operationalizes key goals within the Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resilience pillar of the strategic plan.
The goals covered in the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan include:
- Build communities of care, resilience and preparedness in the face of climate change
- Decarbonize campus to build an equitable, accessible, and fossil-free future
- Steward the land and water to support healthy ecosystems while balancing infrastructure needs
- Advance a circular economy in the consumption cycle
- Manage Sustainability Office programs and resources to maximize effective outreach, engagement, and transparency across the campus community
Throughout the 2023-24 academic year, the Sustainability Office worked with key partners across campus to identify pathways to meet these goals. Five-year strategies were developed for each goal that usher in substantial progress towards the Leading the Change strategic plan’s goals. Each year, priority initiatives set specific actions campus will take to meet those strategies. These priority initiatives highlight the essential role that all areas of campus play to keep our sustainability efforts moving forward.
“By setting new priority initiatives each year, the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan becomes a living document that adapts with the realities of the moment” says Derek Martin, UCSC’s Sustainability Programs Manager. “Additionally, it provides opportunities to stay engaged with our key partners across campus.”
Progress on the prior academic year’s priority initiatives can be found on the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan’s website along with the list of our current year priority initiatives.
Governance committees for operations, teaching, and research are being established this fall. Committee membership will include staff, faculty, and students.
