Campus News
Notice of open comment: UC policy on Sustainable Practices
The University of California Office of the President invites comments on the proposed revisions to the existing Presidential Policy on Sustainable Practices.
From: Ed Reiskin, Chief Financial Officer & Vice Chancellor of Finance, Operations, and Administration, and Elida Erickson, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives & Sustainability
September 23, 2025
The University of California Office of the President invites comments on the proposed revisions to the existing Presidential Policy on Sustainable Practices. The policy is proposed to be revised and includes the following key issues:
Green Building – New provisions have been added, requiring Regents’ approval for investments in natural gas infrastructure that exceed $20 million and requiring that new buildings and major renovation projects complete one year of monitoring-based commissioning to ensure they perform as designed.
Clean Energy and Climate Action – Updates remove references to centrally procured biogas (per the UC Energy Services Governing Board’s direction to focus on direct emissions reductions over the use of biogas as a transition fuel source) and add a provision allowing locations to update their interim greenhouse gas reduction targets at regular intervals. Additional minor revisions remove outdated provisions, clarify intent, and improve organization.
Sustainable Transportation – Soon to be outdated single-occupancy vehicle reduction targets were replaced with general requirements to continue promoting commute trip reduction programs and support locations’ greenhouse gas reduction efforts. Additional updates streamline the policy, clarify which State electric vehicle regulations apply to UC, and add a requirement that each location administer an annual commuter survey.
Sustainability at UC Health – This section has been removed, and its policy elements are now embedded within related topical policy sections. Additionally, the terms for campuses and health locations were standardized throughout the policy to clarify which provisions apply to campuses, health locations, and/or all UC entities. Although these revisions touch all sections of the policy, they do not alter existing requirements.
Comments on the policy may be submitted to the Policy Coordination Office at pco@ucsc.edu by the close of business on December 19, 2025.