Goal Eight

Goal 8: Reduce the institution’s carbon footprint by 20% (from 2009 levels) through institutional and community member efforts by increasing awareness, efficiency and conservation related to environmental sustainability. (Target: 2020)

Student athletes rowing during fall

Progress:

Since 2009, it is estimated that Gonzaga University has reduced its carbon footprint by 21%, surpassing our goal of 20% reduction by 2020. This has been achieved through more efficient building projects, the purchase of renewable energy credits, more energy efficiency measures, new building intelligence technology and behavior awareness campaigns implemented on campus.

Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Since 2009:
2009 28,698
2011 28,004
2013 25,894
2015 24,093
2017 22,700
2018 24,001
2019 16,075
2020 10,795

Initiatives Developed to Advance the Goal:

The Office of Sustainability in collaboration with faculty, staff, and student leaders, is reevaluating the Climate Action Plan (CAP) signed by Dr. McCulloh in 2010 to ensure that the strategies therein remain specific, measurable, and strategic. This process will allow for all CAP strategies to be evaluated in the context of their financial and carbon costs as well as savings. A comprehensive project budget was created to outline the costs and savings of the projects that will reduce our net carbon footprint to zero by target year 2050.