For over a decade, the University of Michigan has been a driving leader in environmental sustainability. In September of 2011, the university adopted six long-term sustainability goals that enhance the overall commitment of practicing sustainability. Through a Campus Sustainability Integrated Assessment process (CSIA), these goals were identified and established by the university. The CSIA was an intensive two-year long project that was led by the Graham Sustainability Institute and the Office of Campus Sustainability that involved students, faculty, and staff on faculty-led committees. Participants of this program were representative of 101 organizational units and 27 academic programs. The purpose behind the assessment was to identify ambitious and attainable long-term sustainability goals. The six long-term sustainability goals that were developed through the CSIA initiative guide the University of Michigan’s efforts to live, work, and learn sustainably.
6 Sustainability goals at the university of michigan
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25%
- Reduce vehicle carbon output per passenger trip by 30%
- Reduce the amount of water sent to landfills by 40%
- Purchase 20% of U of M food from local and sustainable sources
- Protect Huron River water quality by minimizing runoff from impervious surfaces and reducing chemical applications to campus landscapes by 40%
- Invest in sustainability culture programs to educate our community, track behavior, and report on the progress over time
Photo Credit: U of M Planet Blue
Together, these 6 sustainability goals work to help the university make successful progress in climate action, waste reduction, healthy environments, and community engagement efforts.
Photo Credit: Photo submission from 2020 Survey 123 Pollinator Habitat Assessment Survey
Pollinator conservation at the university of michigan 