Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)
In the fall of 2007 The University of Tennessee, Knoxville signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment.
The American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment is an effort by leaders in higher education nationwide to address global warming by reducing institutions’ impact on the climate. The goal is to make UT "climate neutral," meaning that the university will have no net negative effect on the global climate.
The document has three major steps. First, universities are required to take two immediate, tangible actions. These initiatives, already in place, include the participation of UT in the national RecycleMania competition and the subsidization of public transportation for UT students.
The second step is the completion of a carbon inventory. As an honors student with the environmental studies program, Leslie Chinery completed 90% of this inventory as a senior honors thesis. She completed the remainder of the inventory over the summer of 2008 working with the Facilities Services Department to prepare the September submission. View The University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Carbon Inventory.
The final step is for the university to create a plan for going “carbon neutral.” The university is currently working on the creation of this plan, due in September of 2009. The plan will include a target date for achieving climate neutrality. For more information about ACUPCC implementation progress visit the ACUPCC Reporting System page or contact Gordie Bennett, campus Implementation Liaison.