• Introduction
• Who's Who in the Commitment
• Members of the ACUPCC Steering Committee
• Supporting Documents

Introduction

The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment is a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate.

Building on the growing momentum for leadership and action on climate change, the Presidents Climate Commitment provides a framework and support for America’s colleges and universities to go climate neutral. The Commitment recognizes the unique responsibility that institutions of higher education have as role models for their communities and in training the people who will develop the social, economic and technological solutions to reverse global warming.

Presidents signing the Commitment are pledging to eliminate their campuses’ greenhouse gas emissions over time. This involves:

• Completing an emissions inventory
• Within two years, setting a target date and interim milestones for becoming climate neutral.
• Taking immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by choosing from a list of short-term actions.
• Integrating sustainability into the curriculum and making it part of the educational experience.
• Making the action plan, inventory and progress reports publicly available.

The college and university presidents and chancellors who are joining and leading the Commitment believe that exerting leadership in addressing climate change will stabilize and reduce their long-term energy costs, attract excellent students and faculty, attract new sources of funding, and increase the support of alumni and local communities.

Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is the chief governing body of the ACUPCC and is responsible for guidance, policy and direction of the ACUPCC. It is comprised of 15-20 volunteers from the Leadership Circle that reflect the diversity of higher education.

Leadership Circle
The Leadership Circle is comprised of signatories who have agreed to help lead the initiative, promote it, and recruit colleagues to join. Any interested signatory may join the Leadership Circle through December 2007.

Charter Signatory
A president or chancellor who signed the Commitment by September 15, 2007 is a Charter Signatory.

Signatory
Any president or chancellor who signs the Commitment is a Signatory.

Supporting Organizations
Under the guidance and direction of the Steering Committee, the supporting organizations work to support the ACUPCC in a variety of ways, including recruiting new signatories, helping signatories implement the Commitment, promoting the ACUPCC in the media, and fundraising. The three supporting organizations are: the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), Second Nature, and ecoAmerica.

Implementation Advisory Committee
The Implementation Advisory Committee is made up of 20-25 experts and practitioners who have experience working with emissions reduction activities on campus. The Committee provides guidance about resources campuses will need to support them in implementing the ACUPCC and helps shape implementation strategies, policies and resources.

The Commitment (PDF)
The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment document (2 pages)

A Call for Climate Leadership (PDF)
A more in depth discussion, including the background of the initiative, a roadmap to climate neutrality, and illustrative examples of existing, successful actions from campuses around the country (16 pages)

Program Overview (PDF)
More details on the initiative, including a timeline and goals (2 pages)

Implementation Guide (PDF)
The 'handbook' of the ACUPCC, providing more detail on the specific obligations in the Commitment, explaining technical issues related to implementation, and outlining key policies

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