Harvard recognized at Climate Leadership Conference for sustainability efforts
Since Harvard’s successful 2008 pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2016, the University has continued to strive for sustainability. Now, it’s being commended for its efforts and commitment to the environment. At the Climate Leadership Conference in Baltimore on March 21, the University received the Climate Leadership Award for Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management (Goal-Setting Certificate). This award, presented by the international Climate Leadership Council, which works to mobilize opinion leaders, “recognizes organizations that publicly report and verify organization-wide greenhouse gas inventories and publicly set aggressive greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.” A new climate action plan was launched last year, spearheaded by former University President Drew Faust, and included a long-term goal to be fossil-fuel-neutral by 2026 and fossil-fuel-free by 2050. In the past five years, only one other university has been recognized at the Climate Leadership Awards: The University of California, Irvine, in 2014. In addition to Harvard, this...