About
UNC-Chapel Hill’s Comprehensive Sustainability Initiative
Launched in fall 2020, Sustainable Carolina is the University’s comprehensive initiative to advance and amplify all sustainability activities, including reducing the University’s environmental footprint through three goals: net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
The Sustainability Council will advise the chancellor and his cabinet on sustainability strategy within the framework of Carolina Next: Innovations for Public Good. The council harnesses a broad range of expertise, experience and perspectives from across the University.
Tracking Campus Sustainability Success
We track various metrics to measure campus progress. Campus emissions data is updated on the Sustainability Indicator Management and Analysis Platform (SIMAP) annually. We also update our Greenhouse Gases | By the Numbers one-page report annually.
We have seen an overall reduction of 40% in greenhouse gas emissions since 2007. And since 2002, the University’s water use intensity declined 67%; waste per capita has fallen approximately 1% per year.
UNC-Chapel Hill is certified GOLD through AASHE STARs, has received the Cool Schools ranking from Sierra Club and has been designated Silver Status from the League of American Bicyclists.
Learn More
- Visit the contact page to request a tour of Carolina’s LEED Certified Buildings and operations, or if you would like your workplace at UNC-Chapel Hill to become a certified, sustainable environment.
- Discover how we are making our campus greener in our recent News.
- Keep up with our latest sustainability initiatives on campus: sign up for the newsletter.
