Background on OSU's Carbon Commitment
In 2007, OSU President Ed Ray signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), now known as the Carbon Commitment. As part of the Commitment, OSU set an ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2025.
In 2008 and 2009, based on community input and a review of goals set by the State of Oregon and the Oregon University System, OSU established its first Climate Plan. Prioritizing carbon emissions reduction is now also reflected in the OSU Strategic Plan.
To aid the carbon neutrality goal, the Faculty Senate formed the Ad hoc Committee on the Carbon Commitment in 2018 as a network to promote carbon reducing actions within faculty and beyond. In 2021, Faculty Senate voted to convert the group to a standing committee, known as the Carbon Commitment Committee (C3). The Sustainability Office helps support this committee and its workgroups.
Education and Communication Workgroup
The Education and Communication Workgroup aims to foster climate literacy and engage the OSU community in carbon-reduction efforts.
Objectives:
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Promote carbon reduction awareness and action throughout the OSU community.
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Collaborate with academic departments, student organizations, and faculty to integrate sustainability into curricula and promote climate literacy across disciplines.
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Plan events, like talks, workshops and sustainability challenges, to raise awareness and educate the OSU community on carbon reduction strategies.
Advocacy Workgroup
The Advocacy Workgroup focuses on informing policies and practices that directly reduce OSU’s carbon footprint. The group identifies opportunities to influence university policies and broader community practices to support carbon neutrality. See the 2024 Faculty Senate resolution to Accelerate Climate Change Emissions Reductions at OSU here.
Objectives:
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Advocate for systems-level changes that facilitate carbon reductions at OSU.
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Work with OSU leadership to present policy recommendations and advocate for integrating carbon neutrality into infrastructure and operations.
Get involved with the Carbon Commitment Committee (C3)!
A representative from each Faculty Senate apportionment unit has a seat in the Committee. ASOSU and other groups are also represented. Your representative can bring information from your unit to the committee, and they can also bring information back to the unit for sharing and discussion. See committee membership here.
Committee meetings are open to the public and faculty, staff, students, and administrators are welcome to attend.
If you would like to receive updates about events and activities from the Committee, please fill out this form.
Committee membership is not required to participate in the Committee's workgroups so if you are interested, please email the Sustainability Office to connect you with the current chairs of the Committee.
Recording of Beyond Earth Day Event: "Lightning Talks"
On April 22, 2022, C3 held a Lightning Talks event as part of the Beyond Earth Day celebration. In this event, speakers from across the campus and community shared 5-minute presentations about their research and experience related to climate change. Topics were varied and ranged from media communications to amphibian response to climate change.
Featured speakers:
- Jennifer Alix-Garcia, Applied Economics
- Dominique Bachelet, Biological and Ecological Engineering
- Erica Fleishman, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences
- Tiffany Garcia, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences
- Annie Homel, Geography & Public Health
- Perry Hystad, College of Public Health and Human Sciences
- Bryson Robertson, School of Civil and Construction Engineering
Recording of Forum: "OSU's Path to Carbon Neutrality"
On October 26, 2021, OSU leadership, C3 and the Sustainability Office held a one-hour forum to discuss the Path to Carbon Neutrality. This is a draft plan with nine actions that accelerate decarbonization of university activities. Development of the Path has included expert feedback and review, benchmarking with peer institutions, review of existing policies and practices, and analyses of actions most feasible and cost effective for this university. The nine actions are roughly in priority order, although several may be implemented simultaneously. Forum speakers discussed our plans and work before us, and answered questions from an audience of over 250.
Recording of Forum: "Carbon Neutral OSU: What you can do!"
On January 12, 2021, the C3 Committee held a one-hour forum to update the OSU community on the carbon reduction commitment and how OSU is tracking progress toward that goal. Attendees heard about efforts to date, and accomplishments such as policy changes, refined building heating and cooling controls, large scale solar installations and construction of the OSU Energy Center. Most importantly, steps were outlined to encourage climate action within departments, colleges and divisions, that will help OSU to meet its carbon commitment goal.