Climate Action Commitment
Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment Revision Process
Approved initially in 2009 by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, the Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment serves as the university’s guiding framework around sustainability and energy efficiency in campus operations, facilities, curriculum, and research. In late 2019, President Tim Sands called for its renewal and revision to ensure the most stringent climate and sustainability standards are implemented as Virginia Tech continues to grow and seeks to be a leader in environmental stewardship.
The revision process is currently ongoing with continued strong engagement from the university and local community. The working group leading the update process is on track to deliver final revision recommendations to Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer Dwayne Pinkney within the next month.
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Efforts are currently underway to revise the Climate Action Commitment. Click here to learn about the revision and updates process and to get engaged.
Background
The Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment, which was approved in 2009 and reaffirmed in 2013, touches on all aspects of the university, including teaching, research, and campus operations and is intended to guide the university toward a greener, more sustainable future.
Among the 14 goals in the plan, it commits the university to reaching a 50 percent recycling rate by 2020, improving energy efficiency where and whenever possible in campus buildings, achieving a minimum LEED rating of silver for all new construction, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
Sustainability Plan
An accompanying Sustainability Program addresses how the university will reach the goals outlined above. The Sustainability Plan was created in 2009 and updated in 2014.
Annual Reports
To ensure progress towards the goals are met, the university conducts annual assessments to measure actual progress each year and releases these reports to the public.