| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.21 |
| Liaison | Stephen Ellis |
| Submission Date | June 9, 2023 |
Boston University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.33 / 2.00 |
Dennis
Carlberg Associate Vice President for Sustainability BU Sustainability |
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the municipal/local level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:
The Green Ribbon Commission (GRC), formed by the Mayor of Boston is a 36-member organization comprised of a diverse set of business and civic leaders with a shared desire to make Boston a national leader in the green economy and the fight against global climate change. The GRC provides a forum for representatives of the private sector and the City to discuss, plan and act on the opportunities, challenges, ideas, and requirements of preparing Boston to meet the imperatives of climate change. Boston University President Dr. Robert Brown is a member and active participant of the GRC.
Here is a recent op-ed from President Brown titled "All Hands On Deck to Address Climate Crisis". URL: https://www.bu.edu/president/all-hands-on-deck-to-address-climate-crisis/
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
During each legislative session, Government and Community Affairs identifies and monitors bills that would impact BU sustainability. These bills often relate to the solar net-metering cap, renewable energy, zero-emission vehicles, and greenhouse gas emission benchmarks. In the current session, the Massachusetts Senate has drafted an ambitious, omnibus energy bill which attempts to deal with every energy issue that is subject to state regulation. While the University is not involved in any direct energy lobbying, Government and Community Affairs work with partners to establish bills of interest and discern their likelihood of passage.
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the national level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:
In June 2017, following the Trump Administration's announcement that the US would pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement, Chancellor Collins signed the "We Are Still In" Letter. It is an open letter to the international community and parties to the Paris Agreement from U.S. state, local, and business leaders showing our institutional commitment to upholding the climate action goals set by the Paris Agreement.
In response to the stunning reversal of Roe v. Wade, President Brown release a statement: “I had hoped that the day would not come when I would write to express my profound disappointment over an action of the Supreme Court of the United States. However, I believe the Court’s official decision today to annul the 1973 decision of Roe v. Wade is an enormous step backward in protecting the rights of all women in our country. This decision denies women the right to make their own decisions about their reproductive health. Boston University remains steadfastly committed to guaranteeing women’s reproductive rights to the extent allowed under Massachusetts’ law.” More from the "Letter to the Community on the Supreme Court Decision on Roe v. Wade" can be found here: https://www.bu.edu/president/letter-to-the-community-on-the-supreme-court-decision-on-roe-v-wade/
Additionally, BU advocates for funding for climate and sustainability research through the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and other federal research agencies. For example, our advocacy one-pager for DOE research mentions a grant to Daniel Segre on sustainable energy as a reason policymakers should bolster the DOE Office of Science budget. This advocacy occurs each year during Congressional consideration of the appropriations bills which determine federal agency budgets.
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the international level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
A brief description of other political positions the institution has taken during the previous three years (if applicable):
A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
National Level: http://www.bu.edu/federal/files/2016/12/BU-Energy.pdf
This represents FY2021 and FY2022 BU Metrics.
National Level: http://www.bu.edu/federal/files/2016/12/BU-Energy.pdf
This represents FY2021 and FY2022 BU Metrics.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.