Awareness about sustainability is at an all time high, and at UC Santa Cruz we’re at a critical juncture for how we further our commitment to this principle.
I’m excited to share a draft of our next Campus Sustainability Plan (CSP), which helps to chart a course into 2022. The plan is the result of hard work from several committees made up of folks from all over campus who have spent this academic year looking at how we can advance sustainability in every part of our university.
Now, you have the opportunity to contribute your thoughts.
Tell us what you think about our goals, our strategies, and what we should tackle in the first year.
While the campus made significant progress in the sustainability of its operations in the previous plan, the planning committees have expanded the scope of this new plan. The plan focuses on four areas: Learning & Culture, Materials Management & Food Systems, Natural Environment & Infrastructure, and Climate & Energy. Goals, strategies, and first-year actions are under consideration within these four topics that acknowledge the intersectional nature of environmental and social issues, build on the strength of existing policies and programs, enhance ties between operations and academics, and connect social justice issues on campus and in our local community.
The plan aims to tackle many difficult questions. How will Banana Slugs achieve UC Office of the President’s goal of Carbon Neutrality by 2025? How can the campus enhance experiential learning opportunities for students in sustainability? What resources does the campus need in the next three years in order to reach Zero Waste by 2020? What does a campus practicing socially just, inclusive sustainability look like? Interested in learning more? Visit the Sustainability Office website to provide your input.
The campus community comment period will be open through April 30, 2017.
