Sustainability at Harvard

Harvard's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Commitment

The GHG Reduction Goal

Harvard University is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 30 percent below its fiscal year 2006 baseline by FY2016, including growth.

The GHG Reduction Goal was set based on the recommendations of the Harvard University Task Force on Greenhouse Gas Emissions, a group of faculty, students, and senior administrators convened by President Faust in the spring of 2008 to recommend a GHG reduction goal for the University. (For more information please view the Task Force Final Report.) President Faust and all of Harvard’s Deans approved this goal in the summer of 2008.

As of December, 2009, preliminary data shows that Harvard’s FY06 GHG emissions baseline is just over 300,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MTCDE). Based on this draft data, it appears that we have reduced our emissions roughly 10% from FY06-FY09 in our baseline building stock (those buildings in full service in FY06). Harvard’s overall FY06-FY09 reduction is roughly 5%, despite over 1 million square feet of growth, mostly in high-intensity lab buildings. Final reduction numbers will be available in early 2010. In the meantime, we know we are well on our way.

Nevertheless, we need your help to achieve this goal! Whether you are a Harvard student, faculty member, staff member or building manager, your efforts matter.

GHG Implementation - What Are We Doing?

Click for more examples of Schools' efforts to reduce their emissions.Credit: Kris Snibbe / Harvard Staff PhotographerClick for a slideshow of School and Unit efforts to reduce their emissions

The GHG Reduction Goal has greatly accelerated efforts to reduce Harvard’s environmental impact. First, the Office for Sustainability (OFS) was created out of the existing Harvard Green Campus Initiative and charged with extending that group’s work University-wide.

Perhaps most importantly, the Goal has aligned key decision-makers across Harvard’s twelve Schools and many units. To facilitate this alignment, OFS led nearly 200 University citizens in a comprehensive GHG reduction planning process during calendar year 2009. OFS coordinated six GHG Working Groups made up of staff and students and reached out to Harvard faculty for advising. Moreover, a GHG Executive Committee of faculty and top administrators leads all planning and implementation efforts. This planning process will culminate in the publication of a Harvard-wide GHG Reduction Plan in 2010.

Key Accomplishments

Even though the final plan is not yet complete, Harvard’s planning process has already achieved some impressive accomplishments! Most importantly:

  • Every Harvard School has written a draft GHG Reduction Plan. These plans will be rolled up into the University-wide GHG Reduction Plan (planned for publication in 2010).
  • The GHG Working Groups have served as a highly effective best-practice sharing venue for the facilities managers, financial analysts, energy utility managers, sustainability staff, students and others who have served on them.
  • A Harvard-Wide Temperature Policy has been adopted to assist building managers and occupants in achieving a healthy, productive, and safe working environment while reducing energy costs and GHG emissions.
  • See here for further accomplishments from the GHG Working Groups (link).

Learn more about Harvard's efforts

Explore the GHG reduction planning process and highlights from Schools and units across the University.

Harvard’s GHG reduction efforts build on numerous long-standing efforts across the University. Check here for the most recent stories on Harvard’s energy efficiency efforts: