Guide to Sustainability at Cornell University
Quick Start Designed for First-Year Students
Live. Lead. Learn. Creating a sustainable planet and future starts here, at Cornell University.
At Cornell, how we live, how we learn, and how we choose to lead all contribute to a shared vision for a more sustainable future. What will your path be? Whether you choose to study sustainability in your coursework, engage in research to help food justice, climate resilience, or cleaner water, or become a student leader in one of the 100's of engagement opportunities - Cornell has a path for you.
Get Connected
Take Classes & Do Research
Join Student Organizations
Explore Campus
Read University Plans & Reports
Want more? Learn about Cornell's sustainability work, both past and future.
Cornell University has been a global leader in sustainability since the early 1880s when our hydroelectric plant went online. Since that time, the university has been at the forefront in the nation in campus sustainability efforts, with reductions in carbon emissions, innovative green building designs and spaces, and plans developed in partnership with faculty, staff, and students to reach our goal to become carbon neutral - using 100% renewable energy - by 2035.
Watch these 2-minute videos
Overview of Campus Sustainability
Our campuses are living laboratories for developing, testing, and implementing solutions that address the challenging issues of sustainability and climate change. Students are driving sustainability change at Cornell through innovation, campus engagement, and learning experiences.
Overview of Earth Source Heat
Cornell's innovative new heating system aims to heat our campus with renewable energy, bringing us closer to achieving carbon neutrality on campus by 2035.
Campus Partners
Watch this brief video about climate change & sustainability featuring students, faculty, and staff from Cornell.