University of Pittsburgh
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

The University of Pittsburgh’s Sustainability initiatives date back three decades and include both mission-focused and mission-supporting sustainability activities and commitments. The 2018 Pitt Sustainability Plan outlines University-wide sustainability strategies, activities, policies, and priorities; it also sets out 68 goals across the themes of stewardship, exploration, and community and culture.

The “Exploration” theme includes impact areas in Teaching & Learning, Research, Innovation, Partnerships, and Global Outreach. The original academic Pitt Sustainability Plan goals associated with these impact areas are summarized below:

TEACHING & LEARNING

1) Engage all undergraduate advisors and give them the tools necessary to connect interested students to sustainability- themed courses, majors, minors, internships, and community activities.
2) Annually increase the number of students applying for and graduating with the Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability starting with the 2017- 2018 Academic Year.
3) Increase sustainability-related service-learning opportunities.
4) Incorporate sustainability education into all freshman seminars.
5) Create faculty tools, workshops, and incentives to encourage the incorporation of sustainability components into current syllabi.

RESEARCH

6) Use the Pitt campus as a living laboratory for faculty and students to implement new ideas and study outcomes over time.
7) Provide more opportunities and incentives for interdisciplinary research as well as the bridging of academics and operations – promoting an environment of informing and working together.
8) Raise external funds for endowed chair(s) to support faculty with research expertise in sustainability.
9) Develop an endowed seed grant fund to provide greater opportunity for sustainability focused federal grants.
10) Increase prestigious scholarship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate research in sustainability.
11) Raise the visibility of faculty research in sustainability.

INNOVATION

12) Increase the number of sustainability-related patents, licenses, and start-ups (both for profit and nonprofit).
13) Collaborate with Pitt’s Innovation Institute, the University’s hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, to embed sustainability principles throughout the Institute.

PARTNERSHIPS

14) Connect with industry and community collaborators to support applied sustainability research and education.
15) Establish local and regional partnerships to accelerate the transfer of sustainability ideas from Pitt classrooms and laboratories through implementation.

GLOBAL OUTREACH

16) Promote sustainability-related topics at industry and academic conferences to tell our stories of impact to greater audiences.

>> 2018 Pitt Sustainability Plan – https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/pitt-sustainability-plan/

The 2018 Pitt Sustainability Plan outlines University-wide sustainability strategies, activities, policies, and priorities; it also sets out 68 goals across the themes of stewardship, exploration, and community and culture. Engagement shows up in both the Exploration and Community & Culture themes and in several impact areas (as summarized in the original Pitt Sustainability Plan goals below):

ENGAGEMENT & AWARENESS

1) Incorporate the tenets of sustainability into all student programming.
2) Create an online sustainability education module for staff and develop departmental Green Teams.
3) Train all staff (incoming and retained) on how to infuse the tenets of sustainability into their everyday work at Pitt.
4) Create and deploy a comprehensive campus survey on student, staff, and faculty sustainability literacy by 2020.
5) Share our stories of impact as leaders on a national scale and promote our model of sustainability.

INNOVATION

6) Work across impact areas to define innovations and ensure that there is a mechanism for students, faculty, and staff to advance ideas for impact.

PARTNERSHIPS

7) Link sustainability and Community Engagement Centers more explicitly.
8) Invigorate our existing programs to increase the impact of sustainability education in the K-12 curriculum.

CITY & REGIONAL CONNECTIONS

9) Take active leadership roles in sustainability initiatives in Oakland, Pittsburgh, and the surrounding region and demonstrate solutions to our grand challenges.
10) Incentivize sustainability activism and community work and provide opportunities for volunteerism, internships, service, and community engagement efforts that focus on sustainability.
11) Create a process of greater transparency between Pitt and our community for knowledge sharing and capacity building (building the tools for empowering change).
12) Embrace a culture of impactful service through long-term investment in our communities.

GLOBAL OUTREACH

13) Increase the number of sustainability-related international service projects.
14) Track sustainability-related service and study abroad opportunities for students.
15) Find alumni who are leading sustainability initiatives both nationally and internationally and connect them with University faculty and students.

