Neutrality                                                     
Reduce Cornell University's carbon emissions for the Ithaca campus to net zero by 2035.

Neutrality Strategy

Cornell's strategy for this area is to avoid, reduce, replace, offset. First the University must avoid carbon intensive activities, then reduce inefficiencies and replace high-carbon energy sources, and finally offset emissions that cannot be eliminated. This strategy translates to maintaining or reducing campus energy consumption and providing renewable energy to campus buildings through our world-class district energy systems. We further assume that a substantial portion of transportation related emissions will have to be offset, through mission-linked offsets.

Key Actions* 

• Energy Conservation
  Complete Phase 1 of the Energy Conservation Initiative (ECI) and initiate Phase 2 to conserve energy in campus buildings
  Progress: ECI Phases 1 & 2 were completed successfully.  The current goal is continued operation of the successful ECI program.
   

• Building Energy Standards
  Integrate Building Energy Standards and energy modeling into the building design, review, and approval process in order to maximize energy efficiency.
  Progress: Cornell Building Standards have been updated to include carbon and efficiency considerations. 
   

• Earth Source Heat
  Eliminate fossil fuels for campus heating through phased exploration of a Hybrid Enhanced Geothermal System - Earth Source Heat - and build a demonstration project, while optimizing the campus heat distribution system to increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness and to facilitate the integration of Cornell’s future energy sources.
  Progress: Work is underway on early research for ESH.
   

• Renewable Energy Development
  Support the expansion of regional and other new, additional renewable energy to support Cornell's energy portfolio.
  Progress: Cornell has developed several solar farms and maintains a hydroplant and ultra-efficient energy plant.  Currently, 10% of campus energy comes from renewables with more projects already underway.
   

• Mission-Linked Offsets
  Implement broad-based, mission-linked carbon management strategies such as forest management, carbon capture and sequestration, and community projects to offset unavoidable university emissions.

* These actions have been adapted from the 2013 CAP Roadmap.  Roadmap actions #3 and #5 were consolidated into a single Earth Source Heat action here. Action #4 in the roadmap, to pursue a bioenergy initiative with biomass, was eliminated after extensive study of feasibility between 2009-2015. Action #6 in the roadmap was expanded from "regional wind" to "regional and other renewable energy."

Leadership                                                    
Create a living laboratory for low-impact behaviors and climate change education and research. 

Leadership Strategy

Building on the core mission of Cornell in education and research, the Innovation Pillar of our Climate Action Plan acknowledges that Cornell’s ability to mitigate climate change involves engaging students, staff, and faculty in new ways, both on and off campus.

Leadership Actions

• Climate & Sustainability Literacy
  Work to ensure that climate literacy and sustainability are part of the curriculum and educational experience at Cornell.
  Progress:  Cornell's Assemblies have passed resolutions in support of climate literacy.
   

• Quadruple Bottom Line Framework
  Integrate sustainability as an overarching principle into the performance management process. 
  Progress: Cornell has developed a Sustainability Framework and is working to implement it fully in business decision making across campus.

Innovation                                                   
Lead by example, on campus and beyond.

Innovation Strategy

Cornell can embrace the global scale of the climate challenge by focusing on the development of scalable solutions and key partnerships with advance our carbon progress at a local, national, and global scale. We work across disciplines, institutions, industries, sectors, and borders to address climate change by sharing solutions implemented on our campus, and prioritizing learning partnerships.

Innovation Actions

• Energy Conservation Engagement
  Expand Cornell’s sustainability Engagement Program "Think Big, Live Green" to achieve a 1% reduction in annual electrical energy usage and to educate the campus community, including thousands of future graduates, on the value of sustainable energy use.
   

• Community Climate Literacy Partnerships
  Participate actively in climate literacy outreach to ensure that the broader regional community receives Cornell’s support in making critical decisions for a sustainable future.
  Progress: See our current Partnerships for details.