SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University and its Student Association are working toward a new set of goals to advance its sustainability efforts, including reaching net-zero emissions by 2032 — eight years earlier than the prior goal. The objectives are part of Syracuse University’s long-term sustainability plans and align with several recommendations made in a report […]
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University and its Student Association are working toward a new set of goals to advance its sustainability efforts, including reaching net-zero emissions by 2032 — eight years earlier than the prior goal.
The objectives are part of Syracuse University’s long-term sustainability plans and align with several recommendations made in a report by the Student Association released in December 2022, the school said in an April 13 news release.
The group developed the report after Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud in late spring 2022 charged David Bruen — president of the Student Association and 2023 Syracuse graduate — with making recommendations about the school’s sustainability practices and policies.
The new goals include advancing Syracuse’s current net-zero goal from 2040 to 2032. To support this goal, the university will create a sustainability-oversight council to oversee and audit the sustainability-management office to “ensure emission goals are met,” per the release.
Syracuse University also wants to commit to “dramatically” reduce single-use plastics by the 2027-28 academic year through a phased approach. It also wants to create an annual sustainability-research competition, as proposed in the student association’s sustainability report, the school said.
“These ambitious new goals set a high standard for where the University needs to be in terms of our climate action plan. We are committed to creating a more sustainable campus,” Syverud said.
Syracuse University last year released its 2022 Climate Action Plan, which documents progress and outlines strategies over the next five years for the university to “edge closer” to emissions neutrality.
The report
In its report, the Student Association called on Syracuse University to “amplify and expedite sustainability and climate pledge efforts in response to current events, technological advancements and government incentives.”
The Syracuse University Student Association also worked with students from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Le Moyne College on the project, Syracuse University noted.
Bruen led a student-leader team of Harrison Vogt, Student Association sustainability director; Ben Cavarra, VP of community and government affairs; and Liv Curreri, student advocate, which oversaw the report’s development.