Higher Ed Climate Action Plan

Our society is in a moment of transition. The effects of climate change are harming people and communities across our country and the globe. These effects will only worsen in the decades to come. The Higher Ed Climate Action Plan provides a roadmap to support comprehensive action across higher education and outlines recommendations for different stakeholders to catalyze and scale these efforts across the country.

The Higher Ed Task Force heard from experts and leaders across the country and have identified recommendations, bright spots, and insights towards building a sustainable future through collaboration and innovation. In this action plan, we identify the opportunity for the higher education sector to advance climate solutions, adapt to our changing climate, and prepare students for success in a sustainable, resilient, and just society.

Our Framing

We have grounded this action plan in what we have learned to map a comprehensive vision for the entire higher education sector, reflecting what we believe our nation’s colleges and universities must do to fulfill their social responsibility and accelerate society-wide climate action. Specifically, the action plan describes the needs to:

Educate and prepare students for success in a changing climate.

Anticipate and adapt to support students' basic needs and well-being in a changing climate.

Provide resources and technical assistance to community leaders and serve as a place to bring diverse groups of people together to drive equitable climate action.

Model, research, and develop climate mitigation and adaptation solutions across their operations.

Our Recommendations

For the higher education sector to effectively educate and support students and communities, as well as model, research, and develop solutions while advancing equity and climate justice, all aspects of higher education—institutions, systems, faculty, students, and statewide networks—must drive this response. But they cannot do it alone. Specifically, the Action Plan includes recommendations for federal, state, and local policymakers, business, philanthropy, and community based organizations to work collaboratively with higher education to maximize opportunities to spur climate action.