The 2025 University of Colorado Sustainability Report (PDF) was published in June 2026 and showcases advances in climate action across the entire University of Colorado system, including the Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver and Anschutz campuses. 

The report highlights the momentum here at CU Boulder to integrate sustainability across education, operations, research and community engagement while advancing toward a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

"At CU Boulder, sustainability is fundamental to our mission of educating tomorrow's leaders, advancing groundbreaking research and serving Colorado," said Vice Chancellor for Sustainability Andrew Mayock. "This report demonstrates that meaningful climate action isn't accomplished through a single initiative but through sustained investments, collaboration and innovation across every part of our campus."

The report highlights several key sustainability milestones from 2025, including:

• Launching the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Sustainability and welcoming Andrew Mayock as the university's inaugural vice chancellor for sustainability.
• Establishing the SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education (formerly the Buckley Center), a $10 million initiative funded by alum Spike Buckley to expand sustainability education through faculty fellowships, student scholarships and curriculum development.
• Becoming the administrative and operational home of the new Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability, a noteworthy award from the Carnegie Foundation and American Council on Education that recognizes critical investments and approaches to sustainability across higher education institutions. 
• Releasing an updated Climate Action Plan in 2024 that sets ambitious goals to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, reduce feasible Scope 3 emissions by 50% and achieve zero emissions no later than 2050.
• Launching the Sustainability Research Initiative to accelerate interdisciplinary research and partnerships that translate innovation into practical climate solutions.
• Continuing modernization of district energy plants, geothermal feasibility studies and the addition of a 1.1-megawatt East Campus solar array and a 5-megawatt off-site solar installation beginning in 2026.
• Expanding campus sustainability initiatives through the Buff Surplus Store, Green Labs, electric buses and EV charging, elimination of single-use beverage plastics, composting and zero-waste athletics.

"CU Boulder is proud to be part of a university system that prioritizes sustainability across all of its campuses," said Chancellor Justin Schwartz. "This report reflects how we are advancing that commitment through the research we lead, the students we prepare to make a difference, the investments we are making across our campus and the partnerships that turn knowledge into impact for Colorado and beyond.”

The 2025 sustainability report demonstrates that sustainability at CU Boulder extends well beyond campus operations. Through investments in infrastructure, education, research and partnerships, the university is continuing to advance solutions that benefit both the campus community and the state of Colorado while building toward a carbon-neutral future.

Learn more about CU Boulder’s goals and vision for sustainability implementation.