SA R20 (2024-2025): Climate Renewal Vows
Acknowledged by the President
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- Resolution:
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Day:
April 8, 2025
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Action:
Acknowledged by the President
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Summary / Notes:
Dear Zora,
Thank you for conveying to me Resolution 20: Climate Renewal Vows. I deeply appreciate the Student Assembly’s interest in addressing climate change and advancing the university’s work in this area.
I’ve asked Sarah Carson, director of the Campus Sustainability Office, to provide an update on Cornell’s dedicated work to address the global climate crisis through comprehensive sustainability initiatives.
Sincerely,
Michael Kotlikoff
The university has been proactive in integrating sustainability into its operations, academics, and community engagement, aligning with many of the recommendations outlined in the resolution. Below are a just few examples.
Leadership Commitment: Cornell's dedication to sustainability is evident through its governance structures, such as the Sustainable Cornell Council (SCC), which oversees the university's sustainability initiatives and ensures alignment with institutional priorities. The SCC reports directly to the Provost, highlighting the administration's commitment to environmental stewardship.
Decarbonization and Green Building Practices: The university has set an ambitious goal to achieve carbon neutrality for the Ithaca campus. This commitment is supported by initiatives like the Energy Conservation Initiative (ECI), which focuses on reducing campus-wide energy consumption through efficiency projects in heating, cooling, building systems, and lighting. Cornell has also implemented green building policies through its Design and Construction Standards – thanks to these programs, campus energy use is actually lower now than it was 25 years ago! The campus is advancing district-scale sustainable energy solutions too. For example, campus is on track for 100% renewable electricity by 2030, and upgrades to the heat distribution system to enable integration of renewable heat are underway.
Sustainable Dining and Waste Reduction: Cornell Dining prioritizes sustainability by offering low-carbon, plant-based options and has implemented programs to reduce food waste. The university participates in the Menus of Change initiative, which promotes healthier, more sustainable food choices by integrating nutrition science and environmental stewardship into dining operations.
Cornell operates composting programs to divert organic waste from landfills; however, student participation is crucial in ensuring proper waste sorting and reducing contamination in compost and recycling bins. The university also promotes the uptake of reusable containers in dining halls as part of its waste reduction efforts. Increased student adoption of these initiatives will help further reduce Cornell’s environmental footprint.
Community Engagement and Collaboration: Cornell recognizes the importance of community involvement in sustainability efforts and of advancing climate resilience and policy solutions at both the local and state levels. The university collaborates with local organizations, such as the Dish Truck and Food Recovery Network, to enhance waste diversion and recycling programs while increasing student participation in composting and supporting broader environmental initiatives. Additionally, Cornell faculty played a key role in the New York State Climate Impacts Assessment, contributing their expertise to understanding and addressing the state's climate challenges.
The Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability serves as the hub of collaborative sustainability research at Cornell University, forging vital connections among researchers, students, staff, and external partners. The center's funding and programming accelerate groundbreaking research within and across all of Cornell's colleges and schools, demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental stewardship. Cornell’s The 2030 Project seeks to help solve the climate crisis through interdisciplinary collaborations, dissolving academic silos, and fostering partnerships.
Academic Integration: Sustainability is deeply integrated into Cornell's academic offerings, with 90% of academic programs providing hundreds of sustainability courses and dozens of majors, minors, and concentrations. The Cornell Public Health Program is unique among US public health programs in its interlinked priorities of sustainability, equity, and engagement. It conducts numerous training programs and projects in the Ithaca area, for NYS and beyond.
Cornell University welcomes collaboration with the Student Assembly and other stakeholders to further enhance its sustainability initiatives. Students play a key role in advancing sustainability on campus. Recommended areas for involvement include:
- Identifying barriers that prevent students from adopting lower-carbon lifestyles and working with university leadership to develop solutions that promote sustainable living
- Working with the Campus Sustainability Office to increase coordination and communication with the Sustainable Cornell Council, the SA, and the student body
- Organizing and participating in sustainability events to promote awareness and engagement, and ensuring all student hosted events follow the sustainable event guidelines. We’re looking for 50+ volunteers for Slope Day to run compost and recycling stations!
- Improving waste sorting and reducing contamination in compost bins to enhance the efficiency of Cornell’s waste reduction programs, and increasing the use of reusable containers in dining halls to decrease single-use waste
The university is open to exploring new ideas and partnerships that align with shared goals, ensuring a sustainable and resilient future for the campus community and beyond.
Sincerely,
Sarah Carson
Director, Campus Sustainability Office
Michael Kotlikoff, V.M.D., Ph.D., Sc.D. (h.c.)
President and Professor of Molecular Physiology
Cornell University
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