Syracuse University

In 2007, Syracuse University became a charter signatory to the American College &
University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), sponsored by the
Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. In signing
this pledge, SU became one of the largest private universities to commit to identifying
its greenhouse gas output and developing a plan to reduce those emissions, working
toward a goal of becoming carbon neutral.

In September 2008, as part of the ACUPCC, the University completed and published
its first-ever inventory of greenhouse gas emissions. This inventory estimated the
amount of carbon dioxide and five other gases that were released into the atmosphere
as a result of SU's operations for the years 2001-07. The University's primary sources
of greenhouse gas emissions come from building operations, heating and cooling;
electricity; operation of SU's assorted fleet of vehicles; commuting of students, faculty
and staff; and University-paid air travel.

Now, SU is embarking on the next critical phase of its carbon neutrality efforts, the
Climate Action Plan (CAP), a required component of the ACUPCC that will set the
institution's short- and long-term strategies, targets and goals for achieving carbon
neutrality. The development of the CAP, to be completed by September 2009, will
provide the blueprint for the University to implement carbon neutral initiatives as
part of University operations.

The University's President's Climate Commitment Committee-the campus group
overseeing SU's implementation of the ACUPCC-recently selected Constellation
Energy's Projects and Services Group to assist in completing the CAP. The Projects
and Services Group is the energy services arm of North America's largest retail and
wholesale energy company, Constellation Energy. Along with Syracuse-based
environmental engineering firm O'Brien & Gere, Constellation Energy's Projects and
Services Group will help coordinate the different phases of the CAP and also provide
the technology resources that will help SU identify, analyze and prioritize emissions
reduction opportunities.

In incremental periods leading up to September 2009, the development of the CAP
will involve:

• reviewing the University's greenhouse gas inventory, completed in
  September;
  
• conducting emissions forecasting, which looks at what happens if nothing is
  done to address greenhouse gas emissions on campus;
  
• developing goals for the CAP;
  
• identifying and prioritizing emissions reduction opportunities;
  
• determining the cost effectiveness of the CAP;
  
• developing a detailed outline of the CAP;
  
• presenting the outline to key University stakeholders;
  
• drafting the formal CAP; and
  
• finalizing and launching the CAP with a corresponding awareness plan.
  

As the plan develops, the President's Climate Commitment Committee -- chaired by
Mitchel Wallerstein, dean of the Maxwell School -- will seek input from the University
community, in addition to thoughts on ways the University can galvanize carbon
neutrality efforts on campus. Town hall-style meetings will be scheduled to discuss
the CAP, and information will be available on campus on the progress to date.

"By providing environmental leadership at an institutional level, we are building a
very clear framework for how our community can accelerate the social, economic
and technological solutions to reverse global warming," says SU Chancellor and
President Nancy Cantor. "The CAP is a crucial component of our institutional efforts
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and I encourage the entire University
community to contribute ideas and participate in the plan that will advance our
carbon neutrality efforts."

According to Timothy Sweet, director of SU Energy and Computing Management
and a member of the University's President's Climate Commitment Committee, the
CAP will be a fluid plan, with built-in flexibility to adapt as newer technology
becomes available that will help the University become carbon neutral. He also notes
that for an institution the size of SU-with 9.6 million gross square feet of
buildings-participation will be required from all areas on campus in order to reach
sustainability milestones that ultimately will culminate with carbon neutrality. As
part of the CAP, each milestone that the University reaches will be reported back to
officials at the ACUPCC and a target date for carbon neutrality will be set. Sweet
believes that with full participation from all members of the University community,
the ambitious goal of becoming carbon neutral is attainable, minimizing the reliance
on carbon credits.

Full information on the University's participation in the ACUPCC and updates
regarding the progress of the CAP can be found at SU's Sustainability Division
website (http://greenuniversecity.syr.edu/).