American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)

As a Charter Signatory to the Climate Commitment, Mount St. Mary's has committed to developing a plan to become "climate neutral." In the Spring of 2007, the Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Committee (ESSC) was charged with implementing this ambitious project.

• The Mount signs the Climate Commitment (press release)
• ACUPCC Website
• What is the Climate Commitment?
• What exactly are presidents committing their institutions to?
• What is "climate neutrality"?
• Signatories - view the list of college and university presidents who have signed the commitment
• Questions about the Climate Commitment?

ACUPCC IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE

Presidents signing the Commitment are pledging to make their campuses “carbon neutral” within a reasonable period of time as determined by each institution. This involves:

• Within 2 months (by November 15, 2007)
• • Create an institutional mechanism charged with implementing the Commitment
  • Declare our intention to take at least 2 of 7 immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while the more comprehensive plan is being developed.
• Within 1 year (by Sept 2008)
• • Complete a comprehensive inventory of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Within 2 years (by Sept 2009)
• • Create and implement a climate neutral plan (that includes a target date and interim milestones for achieving campus climate neutrality).
  • Create and implement a plan to integrate sustainability into the curriculum and make it part of the educational experience.
• Reporting: the action plan, inventory and periodic progress reports are to be made publicly available to the community and ACUPCC.