Sustainability & Climate Action Plans

OVERVIEW

Colgate's Sustainability and Climate Action Plan is a strategic plan that guides the University in its quest to advance sustainability on campus while reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.  Since committing to carbon neutrality in 2008, Colgate has completed three Sustainability and Climate Action Plans.  Each plan is highlighted below.

2022 Third-Century Sustainability Plan

The Third-Century Sustainability Plan was spearheaded by the Sustainability Council and dozens of faculty, staff, and students contributed their time and effort to the strategies outlined in this plan. In the summer of 2020, campus sustainability was elevated as a core institutional priority and identified as a key initiative to help meet the goals in Colgate’s Third-Century Plan. This plan would not have been possible without the guidance, support, and strong leadership of President Brian Casey and the President’s Cabinet.

Finally, hundreds of Colgate students contributed tremendous effort and enthusiasm to this plan through research in their courses, internship in the Office of Sustainability, volunteerism in the Sustainability Representatives (S-Reps) program, or service on one or more of the many sustainability-oriented student groups on the Colgate campus. 

2017 Bicentennial Plan

Colgate's 2nd Sustainability and Climate Action was published in 2017. The Bicentennial Plan's main focus was to further integrate sustainability into the University's decision-making processes by establishing guiding documents, new standards, and programs to facilitate behavior change. 

2011 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan

Colgate's premier Sustainability and Climate Action (S-CAP) was published in 2011. The S-CAP established sustainability and climate action planning as an institutionally important effort at Colgate University.  The S-CAP was a prescriptive strategic plan that identified and listed specific projects that would reduce Colgate's carbon footprint over a 5-year period.