>> 2018 Pitt Sustainability Plan – https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/pitt-sustainability-plan/

The 2018 Pitt Sustainability Plan outlines University-wide sustainability strategies, activities, policies, and priorities; it also sets out 68 goals across the themes of stewardship, exploration, and community and culture. Operational goals show up in all both the Stewardship and Community & Culture themes and in several impact areas (as summarized in the original Pitt Sustainability Plan goals below):

ENERGY & EMISSIONS

1) Strive toward climate neutrality, with a goal to reduce GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 from 2008 baseline. [This goal was strengthened in 2020 when Pitt committed to achieving carbon neutrality for the Pittsburgh campus by 2037; the details of that commitment were published in the 2022 Pitt Climate Action Plan (PittCAP).
>> 2020 Commitment - https://www.pittwire.pitt.edu/news/pitt-commits-achieve-carbon-neutrality
>> 2022 PittCAP - https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/commitments-reports/pitt-climate-action-plan/]
2) Produce or procure 50% of the University’s electric energy portfolio from renewable resources by 2030.
3) Achieve 2030 Challenge goals of 50% reduction below the national average in energy use intensity (consumption per square foot) by 2030 (from 2003 baseline) and establish design standards and operational practices to achieve them.

WATER SYSTEMS

4) Work with the City to ensure clean, healthy drinking water for all in our community.
5) Strive toward a water neutral campus, with a 3% reduction in water use by 2020 from 2017 baseline.(Achieved)
6) Achieve 2030 Challenge goals of 50% reduction below the district average in water use intensity (consumption per square foot) by 2030 and establish design standards and operational practices to achieve them.
7) Reduce impervious surfaces by 20% by 2030 from 2017 baseline.
8) Divert 25% of stormwater from impervious surfaces to reuse, detention, retention, and/or green stormwater solutions by 2030.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

9) Identify and improve the environmental quality of our indoor and outdoor spaces.
10) Embrace LEED and WELL Building Certifications, and WELL Communities for our built environment.

LANDSCAPE & ECOLOGY

11) Adhere to Pitt’s Sustainable Landscape Design Guidelines in all new landscape designs.
12) Increase tree canopy by 50% and replace 15% of lawn area with indigenous and adapted plants by 2030. (from 2017 baseline).
13) Maintain at least 75% of landscaped areas in accordance with Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Standards for Organic Land Care by 2024

TRANSPORTATION & MOBILITY

14) Achieve Bicycle Friendly University Silver status from the League of American Bicyclists by FY2020 [extended to FY22 due to Covid]; Gold by FY2025.(Achieved Silver to-date)
15) Achieve 2030 Challenge goal of 50% reduction below the Oakland average greenhouse gas emissions from commuter travel and direct transportation by 2030 (from 2013 baseline).
16) Increase active Pitt registered carpools by 2% and create 1 new vanpool annually between FY2018 and FY2030.
17) Reduce Pitt Shuttle fuel usage by 3% annually between FY2018 and FY2030.

MATERIALS & WASTE

18) Establish procedures, policies, practices, and educational tools to reduce the quantity and environmental impact of materials entering and exiting the University.
19) Reduce landfill waste by 25% by 2030 from 2017 levels.
20) Use healthy products for our built environment in accordance with future Pitt Green Building Standards.
21) Expand the food waste composting program to compost 50% of food waste by 2025.

FOOD SYSTEMS

22) Support a local, fair, ecologically sound, and humane food system by expanding the Real Food Challenge across campus to serve 25% Real Food by 2025.
23) Serve 50% of to-go meals and beverages in reusable containers by 2025.
24) Serve meals that put plants at the center of the plate by decreasing the amount of animal-derived products sold by 25% by 2025 (from 2017 baseline). [This goal has evolved to embrace the Cool Food Pledge. Learn more: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/pitt-signs-cool-food-pledge/]

EQUITY & ACCESS

25) Integrate the tenets of sustainability into the University’s procurement policies and guidelines.

