Sustainability Action Plan

Our original Climate Action Plan was written by UW-Stout’s Sustainability Steering Committee. This Climate Action Plan laid out UW-Stout’s goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2015 (see Appendix A). In 2016-2017 academic year, UW-Stout’s Sustainability Steering Committee received a charge from Chancellor Bob Meyer to “perform a comprehensive update to the Campus Sustainability Action Plan to incorporate measures for achieving new 2020 GHG emissions goals.” The SSC made substantial updates, and since that time the sustainability office has updated this plan annually. During 2015-2016, UW-Stout’s Sustainability Steering Committee made recommendations for new greenhouse gas emissions goals to be achieved by 2020, which are detailed in this plan. Developed an institutional Climate Action Plan for becoming climate neutral. The Climate Action Plan was completed and submitted to the ACUPCC on September 15, 2009. In 2015, the Climate Action Plan was re-named to “Campus Sustainability Action Plan” by UW-Stout’s Strategic Planning Group. Completed a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory, including emissions from electricity, heating and cooling, commuting, air travel, waste, and much more. UW-Stout’s first GHG Inventory was completed on November 15, 2008. On September 12th, 2007, UW-Stout became a Charter Signatory of the American College and Universities President’s Climate Commitment, a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate. Chancellor Emeritus Charles W. Sorensen signed this climate commitment, indicating that UW-Stout agrees to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions on campus, with the goal of leaving a neutral carbon footprint by 2050, while at the same time providing education to students who will, in turn, help society to do the same. AMERICAN COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S CLIMATE COMMITMENT (ACUPCC) CHARTER SIGNATORY After signing the ACUPCC, UW-Stout:

Bike lockers were added in 2018 for students and employees to help promote all-year bike riding.

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