Governance

Sustainability & Climate Change Committees

Shared, participatory leadership is central to Cornell's sustainability vision and work.  Our committees have representation by students, staff, faculty, and administrators, and Cornell's legacy of shared governance has played a role in fostering resolutions in support of sustainability.

Sustainable Cornell Council

The Sustainable Cornell Council (SCC) is responsible for directing and coordinating Cornell’s role as a leader in addressing climate change and sustainability, advancing campus sustainability, and fostering engagement in sustainability from the campus community. The Council oversees implementation of the campus sustainability priorities and Climate Action Plan and progress reporting on our goals. 

Assembly Resolutions on Sustainability

Cornell has a unique system of shared Governance called the Assemblies. Chartered by the President with delegated authority from the Board of Trustees, the Assemblies serve as advisory bodies to the administration, representing matters of concern and constituent interests to University leadership. The Assemblies pass resolutions on topics of importance to the Cornell community. Browse a list of sustainability and climate-change-related resolutions, or learn more about how Assemblies work. 

Previous Governance Committees

The President’s Sustainable Campus Committee (PSCC) oversaw sustainability activities since 2010  and was formed after the enactment of Cornell’s Climate Action Plan. The committee worked to promote a culture of sustainability on campus through effective collaborations among staff, students, faculty, and regional partners, and it advocated for policies and programs that enhanced Cornell’s commitment to being a living laboratory for the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainability. It was replaced with the Sustainable Cornell Council (SCC) in September 2019. 

The Senior Leaders Climate Action Group (SLCAG) was formed in November 2015 to underscore Cornell's commitment to addressing climate change. Action Group SLCAG managed high-level carbon neutrality projects, including development of Earth Source Heat, since 2015. Sustainable Cornell Council (SCC) replaced SLCAG and the PSCC in 2019.