>> 2018 Pitt Sustainability Plan – https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/pitt-sustainability-plan/

2021 Plan for Pitt Diversity & Inclusion Goals include:

1) Transform the campus climate to reinforce the value of diversity and inclusion as essential to advancing our teaching, research, community engagement and to enriching the student experience.
2) Enrich the student experience through engagement with diverse cultures and perspectives, expanded opportunities for study abroad and by integrating global perspectives in the curriculum.
3) Help to attract and retain a diverse regional population and University community through the recruitment and retention of a diverse student body, faculty and staff.

>> Reference - https://www.planforpitt.pitt.edu/goals/promote-diversity-and-inclusion

From 2020 to 2023, the University of Pittsburgh set new diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. In addition to the goals above, these include:

1) BUY LOCAL GOALS - Spending with local businesses is an institutional priority. The University has established the following “BUY Local” goals (some as part of the Plan for Pitt) to support community and economic development by increasing spending with local businesses.
• Pittsburgh = 18% of Non-Construction spend
• Allegheny County with Minority Business Enterprises = 12% of Construction spend and 7% of Non-Construction spend
• Allegheny County spend with Black-owned businesses = 4 to 5% of Non-Construction spend
• Southwestern Pennsylvania Region (13 SWPA Counties outside of Allegheny County) = 70% of Construction spend and 45% of Non-Construction spend
• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania = 73% of Construction spend and 52% of Non-Construction spend
• >>> Pitt Buy Local Goal Reference - https://www.ppt.pitt.edu/suppliers/buy-local

2) DIVERSE PURCHASING GOALS - Spending with diverse suppliers is an institutional priority. The University has established the following “Diverse Purchasing” goals (some as part of the Plan for Pitt) to support community and economic development by increasing spending with diverse businesses.
• Diverse Businesses = 10% of Construction spend and 15% of Non-Construction spend
• Black-Owned Businesses = 8% of Construction spend and 5.5% of Non-Construction spend
• >> Pitt Diverse Purchasing Goal Reference - https://www.ppt.pitt.edu/suppliers/diversity-initiatives
• Pitt’s historic goal was to purchase 10% of non-construction goods and services from diverse businesses. In 2022, the University exceeded this goal and set a more ambitious target of 15% diverse non-construction procurement by 2025, with a sub-goal of spending 5.5% of non-construction expenses with Black-owned companies by 2025. Previously, the University spent ~2.5% of its annual non-construction dollars with Black-owned companies.
• >> Historic Pitt Diverse Purchasing Reference - https://www.pitt.edu/pittwire/features-articles/supplier-diversity-efforts

4) Pitt Vendor Diversity Spending Dashboard (with University-wide goals tracked internally and being elevated by responsibility center): https://www.diversity.pitt.edu/social-justice/vendor-contracting-diversity-dashboard
5) The University has also created dashboards for diversity in faculty, staff, students, research associates & postdoctoral researchers, first year undergraduate admissions, and student outcomes. Example: Faculty Diversity Dashboard: https://www.diversity.pitt.edu/social-justice/faculty-dashboard

The 2018 Pitt Sustainability Plan outlines University-wide sustainability strategies, activities, policies, and priorities; it also sets out 68 goals across the themes of stewardship, exploration, and community and culture. Administrative goals addressing diversity, equity, inclusion, sustainable investments/finance, and wellbeing show up in both the Stewardship and Community & Culture themes and in several impact areas (as summarized in the original Pitt Sustainability Plan goals below):

EQUITY & ACCESS

1) Strive to create a resource net for incoming students that will allow us to proactively meet our students’ physical, social, financial, and mental health needs.
2) Form a committee or task force to consider socially responsible investing [SRI], to be composed of faculty, staff, student and administration representatives [The 2018-19 SRI Committee met its charge from the Chancellor and the conversation has evolved from there {See Investment & Finance credits in this AASHE STARS Submission}]
3) Work across all impact areas of the Pitt Sustainability Plan to ensure benefits for all within the Pitt community.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

4) Identify and improve the environmental quality of our indoor and outdoor spaces.
5) Support physical health through fitness access and active design principles.
6) Support the mental health needs of our students, faculty and staff.
7) Embrace LEED and WELL Building Certifications, and WELL Communities for our built environment.

