Solutions Center: Pro Bono Consulting

Accelerate Your Climate Action with the Help of Pro Bono Technical Assistance

For additional information - including how to apply - we encourage you to attend an upcoming informational webinar on Tuesday, November 24th (click on button below), and to visit the Solutions Center: Pro Bono Consulting webpage.  

Mark Your Calendars & Sign-Up to be in the Know

Join Us for Climate Action Pursuit 2021

Second Nature and the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) are excited to announce that throughout 2021, we will lead an ambitious pursuit of climate action, justice and resilience.  

The Climate Action Pursuit is a brand new concept - a series of check-in points with flexible programming that supports your work to act, and lead on equity and climate on our campuses, in our communities, and across our society and economy! The virtual program will be designed to fit our networks’ busy schedules and competing priorities.

Registration for this event will be open soon.  In the meantime, you can sign-up (through the button below) to get "first dibs" on registering once it's available, and to get on the list to receive updates!  Additionally, be sure to visit our Climate Action Pursuit website for more information (will continuously be updated).  

Vassar Signs the Climate Commitment

Commitments of the Presidents' Climate Leadership
Commitments. 

In 2016, Vassar set a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.  As a Climate Leadership Network signatory, they will receive support from Second Nature to help reach their goal, while also being connected to a Network of peers all working to eliminate operational greenhouse gas emissions and to increase their capacity to withstand climate impacts.

Congratulations to Vassar College and welcome to the Network!  

Radford Re-Signs the Carbon Commitment

We are happy to share, that most recently, Radford University's current president, Dr. Brian O. Hemphill, re-signed the Carbon Commitment to reaffirm their commitment to eliminating operational greenhouse gas emissions.  President Hemphill announced that he had signed the Carbon Commitment in his 2020 State of the University Address.  

We look forward to continuing to work with Radford University as they work toward achieving their climate goals.  

Second Nature welcomes the opportunity to work with Presidents and staff at other campuses on a re-affirmation of their commitment.  Please do not hesitate to contact us about doing so. 

*NEW*: Case Study: Evolution of Proxy Carbon Pricing Implementation at Princeton University

*NEW*: Case Study: University Air-Travel Offset Policy

*NEW*: Putting a Price on Carbon: A Primer for University Leaders

Co-Benefits of Carbon Offset Projects

Guide for Hosting Cross-Sector Climate Forums

GRITS Goals Now Available

We are excited to let you know that GRITS Goals - a new and additional feature of the GRITS platform - has launched and all signatories get free access to it! 

To access GRITS Goals, signatories can login to their GRITS accounts to access the new GRITS Goals features.  If you have any questions, or need to get access to GRITS, please email GRITS support. 

Note: an integration with SIMAP® which will allow you to automatically import data from SIMAP® to GRITS Goals, is coming soon. 
 

Happening Today - Still Time to Register!
Webinar: Leading the Way: Global Universities as Living Labs and Agents of Change for Climate Action & Sustainability
Thursday, November 19th | 1-2:30PM EDT
 

Climate action and sustainability are growing priorities for universities around the world. Many are responding by developing strong operational sustainability goals and targets, and placing an increased emphasis on teaching and research related to climate change and sustainability.  This webinar will explore the approaches that several global universities are taking to transform their campuses and position themselves as change agents in society with respect to climate action and sustainability. 

Last Chance!
Midwest Climate Summit
Friday, November 20th

The Midwest Climate Summit - founded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Ohio State University, and Washington University in St. Louis - kicked off on Friday, October 2nd.  The mission of the Summit is to "expand climate knowledge, accelerate climate action, and catalyze new partnerships that deepen expertise and develop a Midwestern response to the climate crisis."  Second Nature is proud to be a summit partner.  

Sign-On in Support of Climate Action 
Deadline to Sign-On: Tuesday, December 8th

We Are Still In (WASI), an initiative that Second Nature is a part of, has written a cross-sectoral statement on climate action that they will be publishing in conjunction with the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement on December 12th.  To view the statement and to sign-onto it if you are interested in doing so, please find more information by clicking on the button below.  

Webinar: Climate Policy and Environmental Justice
Tuesday, December 1st | 1-2PM EDT

Ceres, a Second Nature partner, is hosting this webinar which will be a virtual discussion on the interconnectedness of racial and economic equity and climate action.  For more information, including how to register, please click on the button below. 

GEO-6 Technical Summary Webinar: How to incorporate the GEO into university modules
Thursday, December 3rd | 9-10:30AM EDT

Brought to you by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this webinar is about taking the technical assessment that is the sixth Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6), and synthesizing the information to make it more useful at the university level.  For more information and to register for the webinar, please click on the button below.  

Two Most Recent Webinars - Recordings Now Available

Race to Zero - Have You Joined Yet? 

Higher education has always taken a lead in science, research, and public health.  And now higher education is taking a lead in responding to climate change.  Now is thetime to accelerate that even more; join the global Race to Zero.

What Is Race to Zero?
Race to Zero is a global campaign to mobilize leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, higher education, and investors for a Healthy, Resilient and Fair, Zero Carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth. Those who have already signed onto the campaign include businesses, cities, regions, higher education institutions, investors and 120 countries. The objective of the campaign is to accelerate momentum leading up to COP26.  All members have committed to the same overarching goal to be carbon neutral by 2050.     

What Are the Criteria to Join? 
There are four criteria to be a part of this campaign: 
1.  As a leader at your institution, pledge that your campus will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest. 
2.  Prior to COP26, have a detailed plan in place explaining how your school will accomplish your carbon neutrality goal.  
3.  Proceed with your climate action plan (i.e. put your plan into action!).
4.  Submit and publish your progress annually.  Higher education institutions that are part of Race to Zero are tracked in the Second Nature Reporting Platform.

Where Do We Sign-Up?
Once you meet the above criteria, you have three ways to sign-up for Race to Zero:
1. You can sign the Global Universities and Colleges Climate Letter. 
2. You can join the Climate Leadership Network by signing the Carbon or Climate Commitment.
3. You can contact Second Nature directly at racetozero@secondnature.org.

Higher education is about the generation of now, and the generations to come.  Climate action is about taking action now to ensure a habitable world for the future to come.  There is no other option.