By: Giorgia F.
Photo from: Cornell University
How do colleges across America play a role in climate change? The obvious answer is that they are actively educating the next generation of climate leaders. Beyond that, however, universities are often large institutions with broad campuses and substantial student enrollment, so their decisions on sustainability practices have a considerable impact on the climate.
Professor of International Education Tristen McCowan sees the traditional university as its own miniature society and microeconomy. Therefore, governing body decisions on everything from university funded travel to recycling programs have a large impact on the direction of climate change (McCowan).
While universities affect climate change in a variety of ways, the focus of this article is to understand the effects of specific university campus policies on the environment. Using data from the 2019-2020 school year, the Princeton Review released a list of the top 50 green colleges in America. Ranked number 8 was Cornell University. As a school with a sizable enrollment of about 15,000 students as well as a prestigious reputation, its actions regarding sustainability are felt by the climate and its policies are duly noted by other American universities.
Other campus initiatives for improving sustainability (Cornell University)
For Cornell’s commitment to reducing their carbon emissions, pledging to reach carbon neutrality by 2035, as well as implementing more sustainable campus policies such as reducing food waste, the institution earned the highest honor from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
In terms of specifics beyond carbon emissions, Cornell participates in a number of sustainable dining initiatives. Over the past 5 years, through the use of composting as an alternative to simply throwing food away, they have been able to reduce waste by roughly a third. Especially at schools with a larger student population, sustainability in food production is vital. Wasted food that goes into landfills poses a substantial environmental concern as it produces methane emissions, a gas that contributes heavily to climate change as it absorbs the sun’s heat and traps that heat in the atmosphere, warming the climate (Environmental Defense Fund). The World Wildlife Fund estimates that about 11 percent of methane emissions could be reduced from not wasting food (WWF). Through both pre- and post-consumer composting, meaning that unwanted food is recycled in the preparation process and after serving, the university is helping to lower its negative environmental impact.
Beyond mitigating methane gas emissions through composting, Cornell sources 27 percent of its produce from local and regional sources (Cornell University). Sourcing local food greatly contributes to lessening a university’s carbon footprint as less energy and resources are needed to transport the items as well as to preserve them.
In the dinning realm, plastic use is reduced with the implementation of reusable containers that students can bring back and refill each meal. Zero waste initiatives like these have a large impact because they significantly reduce the amount of single-use plastic on campus.
While universities like Cornell are being recognized for their sustainable practices, there is still a lot of work to be done. The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education acknowledges that Cornell could go further in reducing overall waste. It is important to remember that university systems and policies beyond education, through campus initiatives like the ones detailed above, have the power to significantly reduce an area’s climate footprint. In the quest for increased sustainability in education, the institutions where this education occurs cannot be forgotten.
Discussion Questions
What are some ways to make dining on college campuses more sustainable?
How is it possible to balance the use of non-reusable plastic and safety/hygiene concerns during COVID-19 considering the virus is spread mainly through air particles rather than through touching surfaces?