Cornell University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

The provost is responsible for strategic planning and budgeting, tenure and promotion, academic and research initiatives, and general academic supervision of the Ithaca campus. The provost acts as the university’s chief academic officer and chief operations officer, and serves as the president’s first deputy officer. The provost oversees all academic programs and units of the university, other than those reporting to the provost for medical affairs. In carrying out these responsibilities, the provost works directly with the deans of the colleges, schools, and faculties and with the vice provosts as well as other members of the provost’s executive staff. Among the provost's 11 key academic initiatives is Radical Collaboration. The focus areas target and elevate strategic, radically collaborative discipline areas that point the way toward the discoveries and solutions of tomorrow: nanoscale science and molecular engineering; genome biology; data science; sustainability; the social sciences; infection biology; and the humanities and arts. The Sustainability Radical Collaboration charge: Sustainability scholarship embodies the belief that human thriving requires social systems, economic systems, and biodiverse ecosystems that equitably serve humanity now and in the future. It is committed to the idea that satisfying the needs of humans today should not come at the expense of satisfying the needs of future human generations. Transformational societal change at all scales is required, and is as dependent on imagination and changes in attitudes, policies, and institutions as on technological discoveries. Sustainability scholarship is inherently applied and interdisciplinary, requiring interactions of researchers from the social sciences, natural sciences, humanities, the arts, law, and business. It occupies the intersection of intellectual grand challenges and application—the realm of research often described as Pasteur’s Quadrant. Research questions may often come from public and private decision-makers who desire research-based guidance. With creative deployment of additional resources and enhanced institutional practices and programs, Cornell can achieve preeminence as the originator of breakthrough sustainability scholarship, and the leading university in contributing to local to global sustainability solutions in practice. More information on the Radical Collaboration initiative: http://provost.cornell.edu/academic-initiatives/radical-collaboration/

Sustainable Cornell Council Priorities, Working Groups, and key partner initiatives: https://cornell.app.box.com/file/571787503447 slides 45-61 as presented at the annual Cornell Sustainability Leadership Summit and endorsed by the provost in accordance with the SCC charge. Cornell Master Plan: https://masterplan.cornell.edu/ Diversity Initiatives & Planning Framework https://diversity.cornell.edu/institutional-initiatives https://diversity.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/uploaded-files/TND%202016-17%20FINAL%20May%20revision.pdf Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future Strategic Plan https://www.atkinson.cornell.edu/Assets/ACSF/docs/attachments/ACSF-StrategicPlan-2013.pdf Engaged Cornell https://engaged.cornell.edu/about/

The Sustainable Cornell Council Education & Engagement Steering Committee priorities and working groups: https://cornell.app.box.com/file/571787503447 slides 51-55 The Climate Action Plan 2016 update report, Options for Achieving a Carbon Neutral Campus by 2035, includes objectives for creating a culture of sustainable behavior and advancing climate literacy for all students, faculty and staff, and ensuring that all students graduate with a basic understanding of climate literacy https://sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/options-carbon-neutral-campus 2013 Campus Sustainability Plan - https://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/pages/ithaca-campus-sustainability-plan Climate Action Plan - http://climateaction.cornell.edu

The University's Radical Collaboration Sustainability Initiative includes these four high level objectives, more information is available online at http://provost.cornell.edu/academic-initiatives/radical-collaboration/sustainability/ 1. Focus interdisciplinary research on SDGs, with an initial focus on the equitable distribution of food, energy, and water for a growing human population as this focus builds on existing Cornell strengths; 2. Fill critical intellectual gaps and enhance Cornell’s interdisciplinary intellectual community with coordinated hires of senior faculty with experience in bridging disciplines relevant to the system of systems approach necessary to achieve the SDGs; 3. Educate the next generation of sustainability professionals by creating a university-wide graduate program in sustainability administered by the Atkinson Center; and, 4. Create organizational structures in the Atkinson Center to support large, long-term interdisciplinary research programs that are co-created with other universities and especially non-academic organizations whose mission is to change sustainability products, practices or policies. One of the milestones for 2017 in the Atkinson Center Strategic Plan was to develop two or more enduring strategic collaborations with external partners for interdisciplinary research and practical application. By 2020, partnerships have been established with 1) The Sustainability Consortium 2) Oxfam 3) The Nature Conservancy and 4) the Environmental Defense Fund. Focus areas in the Atkinson Center Strategic plan include research in energy transitions such as research in grid integration, energy efficiency, new materials, societal adaptation, economic markets, and policy frameworks, research in one health which emphasizes the connections between human health, animal health, and ecosystem health to promote, improve, and defend the health and well-being of all species, and research in new materials to find more sustainable materials. Details on Cornell's plans to advance sustainability research can be found in the 2013-2017 Strategic Plan of the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future http://www.acsf.cornell.edu/Assets/ACSF/docs/attachments/ACSF-StrategicPlan-2013.pdf

