Cornell University
PAE-5: Climate Plan

As the New York State land grant university and an Ivy League institution, Cornell's comprehensive plan for climate neutrality will have an impact well beyond our campus borders. From students, faculty, and staff to researchers and the administration, our actions and initiatives to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions will engage, educate, and inspire our state, our nation and our world. Created with financial support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and among the first such comprehensive programs undertaken by a major university, the Climate Action Plan (CAP) sets the goal of reducing carbon-based emissions from the Ithaca campus to net zero by the year 2050, thus achieving carbon neutrality. The carbon neutrality goal includes Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions along with employee air travel and commuting. Recommended actions in the plan will help the university improve the energy efficiency of its facilities, reducing operating expenses and realizing savings otherwise subject to commodity fuel cost fluctuation, projected carbon legislations, and potential capital expenditure. At the same time, the CAP will help Cornell unify research and teaching around sustainability in its broadest sense: economic strength and stability; research and teaching excellence; and outreach programs that fulfill our Ivy League and land-grant missions.

See the wedge chart that plots planned reductions year by year through 2050. http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/climate/forecast.cfm The campus reduced overall emissions by 25% in the first two years of the climate plan (from 2009 to 2011) by aggressive energy conservation, a new combined heat and power plant, and ending the use of coal.