MATERIALS & WASTE

8) Use healthy products for our built environment in accordance with future Pitt Green Building Standards

FOOD SYSTEMS

9) Serve meals that put plants at the center of the plate by decreasing the amount of animal-derived products sold by 25% by 2025 (from 2017 baseline) [This goal has evolved to embrace the Cool Food Pledge. Learn more: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/pitt-signs-cool-food-pledge/]

WATER SYSTEMS

10) Work with the City to ensure clean, healthy drinking water for all in our community.

>> 2018 Pitt Sustainability Plan – https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/pitt-sustainability-plan/

The University of Pittsburgh has stated and reiterated its formal sustainability statements over time.

SEPTEMBER 2023
Chancellor Joan Gabel included Sustainability in her public presentation to the University’s Board of Trustees, as detailed below.

“We have an unbelievably bright future that will be defined by leaning into those Possibilities… Members of the Board, one of the things that really echoed over these past few weeks since I’ve arrived is the idea of how wonderful things are here; how oftentimes the things going on here are not as well known as they should be. That we have an incredibly creative and robust environment here for all of the things one would be able to do or hope to do as a University … the phrases we’ve started using … as we think about the strategic plan is that ‘It’s Possible at Pitt.’ We have such a rich tradition of pushing the edge of what’s possible. We have an unbelievably bright future that will be defined by leaning into those possibilities while acknowledging and retaining the strengths we’ve held so dear for a quarter of a millennium…. Another example of where it’s possible at Pitt. Pitt Sustainability Plan is a unique example of Pitt responding to a complex set of global challenges and saying that it is possible to do something about this here at Pitt. We remain on track to meet the goals of our Pitt Sustainability Plan including celebrating the University’s 250th birthday by achieving carbon neutrality…. The future is bright. It is possible at Pitt. And I am very honored to present this report. Thank you and Hail to Pitt.”

>> September 29, 2023 University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees meeting video – 1:18:15 Sustainability details https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15IFm574srM&t=4525s

MARCH 2022
Chancellor Patrick Gallagher wrote the introductory letter to the Pitt Climate Action Plan, stating:

“The University of Pittsburgh signed the Second Nature Climate Leadership Statement and Carbon Commitment in February 2020 and pledged to achieve carbon neutrality, recognizing that climate change was already a global crisis. Since then, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has further emphasized the ways in which climate change intersects with other pressing systemic challenges we are facing.

With that in mind, I am proud to introduce the first-ever Pitt Climate Action Plan for our Pittsburgh campus. This document outlines our strategy for achieving carbon neutrality by 2037, the University’s 250th birthday.

Developed under the direction of the Chancellor’s Advisory Council on Sustainability’s Carbon Commitment Committee, the PittCAP builds on the goals of the Pitt Sustainability Plan and identifies carbon challenges and opportunities facing our campus, community and world. As a premier research institution, we are committed to expanding our understanding of climate change and identifying and advancing solutions to this global crisis. Through this important work, current and future generations will have the opportunity to thrive in a world that is more environmentally responsible, socially equitable and economically robust.”

>> Full Pitt Climate Action Plan - https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Pitt-Climate-Action-Plan-FINAL-March-2022.pdf

FEBRUARY 2020
Board of Trustees passed a "Resolution in Support of the University of Pittsburgh's Carbon Neutrality Commitment." Part of the resolution stated:

"WHEREAS, the University has been actively involved in sustainability initiatives and practices dating back to the 1990 signing of the Talloires Declaration, which supported the mobilization of the resources of higher education institutions to advance sustainability; since that time, the University has earned a national reputation for its leadership in sustainability initiatives and for nurturing a culture of sustainability on campus.....RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees hereby affirms its support of the University’s commitment to sustainability and its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by the Year 2037..."