The Sustainable Cornell Council Education & Engagement Steering Committee priorities and working groups: https://cornell.app.box.com/file/571787503447 slides 51-55 90% of Freshman are engaged by the EcoReps program 10% of campus offices are certified Green Offices The College Engagement Program expands to at least 2 more colleges Sustainability is fully integrated into the annual performance management processes for all staff New guidelines for performance management are developed and released New sustainability tools for managers are developed and released Achieve a 2-5% reduction in energy use by changing use behaviors Campus Sustainability Plan - https://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/pages/ithaca-campus-sustainability-plan Climate Action Plan - http://climateaction.cornell.edu

The Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future strategic plan includes these objectives: 1) Build strong, comprehensive, strategic collaborations with external organizations that have common aspirations and complementary capabilities in one or more of the Center’s new focus areas. 2) Develop two or more enduring strategic collaborations with external partners for interdisciplinary research and practical application. 3) One or more high-profile innovations associated with ACSF and a partner that will significantly, measurably improve sustainability and well-being for humans and the planet’s flora and fauna. Cornell Outdoor Education was highlighted as a strong engagement-related partner with Cornell and focuses on promoting land stewardship and conservation. Cornell's overarching strategic plan to increase community based research and teaching, and broader public engagement, including sustainability topics, are detailed in the Engaged Cornell Plan. https://engaged.cornell.edu In addition Cornell's Cooperative Extension has a long history of sustainability initiatives in communities all across New York State. These initiatives are detailed here: https://cce.cornell.edu/about/strategic-plan Goals are included for Climate Literacy Outreach and Climate Adaptation Planning which are focused on public engagement and community collaboration online at http://climateaction.cornell.edu

Carbon neutral Ithaca main campus by 2035 http://climateaction.cornell.edu The Sustainable Cornell Council Carbon Neutral Campus Steering Committee priorities and working groups: https://cornell.app.box.com/file/571787503447 slides 47-50

1) All new buildings and major renovations create high performance buildings - 50/150 kbtu/sq ft for offices/labs, and achieve at least LEED Silver http://climateaction.cornell.edu via https://fcs.cornell.edu/cornell-design-standards 2) Integrate space scheduling with HVAC scheduling software, revise the capital planning process and architect/engineer contracts to incorporate space planning http://climateaction.cornell.edu 3) Perform energy studies for 20% of campus buildings http://climateaction.cornell.edu

The Sustainable Cornell Council Carbon Neutral Campus Steering Committee priorities and working groups: https://cornell.app.box.com/file/571787503447 slides 47-50 Obtain 100% of the campus' energy needs from renewable sources by 2035 Additional details can be found in the Campus Sustainability Plan and the Climate Action Plan http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/pages/ithaca-campus-sustainability-plan http://climateaction.cornell.edu

The Sustainable Cornell Council Campus Operations Steering Committee priorities and working groups: https://cornell.app.box.com/file/571787503447 slides 57-60 Decrease food waste through consumer education and food recovery partnerships with the food bank system. Additional details can be found in the Campus Sustainability Plan and the Climate Action Plan http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/pages/ithaca-campus-sustainability-plan http://climateaction.cornell.edu

1) Integration of green infrastructure across campus 2) Use of the SITES sustainable landscape certification system for additional sites. Additional details can be found in the Campus Sustainability Plan and the Climate Action Plan http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/pages/ithaca-campus-sustainability-plan http://climateaction.cornell.edu

