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UC San Diego’s Annual Sustainability Report

In April 2022, UC San Diego Sustainability launched its first Annual Sustainability Report to share progress related to UC San Diego’s sustainability goals and focus areas. This online report highlights the actions, achievements and people who are advancing sustainability.

Complete the form below to request a short video or article highlighting your sustainability efforts for inclusion in the annual report. UC San Diego Sustainability will review and select submissions based on quality, impact and number of submissions received per category.

Criteria

Individual or Group (team, department, organization, club or vendor) – Those who are making sustainability part of UC San Diego's ongoing education, research, planning, operations or outreach programs

Strategy – A project, program or initiative that advances progress towards UC San Diego’s sustainability goals and focus areas in these categories:

  • Academics: Course content that is sustainability-focused or sustainability inclusive; sustainability-focused learning outcomes; major, degree/certificate program, minor or concentration with a primary and explicit focus on the concept of sustainability or the interdependence of ecological systems and social/economic systems; utilizing the campus infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning that contributes to understanding or advancing sustainability
  • Air & Climate: Reduction of Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, carbon offsets, carbon storage from onsite composting; reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from air travel paid through the university; and commuting to/from campus
  • Climate Justice: Climate resilience planning; supporting access to public transportation; connections between climate change and human health; supporting regional economies with climate actions; support during wildfire season; food recovery and insecurity related to methane emissions reduction
  • Energy: Energy efficiency actions in buildings and infrastructure systems; installation of onsite renewable electricity supplies and storage systems
  • Engagement: Inclusion of sustainability materials in new student or employee orientations; student or staff educator programs; community service; student or staff sustainability organizations; student-run enterprises; symposia; sustainable art installations; internships
  • Food and Dining: Sustainable food products; educational and training materials that help support better food choices; plant-forward menus
  • Green Buildings: Energy-efficient design features; energy performance; building commissioning efforts; LEED certification announcements; new construction and renovations
  • Grounds: Organically managed with only ecologically preferable materials; sustainable landscaping; urban forest maintenance
  • Purchasing: Reducing unnecessary purchasing; Surplus Sales; procuring multi-use products; increasing economically and socially responsible spending; supporting small businesses; vendor take-back programs
  • Research: Food systems; social and environmental justice; urban studies and planning; ecology; climate change; corporate responsibility; environmental engineering
  • Transportation: Acquisition of zero-emission or hybrid fleet vehicles; investment in alternative fuel infrastructure
  • Waste: Eliminating or replacing disposable single-use products with sustainable alternatives; increasing reusable options and reuse programs; organics recycling; diverting construction and demolition waste; hazardous waste management
  • Water: Reduced potable water use; increase use of recycled water; implementing efficient irrigation systems; drought-tolerant planting selections; turf removal; rainwater management