On Nov. 5, more than 130 participants came together for a dynamic session focused on collaboration for campuswide sustainability initiatives. The aim was to update students, faculty and staff across campus on the latest sustainability work, while also providing an open forum for questions, discussion and feedback.

Sustainability leaders from across campus, including Vice Chancellor of Sustainability Andrew Mayock and Vice Chancellor for Infrastructure and Resilience Chris Ewing, opened by reaffirming CU Boulder’s commitment to a bold sustainability vision that positions the university as a leader in climate action and innovation. This vision is grounded in a four-pillar framework designed to guide every decision and initiative moving forward. 

Here are the key takeaways from the event:

Campus sustainability vision

Mayock shared a roadmap for sustainability impact, an approach that reflects CU Boulder’s belief that sustainability is integrated into academics, operations and community engagement. The four-pillar framework emphasizes:

• Equipping students with sustainability problem-solving skills so they graduate ready to lead
• Transforming research into actionable solutions that address real-world challenges
• Leading by example through operational excellence and climate-conscious practices
• Partnering locally and globally to find sustainability solutions in this urgent moment

Buckley Center and research integration

The Buckley Center for Sustainability Education is advancing sustainability education and embedding it into research and operations. Faculty Executive Director Max Boykoff highlighted how the Sustainability Research Initiative leverages CU’s research strengths to scale solutions beyond the region. These efforts ensure sustainability is practiced and amplified through innovation in addition to being taught.

Sustainability Council updates

The Sustainability Council, which fosters the integration of sustainability across all aspects of the university, launched a new proposal form to curate ideas and projects. This tool introduces two tiers—general ideas and specific proposals—with clear review windows and governance. It’s a streamlined way for the campus community to shape sustainability initiatives.

Operations: Newsworthy updates

Ewing and campus operations officials shared critical updates on progress toward CU Boulder’s operational goals, including the Climate Action Plan. This plan sets ambitious targets: 50% emissions reduction by 2030 and zero emissions by 2050.

One major piece of this effort is the steam-to-hot-water conversion, a process that began with hiring a consultant in July. Geothermal studies to investigate viability at the CU campus are also underway, signaling CU Boulder’s commitment to long-term energy transformation.

CU Boulder continues to expand its renewable portfolio with a new 1.1 megawatt solar array, alongside Virtual Power Purchase Agreement and Xcel partnerships. These investments accelerate the transition to clean energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

And efforts to close the loop are growing. Back-of-house food recovery and composting programs are scaling up, while the CU Surplus Store and Recycling Operations Center are driving approximately 50% waste diversion.