Climate Action Plan - ACUPCC Reports - Climate Commitment

Leadership and Modeling Goal 2Actively advance the transition to a sustainable world economy through research, teaching,outreach, and operationsDesired Outcomes and Measuresa. Financial, academic, and operational planning and decisions take a long-term lifecycleview and integrate environment, economy, social equity—also known as the“triple bottom line”b. More research and education focuses on a green economyi. The University of Minnesota is aligned with the Minnesota Green JobsInvestment Initiative and the new federal energy economy and greenjobs programsc. By including sustainability, celebrations and events model transformative activitiesSustainability spans three spheres: economy, environment, and society. Many institutionshave made progress on one or more of these in one or more program areas. Formeaningful results, the University of Minnesota must bring these spheres of sustainabilitytogether in an integrated, integral way that interconnects all campuses andendeavors, from socially responsible investing to extending results of environmentalresearch to communities that can implement them on the ground.Great Green GamesHow small is your carbon footprint? Current technology allows us to estimate carbon emissionsproduced by each unit across the University of Minnesota. Online software makes itpossible for individuals to calculate their personal impact as well. Why not make reducingour carbon footprint fun by making it a friendly competition—one department, dorm, class,or ad hoc team against another? “Great Green Games” in which participants race for thesmallest footprint and learn how they can reduce their impact on the environment will alsohelp the University ratchet its carbon reduction goals at the same time.28 • U of M Systemwide Sustainability