The Sustainable Cornell Council Campus Operations Steering Committee priorities and working groups: https://cornell.app.box.com/file/571787503447 slides 57-60 1) Establish energy-efficient standards based upon Energy Star certification for new purchases and bids. https://sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/campus-initiatives/buildings-energy/building-standards 2) Utilize “Fast Tracks” in Cornell’s online Procurement Gateway to facilitate purchasing of sustainable office equipment and supplies, recycled paper, remanufactured toner, EPEAT certified computers, etc., and to limit the availability of less sustainable products. https://sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/about/connect/news/cornell-purchasing-advance-b-corp-sustainable-purchase-tracking 3) Consider sustainability criteria, including locality and GHG emissions, in the vendor selection process to reduce the environmental footprint of Cornell’s supply chain. https://sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/campus-initiatives/materials-management/sustainable-purchasing Additional details can be found in the Campus Sustainability Plan and the Climate Action Plan http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/pages/ithaca-campus-sustainability-plan http://climateaction.cornell.edu

The Sustainable Cornell Council Campus Operations Steering Committee priorities and working groups: https://cornell.app.box.com/file/571787503447 slides 57-60 1) Increase outreach and education about existing Transportation Demand Management programs. 2) Allocate financial resources and draft RFP for a Campus Bike/Pedestrian Master Plan. 4) Develop a deployment plan for EV-charging stations on campus and regionally. 5) Develop and launch an optimized strategy to convert the campus fleet to alternate fuel vehicles Additional details can be found in the Campus Sustainability Plan and the Climate Action Plan http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/pages/ithaca-campus-sustainability-plan http://climateaction.cornell.edu

1) Develop a comprehensive university waste policy 2) Expand residential composting pilot program 3) Support development of the SWEEP standard Additional details can be found in the Campus Sustainability Plan and the Climate Action Plan http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/pages/ithaca-campus-sustainability-plan http://climateaction.cornell.edu

1) Continue to support installations of water bottle filling stations on campus 2) Support energy-efficient water conservation projects Additional details can be found in the Campus Sustainability Plan and the Climate Action Plan http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/pages/ithaca-campus-sustainability-plan http://climateaction.cornell.edu

Cornell's Diversity and Inclusion initiatives include -Build a culture that values transparency, accountability, and communication around issues of diversity and inclusion. -Develop visible institutional statements and symbols of our priorities, and policies that are well-aligned with them. -Provide diversity education to all stakeholders. -Increase faculty diversity and foster faculty commitment to diversity. -Enhance the student experience to support social belonging and wellness -Create more opportunities for intergroup interaction -Recruit and retain a diverse staff workforce -Partner with the surrounding community on issues of diversity and inclusion More information online at http://diversity.cornell.edu/institutional-initiatives Unit level objectives are detailed in the Toward New Destinations website Toward New Destinations Planning Document: Annual Initiatives 2016-2017 https://diversity.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/uploaded-files/All.B%202016-17%20Initiatives.pdf Toward New Destinations Planning Document: Annual Initiatives Outcomes 2016-2017 http://diversity.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/uploaded-files/TND%202016%202017%20Outcomes.pdf

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Cornell's Human Resources team strives to care for all the dimensions of wellbeing to enable employees to be their best at work and beyond. Wellbeing is a multifaceted and continually changing process. Many resources are available to the Cornell community that support all the dimensions of wellbeing defined as Mental > Relationships > Physical > Cultural > Environmental > Occupational > Financial More information online at https://hr.cornell.edu/wellbeing-perks/seven-dimensions-wellbeing Strategic Plan for staff http://recreation.athletics.cornell.edu/wellness/strategic-plan-annual-report

Cornell's Institute for Computation Sustainability is dedicated to the vision that Computer scientists can — and should — play a key role in increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the way we manage and allocate our natural resources, while enriching and transforming Computer Science. The ICS goals include to inject Computational Thinking into Sustainability that will provide: new insights into sustainability questions;new challenges and new methodologies in Computer Science (analogous to Computational Biology) To establish a new field, Computational Sustainability: Focused on computational methods for balancing environmental, economic, and societal needs for a sustainable future. https://computational-sustainability.cis.cornell.edu/ The Cornell Botanic Gardens strategic plan focuses on connecting plants and peoples. Objectives are to engage with communities and peoples to save plants and their habitats by raising awareness, inspiring action, and sowing messages of hope. https://www.cornellbotanicgardens.org/strategicplan

As a world leader in sustainability, Cornell University is a committed steward of the Earth and its people. From innovation to public engagement, Cornellians are balancing today’s economic, environmental, and social issues with related needs of the future.

Cornell is a signatory of the Second Nature Carbon Commitment with a goal of achieving carbon neutrality on its main Ithaca campus by 2035.