University of New Hampshire
PAE-20: Inter-Campus Collaboration on Sustainability

Cleaves, Pasinella, Andrews and Wake. (2009). Climate action planning at the University of New Hampshire. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 10(3), 250-265.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the recent history of climate action planning at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), a public university with a long history of sustainability action and commitment. Items discussed include a partnership with Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP) to produce a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory tool that adapted national and international inventory methodologies to the unique scale and character of a university community; involvement of administrators, faculty, staff and students in climate action planning, including to meet the requirements of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC); and the role of climate action planning within a broader institutional goal of integrating sustainability across curricula, operations, research and engagement efforts.

Kelly, Pasinella and Cleaves. (2009). Contributions to Climate Neutral Campus Report. Kyoto Publishing for the American College& University Presidents Climate Commitment, www.climateneutralcampus.com.

In 2009, the University Press of New England and University Press of New Hampshire published “The Sustainable Learning Community: One University’s Journey to the Future.” Over 60 authors from across campus - including editors John Aber, faculty in the UNH Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Tom Kelly, UNH’s chief sustainability officer, and Bruce Mallory, UNH’s provost - highlight examples of how the University has integrated sustainability across its curriculum, operations, research and engagement in the last 10+ years.

- CO-FOUNDER: Northeast Campus Sustainability Consortium (NECSC)
-American College and University President's Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)
-Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP)
-UNH has partnered with the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy in the formation of the EcoGastronomy Dual Major.
-Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
-Salzburg Seminar (Attended by Chief Sustainability Officer Tom Kelly)
-Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future (ULSF)

The UNH Energy Office and the Sustainability Academy worked with Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP) to develop the Campus Carbon Calculator. The tool is now used by colleges and universities across the country. It has become the recommended tool of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).

UNH is a fo-founder and on the steering committee of the Northeast Campus Sustainability Consortium. UNH is a member of AASHE and has participated in the steering committee for STARS. UNH Sustainability Academy staff are also STARS technical advisors for certain credits.

The Sustainable Learning Community (2009) book serves as a useful resource for other colleges and universities seeking to integrate sustainability across their curriculum, research, operations and engagement with over 1,000 copies sold to date.

UNHSA staff often visit other campuses to help advance sustainability and discuss best practices. For example, CSO Tom Kelly has given keynotes, facilitated meetings/workshops, and consulted on sustainability efforts at Wake Forest University, Furman University, University of Minnesota, and more.