Brown is commited to campus sustainability. The University's Energy and Environment Mission Statement affirms that "in order to develop sustainable and equitable patterns of local and global resource use, Brown University will minimize its energy use, reduce negative environmental impacts and promote environmental stewardship. Brown will use the opportunities created by these actions to further its educational, research and service missions."
Brown has made the following commitments in support of it's Energy and Environment Mission Statement.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals
On January 24, 2008 President Simmons announced Brown’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals. They call for a 42 percent reduction below 2007 levels (equivalent to 15 percent below 1990 levels) by 2020.
In the past five years, Brown University has reduced its energy-related carbon footprint by 29.4 percent below 2007 levels as part of an ambitious greenhouse gas reduction plan. This 29.4 percent reduction puts us significantly ahead of the 19 percent reduction goal in the original plan.
More information about the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals and how Brown is achieving them can be found in the Annual Sustainability Report.
Sustainability Strategic Planning and Advisory Committee
In March of 2011, undergraduate students presented a proposal to the Brown University Community Council encouraging the University to develop a Sustainability Strategic Plan that would build on Brown’s past successes by expanding the scope of our current sustainability efforts and setting new goals regarding resource management, academic integration, community coordination, and community outreach. The Sustainability Strategic Planning and Advisory committee was convened by the Provosts office in Fall 2012. The committee will meet through out the 2012-2013 school year. The Brown community is invited to veiw the member list and submit feed back on the committee's website. Updates will be posted on this site throughout the year.
Signatory of International Sustainable Campus Network’s Sustainable Campus Charter
On January 28, 2010, President Ruth Simmons signed the Sustainable Campus Charter . Signatories, of the Sustainable Campus Charter, become partners of the International Sustainable Campus Network, whose purpose, according to the Network charter, is to enhance universities' commitments to construct, redesign, and organize their campuses in an exemplary and sustainable way and to include the experiences in their education.
Annual Sustainability Reports
Compiled by the Facilities Management Energy & Environment Office, the Annual Sustainability Report delineates the means by which Brown University has taken measures to promote and sustain environmentally conscious operations and behavior on campus. Each report includes information on University commitments, energy reduction, green buildings, waste reduction and recycling efforts, student groups and projects, transportation, dining, graphic services, purchasing and green cleaning.