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Climate Action Plan 2

In Fall 2017, a group of undergraduate students advocated for an update to the Climate Action Plan. Specifically, they wanted more detailed and realistic emissions-reduction goals and projects. In January 2018, student activists from the Climate Justice League met with then University of Oregon President Michael Schill to discuss a review and update of the climate action plan. Key issues with CAP 1 were identified, including the absence of short-term, achievable goals and the need to establish a baseline year for which the UO has adequate data.

The president tasked the Office of Sustainability to gather feedback from students, staff, and faculty and deliver recommendations for an updated climate action plan. Students responded in January 2019 with a letter signed by more than 300 faculty, staff, and students. It urged the president to commit to more aggressive emissions reductions in line with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommendations. After consulting with staff, the president authorized several additional commitments. A statement released by the president’s office on May 10, 2019 summarizes these additions and officially accepts Climate Action Plan 2.

CAP 2 Commitments

Climate Action Plan Two (CAP 2) is a five-year plan (2019-2024).  It makes several commitments listed below.   All studies will investigate major emissions reduction opportunities and their associated costs and impacts.  The information will be translated into actions in CAP 3.

  1. Establish CAP Advisory Group
  2. Update the Board of Trustees annually on CAP progress
  3. Conduct an annual emissions inventory
  4. Review and update the Oregon Model for Sustainable Development
  5. Replace tunnel steam pipe insulation
  6. Establish an energy management program
  7. Re-launch energy revolving fund
  8. Launch building optimization program
  9. Conduct internal carbon pricing study
  10. Conduct low carbon heating feasibility study
  11. Conduct review of temperature set points
  12. Conduct winter break building closure study
  13. Inventory all light fixtures and estimate energy savings associated with conversion to LEDs
  14. Conduct study of sustainable transportation options
  15. Conduct review of district heating and cooling efficiency improvements
  16. Study state de-carbonization policy  

 

 

Webpage updated for accuracy, October 12, 2023.