City University of New York, Brooklyn College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Engaging the community in Brooklyn College sustainability effort is central to its success. Brooklyn College is engaging its community through public events & speaker series, clubs, educational campaigns as well as via its online media platforms. In addition, to respond to the growing demand for learning in this area, Brooklyn College is also offering more and more classes, courses, degree programs & research opportunities in the multiple fields related to sustainability. The continued review and development of sustainability related courses across academic departments and the development of the undergraduate Urban Sustainability program, have reinforced Brooklyn College's commitment to expanding our curriculum and research in this area. Beyond the 2010 Campus Sustainability 10-year Plan to:
Review and develop existing academic research and course offerings featuring sustainability content, with plans to started in 2021 to offer a graduate program in Environmental Justice and Sustainability by 2024. The 2018-2023 Strategic Plans also reinforces theses efforts:
5-YEAR OUTCOMES: The campus’ ecological footprint will be minimized while enhancing ecosystem services on campus. Sustainability core knowledge is infused across the curriculum and is a focus during orientation week activities. The profile of sustainability will be elevated through increased communication, collaboration, and engagement. The funding mechanisms to grow sustainable infrastructure and initiatives will be increased above
2018 levels.

http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/abo_initiatives_sustainability/brooklyn_college_sustainability_plan_final.pdf

Enhancing student training and awareness of sustainability issues and green jobs through the Magner Career Center, College Now, the Provost's Task Force on Sustainability, the Urban Sustainability Program, the Department of Economics, and the Student Center's Small Business Center; also including public events & speaker series, clubs, educational campaigns as well as via its online media platforms. These objectives are included in the Brooklyn College’s 10-Year Sustainability Plan.

Promotion of ‘ green job’ opportunities through career counseling, job fairs, and internships, development of campaign(s) to increase BC community’s awareness of sustainability themes and topics, created and continue to maintain a section on the college website dedicated to sustainability. These objectives are included in the Brooklyn College’s 10-Year Sustainability Plan.

D. Prepare students to become engaged, global citizens and decision makers in a complex, diverse, and sustainable society.
a. The Brooklyn College Foundation and the Office of International Education & Global Engagement will expand funding to support students to study, work, and intern abroad.

The Center for the Study of Brooklyn will strengthen partnerships with organizations and projects that share our commitment to advancing the public good, such as the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Historical Society, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the New York City Department of Education, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the Mayor’s Office, community boards, city parks, the National Park Service, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Department of Sanitation’s Compost Project, and increase students’ opportunities to engage with them.

Measuring the amount and type of recycling, composting and waste generation. The progress is tracked by the GreenNY Reporting Form. These objectives are included in the Brooklyn College’s GreenNY Reports.

Diversity, equity and inclusion are a major theme in the colleges Strategic Plan 2018-2023. Diversity and Inclusion is also one of the colleges core values along with Sustainability.
B. Attract, develop, and retain an innovative, diverse, productive, and engaged faculty and staff.
a. The Office of Diversity and Equity Programs will require department-specific affirmative action plans for tenure- track, lecturer, substitute, and adjunct faculty to enhance opportunities to hire minority and women faculty in areas where they are underrepresented.
b. The Office of Diversity and Equity Programs in partnership with the Office of Human Resource Services will offer training on cultural competence, identify areas where additional training is needed, and develop and offer new training.
B. Promote Brooklyn College’s leadership in accessibility, diversity, excellence, and social mobility.
a. The Office of Communications and Marketing will develop and implement a comprehensive communications plan for promoting Brooklyn College’s strengths in accessibility, diversity, excellence, and social mobility.
c. The offices of the President, Academic Affairs, Institutional Advancement, and Communications and Marketing will promote Brooklyn College in the national conversation about accessibility, diversity, excellence, and social mobility in higher education.
c. The offices of the President, Academic Affairs, Institutional Advancement, and Communications and Marketing will promote Brooklyn College in the national conversation about accessibility, diversity, excellence, and social mobility in higher education.
d. The Office of the Provost in collaboration with the Office of Diversity and Equity Programs will develop a faculty task force for the support and retention of faculty from historically underrepresented groups.

The mission of Brooklyn College's sustainability initiative is to create an overarching culture of sustainability throughout the entire campus community by raising awareness of, engagement in and commitment to reducing our carbon footprint through campus-based education, research, operations, community-based collaboration, and service. Our sustainability planning will take special recognition of the constraints, opportunities, and responsibilities attendant with our urban location in one of the most densely populated cities in the United States.

To advance this mission, in 2010 the college convened the Brooklyn College Sustainability Council and the Provost's Task Force on City-Based and Sustainability Education to evaluate sustainability on campus and make recommendations for improvements in seven pillar areas:

Waste Management and Recycling
Water
Energy
Procurement
Food and Nutrition
Transportation
Outreach and Education
Goals for advancement in each of these areas are included in Brooklyn College's 10-Year Sustainability Plan.

This plan guides the college's green initiatives, in conjunction with the CUNY Sustainability Initiative and PlaNYC and in partnership with businesses, government, regional and citywide organizations.

Sustainability refers to the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland, World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987). To achieve sustainability, we must balance environmental protection, economic growth, and social well-being, which can often conflict with each other. Sustainable processes aim to minimize environmental impacts, create economic benefits, and improve social equity, fostering a more resilient and equitable society for present and future generations.

https://www.brooklyn.edu/sustainability/