>> Full resolution on Page 8: https://www.trustees.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/minutes_and_materials/2-28-2019_winter_meeting.pdf

JANUARY 2018
Chancellor Patrick Gallagher wrote the introductory letter to the Pitt Sustainability Plan, stating:

“The overwhelming consensus of the global scientific community is that human activities are rapidly changing our planet’s climate in ways that pose unprecedented challenges for the future of humanity. At the University of Pittsburgh, we view this knowledge as a clear call to action. It compels us to leverage our capacity as a premier research institution and community anchor to affect change through education, investigation and outreach—and to lead by our own example.

Pitt has long championed forward-thinking and innovative practices that have deepened the resiliency of our region and the world. As a university community, we have made great strides in supporting sustainable practices in our campus operations, classrooms, research activities and local partnerships. But we can—and must—do more.

Long-term sustainability extends beyond environmental practices. It requires deep and lasting changes that will enable future generations to thrive in a world that is environmentally responsible, socially equitable and economically robust. It is a great challenge—one that our University’s mission, which is to harness knowledge for society’s gain, perfectly positions us to tackle.

To advance this work, we established a University Sustainability Committee in the fall of 2016. These committee members set out to think boldly, develop goals and recommend supportive actions for promoting sustainable practices across the Pitt community. The result of their efforts—the Pitt Sustainability Plan—is a strategic framework that calls for dramatic improvements in sustainability across our University by 2030… This plan is a critical component in Pitt’s ongoing efforts to advance sustainability. The goals that it outlines are far from safe; they demand ingenuity and innovation as well as consistent and focused attention. As we begin to look to the future and shift this ambitious plan into action, I encourage you to join in. By working together, and propelled by your ideas, talents and passions, we can cultivate a thriving culture of sustainability at Pitt—one that has a far-reaching, long-lasting and meaningful impact.”

>> Chancellor's full 2018 letter: https://issuu.com/upitt/docs/2018_pittsustainabilityplan_final?e=2614445/56117752

2008
University of Pittsburgh's Faculty Assembly & Senate Council issued a Statement on Sustainability, as follows:

“STATEMENT ON SUSTAINABILITY UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
Approved by Faculty Assembly & Senate Council April 2008

Whereas the University of Pittsburgh was an original signatory of the 1990 Talloires Declaration supporting mobilization of the resources of higher education on behalf of sustainability;

Whereas the University recognizes that sound sustainability practices benefit the institution, the City of Pittsburgh and the Western Pennsylvania region and that such practices should reflect the values of the institution;

Whereas the University accepts its role as a leader and understands the importance of embodying these sound practices in all its procedures and facilities;

Whereas it is possible and desirable both to maintain research and instructional excellence, realize cost savings and apply sound sustainability principles;

Whereas the University recognizes that sound sustainability practices will appeal to high-caliber students, faculty, and staff and that such members of the University community will in turn reinforce the values of sustainability;

Whereas considerable expertise on sustainability among University faculty and staff is available for coordination, and best practices of similarly aspiring academic institutions are readily researchable;

Whereas the University of Pittsburgh recognizes the need to foster sustainability in its practices and curricula, while continuing with its adherence to sound fiscal practices.

Be it resolved that the Sustainability Subcommittee of PUPC recommends the University administration:

Re-affirm the commitment to environmental education and support of environmental academic education in the curriculum

Foster environmentally responsible purchasing practices by striving to balance short and long-term, maintenance, life cycle and environmental costs in purchasing goods and services, with sound fiscal practices.

Continue to identify, implement, communicate, and coordinate practices that preserve and promote efficient use and conservation of energy, water and other resources and increase promotion of conservation efforts to the University community, so as to reduce resource consumption.
Continue the efforts to minimize solid waste production by fostering recycling and reuse.

