The Austin College Campus Sustainability Plan was adopted in April 2018 to organize and direct our past, current, and future environmental sustainability initiatives.
The college's first greenhouse gas inventory was compiled for fiscal year 2008 by Jade Rutledge '09 as part of an honors thesis. Subsequent reports were completed for fiscal years 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019. and 2020. A complete listing of all compiled data is available on the SIMAP website.
Austin College completed its most recent climate action plan in 2021, setting a carbon neutrality date of 2035. Previous plans were submitted in fiscal years 2010 and 2016.
As part of the Climate Leadership Network, Austin College reports greenhouse gas emissions data to Second Nature annually. The Center for Environmental Studies also produces a climate action plan every five years to keep emissions reduction goals on track. Public reports are viewable on the SIMAP website and downloadable below.
The Climate Leadership Network is a signature program of Second Nature that provides resources, networking, and national engagement opportunities for signatory institutions. Signatories are colleges and universities in nearly all fifty states who are taking action on climate change and preparing students through research and education. Higher education institutions whose president/chancellor have made a formal commitment with respect to climate leadership on their campus by signing onto at least one of the Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitments, become Climate Leadership Network signatories.