Overall Rating	Gold
Overall Score	66.09
Liaison	Elizabeth Drake
Submission Date	March 3, 2023

STARS v2.2

Swarthmore College
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	2.00 / 2.00	Elizabeth Drake Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability

"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Local advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the municipal/local level?:

Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:

Representatives from the College participate on the Borough's Environmental Advisory Council, which makes, which advises Borough Council on matters that affect the quality of the environment. In recent years, this group has worked to advance policies to reduce single use plastics, provided input on development plans in the Borough, and advanced a resolution to attain 100% renewable electricity use in all homes, businesses, and government buildings within the borough.

Regional advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level?:

Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:

In the fall of 2020, Swarthmore College signed on to a letter alongside other organizations and businesses expressing support for Pennsylvania's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). In 2023, the College submitted a letter of support to Delaware County for the development of composting facilities in the region. Members of the College's Zero Waste Working Group also participate on the County's Zero Waste Advisory Committee that is informing development of a countywide zero waste plan.

National advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the national level?:

Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:

Swarthmore has taken a leadership role in advocating for carbon pricing policy at the national level. This includes President Valerie Smith's endorsement and championing of the Put A Price On It campaign, which advocates for national carbon pricing legislation. In the spring of 2021, the College signed on to a letter to President Biden in support of a strong 2030 U.S. climate target (a "Nationally Determined Contribution" or NDC) pursuant to the Paris Agreement (organized by Second Nature).

International advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the international level?:

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:

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Optional Fields

A brief description of other political positions the institution has taken during the previous three years (if applicable):

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None

A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):

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Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:

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Additional documentation to support the submission:

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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.