Reaffirm the University’s commitment to environmentally responsible Campus planning, design, construction and operations principles by

a) Making the most efficient use of our existing physical assets before considering the addition of new facilities

b) Striving to balance sound fiscal practices and environmental responsibility in the renovation, construction, operation and maintenance of the University buildings and Campus infrastructure

c) Continuing with the “greening” of the Campus and efforts to implement sustainable practices in the design and maintenance of the grounds, within the limitations of the Campus’ urban context.

d) Monitoring progress in accomplishment of institutional goals in such areas as energy systems, green practices, recycling, purchasing and waste management.

Continue to establish processes to maintain efficient use, tracking, storage and disposal of hazardous toxic and radioactive materials and commit to keeping the presence of toxic materials on Campus and the generation of hazardous waste at reasonable levels for work and research purposes.

Reaffirm the University’s commitment to facilitating pedestrian travel, bicycle use and promotion of other alternative modes of transportation such as public transit, to minimize the environmental impact of vehicles on the Campus and surrounding communities.

Foster linkages among and within University academic and administration departments for the purpose of promoting, informing and reporting on sustainability efforts.”

>> 2008 USenate Statement on Sustainability - https://www.utimes.pitt.edu/archives/?p=6371

The University of Pittsburgh defines “sustainability” as balancing equity, environment, & economics so current and future generations can thrive.

>> Learn more: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/

2022 – The University of Pittsburgh’s first Pitt Climate Action Plan was published, presenting our strategy, approach, and details to achieving carbon neutrality by 2037, the 250th anniversary of our founding.
https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/commitments-reports/pitt-climate-action-plan/

2021 – Pitt’s formal, legally binding Institutional Master Plan (IMP) approved by the City of Pittsburgh, including building height and mass, parking, urban design, and neighborhood compatibility. As with the Campus Master Plan, sustainability is embedded throughout the IMP. Learn more: https://www.campusplan.pitt.edu/imp

2020 - Pitt joined more than 1,500 signatories (including 123 universities) in signing the “America is Still In” declaration on climate action, released on December 12, 2020, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement. Learn more: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/pitt-signs-all-in-national-declaration-on-climate-action-clean-recovery/

2020 –The University of Pittsburgh commits to becoming carbon neutral on its Pittsburgh campus by 2037, its 250th anniversary, including signing the Second Nature Climate Leadership Statement and Carbon Commitment.
https://www.pitt.edu/pittwire/features-articles/pitt-commits-achieve-carbon-neutrality

2018 - Pitt published its Campus Master Plan, which presents what is possible for our Pittsburgh campus for decades to come, including sustainability embedded throughout. Learn more: https://www.campusplan.pitt.edu/

2018 - Pitt became a founding member of the U.S. Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).

2014 – The University of Pittsburgh became a Founding Property Partner of the Pittsburgh 2030 District’s Oakland boundary, committing to measured building performance of 50% reductions in energy use, water consumption, and transportation emissions by the year 2030 (below baselines). These international 2030 Challenge goals became the basis of the 2018 Pitt Sustainability Plan.
https://gba.org/initiatives/pittsburgh-2030-district/

1990 - Pitt was one of the original signatories of the Talloires Declaration, which supports mobilizing the resources of higher education for sustainability.

>>Single page linking to all Pitt Institutional Plans (including Sustainability, Climate, etc.) - https://www.planforpitt.pitt.edu/pitt-institutional-plans

The University of Pittsburgh updated its University-wide "Plan for Pitt” in 2021 (https://www.planforpitt.pitt.edu), which includes Sustainability as a core value (page 6 - https://www.planforpitt.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/plan-for-pitt.pdf); though not by word, the equitable, environmental, and economic balance of sustainability was consciously and actively included in the Plan for Pitt 2025, including by the Office of sustainability (and many others) directly.

While still up-to-date, Pitt’s new Chancellor, is already looking to update the “Plan for Pitt 2025," including “It’s Possible at Pitt. ‘Those are the moon shots,” [Chancellor] Gabel said, like BioForge, the Quantum Science Initiative and Pitt’s sustainability goals….If someone has a really cool idea, we want to act on it. You can do that sort of thing here.’” - https://www.utimes.pitt.edu/news/reimagining-plan-pitt