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With the greater purpose of sustainability and addressing the causes of climate change, achieving net zero carbon emissions is a benchmark that organizations, companies, and countries around the world have pledged to achieve. Many have given themselves a goal of hitting carbon net neutrality by 2050, while others shoot for 2040 or even sooner. On Earth day in 2019, Vanderbilt University aligned its sustainability aspirations with those of other world-class higher education institutions by aiming to attain net zero carbon impact by 2050. By 2021, the university delivered on their sustainability pledge 29 years ahead of schedule and became the first school in the American Association of Universities (AAU) to go carbon neutral.
So how did Vanderbilt fast track their emission reduction initiatives so dramatically?
After the university announced their emphasis on sustainability, a series of investments were made in on and off-site renewable energy sources and sustainable infrastructure. Additionally, Vanderbilt ramped up their efforts in increasing green space on campus, reducing waste, and decreasing transportation emissions associated with student and faculty commutes. While all these changes were important in achieving net zero emissions, initially the crucial factor behind Vanderbilt’s rapid jump toward carbon neutrality is its partnership with Climate Vault: an innovative nonprofit that enables organizations to reliably offset their carbon emissions.
Climate Vault’s model centers around purchasing carbon emission allowances from government-regulated cap-and-trade programs. These programs set a cap on the total amount of greenhouse gasses that can be emitted by participating companies and sectors. By buying these emissions credits without any intention of actually using them to emit greenhouse gasses, Climate Vault allows Vanderbilt to directly offset any emissions tied to the operation of the school and measurably reduce its carbon footprint, while supporting systemic changes in industrial emissions.
Subsequently, Vanderbilt switched to a partnership with Clearloop which allows the school to continue offsetting its carbon emissions, this time through investment in solar energy across the American south.
Vanderbilt looking to the future
While these carbon offsets continue to play a vital role in helping Vanderbilt remain carbon neutral, getting to net zero emissions is only one step in a much larger sustainability journey. The school recognizes this and is continually working to cut down on its own direct emissions in order to reduce reliance on offsets. As Vanderbilt looks to the future, it is expanding its efforts to include initiatives that focus on reducing emissions at their source and promoting sustainable practices across campus. This approach aligns with the broader understanding that offsetting should complement, not replace, efforts to decarbonize operations.
One such initiative being considered is Vanderbilt’s Local Ingredients Program, which emphasizes the use of locally and sustainably sourced ingredients in campus dining services. By partnering with local farmers and food producers, Vanderbilt aims to reduce its carbon footprint associated with transporting food from distant locations.
Vanderbilt is also considering implementing climate labeling in its dining halls to increase awareness among students about the emissions associated with their food choices. By incorporating carbon footprint information on menu items, the university encourages more sustainable eating habits while signaling to its suppliers the growing importance of low-carbon food options.
Further enhancing campus sustainability, Vanderbilt has focused on sustainable campus printing by looking at transitioning to eco-friendly materials and reducing waste associated with traditional printing practices. This effort involves not only the use of recycled paper and sustainable inks, but also rethinking the entire printing process to minimize environmental impact. The goal is to create a scalable model that can be adopted by other institutions, further amplifying its environmental benefits.
Lastly, Vanderbilt hopes to innovate in its mail services to reduce the carbon footprint of mailing operations. This initiative includes cutting down on non-biodegradable packaging and optimizing mailing practices to be more efficient and less resource-intensive.
As Vanderbilt continues to lead by example in sustainability, its approach highlights the importance of integrating both immediate and long-term strategies. The university’s success with Climate Vault and Clearloop demonstrates the power of innovative partnerships and carbon offsets through regulated compliance markets. However, Vanderbilt’s ongoing commitment to local sourcing, climate labeling, sustainable printing, and greener mail services underscores the need for a multifaceted approach to sustainability.
