History
History of Climate Action at Hampshire College
1966 - The Hampshire Tree is established as the symbol of the College, representing life and the environment.
1970s - Hampshire establishes positive impact screening for endowment investments.
2003 - Following recommendations from a student’s Div III project, Hampshire adopts a 100% recycled paper policy for all copiers and printers.
2007 - Hampshire College signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment.
Resulting Commitments:
Complete inventory of greenhouse gas emissions.
Develop an institutional action plan for becoming climate neutral.
Integrate sustainability into the curriculum and educational experience.
Ensure all new campus construction will be built to, at minimum, the LEED Silver standards of the U.S. Green Building Council or equivalent.
Establish a policy or a committee that supports climate and sustainability shareholder proposals at companies where our institution's endowment is invested.
2008 - Environmental Committee is established, and the student group “New Leaf” is formed.
2009 - Initial GHG Inventory and Climate Action Plan Development.
2010 - With a $534,000 grant from the US Department of Energy, the Charles and Polly Longsworth Arts Village solar canopy was renovated and Hampshire’s first photovoltaic system installed.
2012 - First Climate Action Plan released.
The Climate Action Plan commits Hampshire College to:
Provide each student with an education that nurtures sustainable values such as active citizenship, intergenerational equity, and social justice and develops skills that will allow our alumni to be leaders in sustainable societies;
Become climate neutral by 2022, with the exception of non-fleet transportation, such as study abroad air travel and faculty and staff commuting; and
Eliminate or offset the remaining transportation emissions by 2032.
2012 - Hampshire College Sustainability Revolving Fund is established with $78,000 in donations.
2016 - Kern Center rooftop photovoltaic system begins operation.
2018 - Hampshire’s large ground mounted solar fields begins operation.
2019 - Photovoltaic systems at the Hampshire Farm and 15 Middle St began operation.
2019 - Hampshire catalyzes development of the Farmington Solar project with Amherst, Smith, Williams, and Bowdoin colleges.
2021 - Farmington Solar project is completed, becoming the largest solar energy farm in New England.
2022 - Hampshire College achieves 2022 goal of net carbon neutrality for all carbon emissions.
2023 - Climate Action Unbound course begins updating Hampshire’s Climate Action Plan (hey, that's us!)