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Climate Action Plan

by Mog,Justin M — last modified Jan 15, 2013 06:12 PM

UofL is committed to reducing our net greenhouse gas emissions and achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

How are we doing? See our January 2013 Climate Action Plan Progress Report
University of Louisville is on its way to carbon neutrality (Louisville Alternative Energy Examiner, January 31, 2012)

As a 2008 signatory to the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, the University of Louisville is committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with the ultimate long-term goal of carbon neutrality.

On September 15, 2010, UofL released its Climate Action Plan, a comprehensive roadmap for achieving this goal over the next four decades. A summary of the Plan and a link to the full document can be found here. The Sustainability Council coordinates UofL's Climate Action Planning as well as the reporting of our greenhouse gas emissions.

In September 2011, UofL produced a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory for 2006-2010. This followed our first benchmark Greenhouse Gas Emissions Baseline Inventory (2006-2008), released in September 2009. UofL's target goals for university-wide reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from our 2008 benchmark estimate of 192,788 MT eCO2 are:

Goals

Timeframe

 Reduction in net GHG emissions

Target maximum net GHG emissions

(MT CO2e)

Short Term

2010–2020

20%

154,230

Mid Term

2021–2030

40%

115,673

Long Term

2031–2050

100%

0

Our plan for making progress toward climate neutrality is dynamic and multifaceted. We recognize that sustainability demands progress on multiple fronts and that lasting change cannot be achieved without coordinated efforts campus-wide. As such, we propose taking a variety of steps to lead UofL down a path toward climate neutrality with a focus on the following initiatives: green purchasing; energy conservation and efficiency; renewable energy; carbon sequestration; master planning; green building design; composting and horticultural practices; behavior change; recycling; transportation; food; and carbon offsets.

A sample of projects from UofL's Climate Action Plan

Project

Estimated emissions reduction

(MT eCO2 per year)

Progress towards goal

(% reduction in GHG emissions from 2008 baseline)

20% renewable energy by 2020

22,284

11.5%

Implement phase 2 of energy savings performance contract on HSC & Shelby campuses

17,419

9%

Convert from coal to natural gas fuel at Belknap Steam & Chilled Water Plant

4,222

2.2%

Create dedicated bike lanes to connect campus to neighborhoods

3,283

1.7%

Increase fuel efficiency of the university fleet by 15%

136.3

0.7%

UofL's Climate Action Plan is designed to be a living document that we will continue to revisit and refine as we go through a four decade process of adaptive management on the road to climate neutrality. Engaging students, faculty, researchers, staff and the broader community in this process will be vital to its success and to our broader educational and research mission. This plan is a key element in our sustainability initiatives, and it involves many steps that will help us achieve our strategic goals as well as our climate commitment. It is also the right thing to do in a world of dwindling fossil fuel resources and worsening climate crisis.

How are we doing? See our January 2013 Climate Action Plan Progress Report.

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