‘Get There Green!’ initiative aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Gearing up for Climate Week 2021, UB is kicking off the “Get There Green!” initiative next week. 

From Sept. 20-26, UB students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate by utilizing green transit options to get to and around the university’s three campuses. People who take part can share details of their commute using the hashtags #UBuffalo and #GTG21 on social media.

After the weeklong event, some participants who identify UB as their institution will be randomly selected to receive eco-friendly prizes.

Visit the Get There Green! 2021 website to register and sign the pledge. 

The “Get There Green!” campaign is part of a larger statewide strategy being led by Gov. Kathy Hochul with a focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the state. Cutting emissions in the transportation sector will help the state pursue its ambitious goal of lowering emissions “40% by 2030, and 85% by 2050, from 1990 levels,” according to the state’s announcement of the initiative.

This initiative is also part of UB’s 10 in 10 climate action strategy — a roadmap of 10 innovative, engaging and digestible steps UB is taking to increase climate action throughout the university and put UB on a path to net zero emissions by 2030.  

Greenhouse gases generated from mobility and travel are now UB’s single largest source of carbon emissions. 

“Often we are asked by faculty, staff and students, ‘What can I do to make a difference in combating climate change,’ says Ryan McPherson, UB’s chief sustainability officer. “This is a great individual step we each can take to send a strong and powerful message that our campus community cares about this issue and is ready to take action at both the institutional and individual level.

“We’re competing with other entities across the state, and in the past we’ve been very successful,” McPherson adds. “We’ve had years where UB has had more people participate in past versions of this initiative than any other SUNY institution. We’re asking members of the UB community to take the pledge to make it happen again this year.”

UB’s consistent track record for climate action serves as a model for SUNY institutions and universities across the nation, McPherson says. Over the past decade, UB topped the charts or placed very highly in multiple environmental rankings.  

There are numerous ways members of the UB community can take part in Get There Green:

• Walk.
• Bike.
• Ride public transit (including the UB Stampede).
• Carpool.
• Drive an electric vehicle.
• Any other mode of transportation that isn't driving alone in a fossil fuel-powered vehicle.

“Get There Green” is just one of many steps UB is taking to demonstrate a commitment to climate action. The university has been a trailblazer among SUNY institutions and universities across the nation regarding the fight against climate change.

The 2021 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings listed UB as No. 1 in the world in addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on climate action. UB also excelled at SDG No. 7, which focuses on institutional support for affordable and clean energy.