas emission by 25%.  By 2022, they are projected to reduce over 50% of their gross emissions.  In contrast, world emissions have been growing 3% per year over that time, except in 2010 when it was a whopping 6%.
• More than 30% of signatories have set a target climate neutrality date within 20 years.
• About 200 signatory schools are offering 10,000 sustainability-focused courses.  60 schools offer professional development to all faculty for sustainability education
• 156 signatory schools collectively are the third largest purchasers of renewable energy credits in the US – enough green power for 14,500 American households
• 100 schools report receiving nearly $200 million in outside support because of their sustainability efforts
• 110 schools report saving over $100 million as a result of climate action projects.

We are proud of these results.  This is unprecedented leadership by the ACUPCC network, and I both thank and congratulate you for your efforts.

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