The University of Michigan is building on its history of sustainability accomplishments by pursuing the following Guiding Principles and 2025 Goals, established in September 2011:
Climate Action
Guiding Principle: We will pursue energy efficiency and fiscally-responsible energy sourcing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions toward long-term carbon neutrality.
2025 Goals:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% below 2006 levels
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Decrease the carbon intensity of passenger trips on U-M transportation options by 30% below 2006 levels
Waste Prevention
Guiding Principle: We will pursue purchasing, reuse, recycling, and composting strategies toward long-term waste eradication.
2025 Goal: Reduce waste tonnage diverted to disposal facilities by 40% below 2006 levels
Healthy Environments
Guiding Principle: We will pursue land and water management, built environment, and product sourcing strategies toward improving the health of ecosystems and communities.
2025 Goals:
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Purchase 20% of U-M food in accordance with U-M Sustainable Food Purchasing Guidelines by 2025
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Protect Huron River water quality by minimizing runoff from impervious surfaces and reducing the volume of land management chemicals used on campus by 40%
Community Awareness
Guiding Principle: We will pursue stakeholder engagement, education, and evaluation strategies toward a campus-wide ethic of sustainability.
2025 Goal: Invest in sustainability culture programs to educate our community, track behavior, and report on progress over time
Sustainability Committee Recommendations
The University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus is making significant investments toward more sustainable campus operations.
Several new efforts being implemented follow the recommendations of committees – comprised of faculty, staff and students – charged by the president to review the university’s progress in the areas of waste reduction, greenhouse gas reduction and campus sustainability culture.
Read more:
- University invests in major campus sustainability efforts (University Record, 10/23/2015)
View committee reports:
- Greenhouse Gas Reduction Committee Report 2015 (PDF)
- Landfill Waste Reduction Committee Report 2015 (PDF)
- Sustainability Culture Committee Report 2015 (PDF)
Additional Information
These goals resulted from the Campus Sustainability Integrated Assessment (CSIA)—an intensive, two-year research project involving multiple teams of U-M students, faculty, and staff.
To see how we are doing with respect to our Campus Sustainability goals, please view the most recent Planet Blue Annual Report.