Climate Action and Beyond

The University at Buffalo has put in decades of work in making our campus more sustainable and decreasing its greenhouse gas impact. Now the time has come to take bold, big actions in achieving our goal of climate neutrality by 2030.

Background of shiny black grit stones.
Carbon Pricing and Offsets
Carbon pricing is a system that requires polluters to pay when they emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. By phasing in carbon pricing at UB, we make ourselves accountable, operationally and financially, for the adverse impact we have every day to our climate. There’s nothing like economic incentive to motivate change.
Numerous bikes on a bike rack.
Transportation
No car, no problem. UB offers plenty of ways to travel around campus using alternative transportation methods. Our system of convenient, free shuttles and buses make it easy to travel to or around any of our three campus centers.
The UB Solar Strand at Sunset on North Campus Photograph: Douglas Levere.
Energy
Over the past seven years, the University at Buffalo has generated or purchased 100% of its electricity from renewable sources leading to an approximate 30% decrease in our overall carbon footprint. This has been achieved through direct onsite solar (one of the largest on-campus producers of renewable energy in the country), off campus solar generation and the purchasing of renewable energy credits.
A stock photo of plastic waste in water.
Zero Waste
Think of the impact any small city has on the environment. Waste is created, water is used and energy is needed to power the community. UB understands that by focusing on sustainable measures, we can mitigate our environmental impact.
Students Competing.
Making It Happen
Measuring our work and finding innovative solutions is the essence of a research institution. Fortunately, we have that here at UB. Our researchers are always finding cutting edge ways to analyze, measure and improve the impact of our actions.
bees.
Sustainable Food Systems
Sustainability in our food system starts at production.

UB's Climate Action Plan

10 in 10.

In 2019, UB updated their climate action plan that has a goal of carbon neutrality by 2030. There are 10 strategies to get us to hit this milestone in the next few years. 

Take a deep dive on all ten climate action strategies