Western Washington University
PAE-5: Climate Action Plan

The following information has been taken directly from the WWU 2010 Climate Action Plan: The university should make a long-term commitment to climate neutrality, defined as net zero emissions and impact on the Earth’s climate achieved by minimizing GHG emissions as much as possible, and using University sponsored carbon reduction projects or other measures to mitigate the remaining GHG emissions. This long-range target for the year 2050 will allow for the motivation and planning needed to make the significant emissions reduction needed over the next 40 years. The financial feasibility of this goal is not calculable, given that the technology and implementation planning will all change in scope. We will need to identify additional energy efficiency and conservation projects as new opportunities emerge.

The following information has been taken directly from the WWU 2010 Climate Action Plan: Through a combination of infrastructure improvements, behavior change, and University-sponsored carbon reduction projects, it is possible for Western Washington University to reduce net carbon emissions to 36 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. This level of reductions in emissions would exceed new State requirements to stop or slow Global Climate Change. It would also place Western Washington University at the top of institutions of higher education that are taking responsibility for their carbon footprints, perhaps even priming Western Washington University to be first in the State of Washington to reach climate neutrality. The projects evaluated in our research are by no means exhaustive. There are many other opportunities for energy conservation at Western Washington University. The university should continue developing energy efficiency and energy conservation projects, since these types of projects tend to be very cost-effective. They can also be used to leverage the energy and creativity of our campus community of students, faculty and staff to come up with new ideas and collaborative, real-world solutions as yet unidentified. Western is committed to GHG emissions inventory on a cyclical basis. Aggregate GHG emission targets should be included in long-term campus planning documents such as the Campus Sustainability Report, the Strategic Action Plan, or the Institutional Master Plan to ensure successful achievement in and adherence to climate neutrality. Additionally, aggregate GHG emissions can be used as metrics for broader environmental performance assessments that would be relevant to university stakeholders.