Sustainability

Since the opening of its first campus in 1868, the University of California system has been committed to responsible stewardship of its resources and education and innovation for the public good. Today, its 10 campuses and five medical centers are nationally recognized living laboratories of sustainability. From directly investing in a sustainable future to innovating climate solutions, UC is working to ensure that students have a healthy environment in which to learn for generations to come.

UC’s institutional sustainability commitment began in 2003 through a student initiative that led to the UC Regents adopting the Presidential Policy on Green Building Design and Clean Energy Standards in 2004. This has been expanded over the years into the UC Sustainable Practices Policy (pdf) which covers many categories of sustainable business practices.

UC reports progress towards the goals outlined in the policy in the UC Annual Report on Sustainable Practices. The University’s climate and sustainability leadership is coordinated and advanced through its Leading on Climate Program.

UC is committed to ensuring that its sustainability policy initiatives and programs are diverse in their staffing, and representative and inclusive of the communities who are engaged in these initiatives and programs. The UCOP Office of Sustainability co-developed and signed onto a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement of UC Sustainability Offices and Staff (pdf).