ACUPCC Reporting System

Climate Action Plan for Yeshiva University

Submitted on May 18, 2010; last updated on July 12, 2010

Climate Action Plan Details

Climate Action Plan Yeshiva Climate Action Plan
May 15, 2010
No information provided.
No information provided

Emissions Targets

Climate Neutrality Target
2050
If you have any qualifying statements with regard to the climate neutrality target date, please include them here, and/or if you have chosen "TBD" and not specified a neutrality date, please enter the reason and explain the process for establishing a target date in the future.

No information provided

Interim Milestone Emission-Reduction Target Target Date Baseline
20% reduction in Total Scopes 1, 2, 3 Emissions by 2020 relative to baseline emissions in 2008
50% reduction in Total Scopes 1, 2, 3 Emissions by 2030 relative to baseline emissions in 2008
75% reduction in Total Scopes 1, 2, 3 Emissions by 2040 relative to baseline emissions in 2008
Nonstandard Emissions Targets
Please enter below any targets that do not fit into the above format.

No information provided

Narratives

Please describe your institution's greenhouse gas mitigation strategies.

Yeshiva University is planning to reduce GHG emissions 20 percent by 2020 compared to 2008 levels. Additionally, YU plans to achieve “climate neutrality” by 2050. This will be achieved by energy conservation and efficiency in existing buildings and new construction, minimizing new construction through better space utilization, supplying heat and power through cleaner on-site and off-site generation including renewable sources, and behavioral modifications. Remaining emission reductions will be from high quality offsets.

Please describe your institution's plans to make sustainability a part of the curriculum for all students.

The university will strive to incorporate sustainability into the curriculum through the orientation process and an undergraduate interdisciplinary course requirement. Other environmental and sustainability courses will continue to be available in the various concentrations currently offered. This plan is under development and will be discussed at the next Dean’s council meeting.

Please describe your institution's plans to expand research efforts toward the achievement of climate neutrality.

The university will continue to encourage sustainability and environmental research. For example, under a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, physics professor Dr. Anatoly Frenkel is studying the fundamental properties of nanoparticles that are essential for catalysis, the speeding-up of chemical reactions. His research could ultimately help develop more efficient catalysts and lead to alternative sources of energy. Dr. Frenkel involves Yeshiva University undergraduates in his research, thereby encouraging students to explore this important field of study. The university will continue to explore other research expansion opportunities that align with the university’s mission. This plan will continue to evolve and will be discussed at the next Dean’s council meeting.

Please describe your institution's plans to expand community outreach efforts toward the achievement of climate neutrality.

The Office of Energy and Sustainability began in 2008 with a goal of educating the Yeshiva Community on sustainability; such efforts include the sustainability website, monthly internal publications on energy conservation and sustainability. These efforts will be continued with Eco Reps, faculty and staff education and increased educational signage.
Increased outside community outreach will be achieved through further work with the Jewish Community on environmentalism, efforts with the Washington Heights community and Highbridge Park in Upper Manhattan as well as through local community offset projects.