Leadership 

The Climate Action Plan recognizes that BU’s preparation for the impacts of climate change is closely tied to the resilience of the broader community, and that partnership with government agencies and stakeholders in Boston and Brookline is essential. In addition to engaging locally, BU Sustainability builds relationships nationally and internationally to expand peer-learning opportunities. 

Boston Green Ribbon Commission (GRC):  

Associate Vice President for Sustainability Dennis Carlberg co-chairs, at the staff level, the GRC Higher Education Working Group with Jacob Glickel, director of sustainability communication and integration at Northeastern University. With colleagues at MIT and Harvard, we presented on the topic of Next Generation Climate Action Plans at the 2021 GRCx Climate Action Exchange. GRCx is an interactive virtual program series designed to accelerate the implementation of the City of Boston’s Climate Action Plan.  

City of Boston Emissions Reporting Standards:

Dennis Carlberg’s involvement with the City of Boston includes serving on the Technical Advisory Groups for the new Carbon Emissions Performance Standard for existing buildings through the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO 2.0)  and advising the Boston Planning & Development Agency on opportunities to integrate renewable energy and reduce embodied carbon for new construction.  

University Climate Change Coalition (UC3):

As one of the 22 Tier 1 research institutions, BU participates in sharing emerging and best-practice, place-based, cross-sector action on climate resilience and mitigation. At UC3 gatherings, Dennis Carlberg presented the University’s Climate Action Plan implementation progress and the new Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO 2.0).  

BU/MIT/Harvard Best Practices:

Staff from sustainability offices at these three research institutions meet periodically each year to share best practices and explore opportunities for collaboration. Topics of discussion have been racial equity, transitioning to electric vehicles, Zero Waste, and strategic procurement.  

Community Engagement and Thought Leadership:

BU Sustainability staff have led presentations for a variety of audiences, such as the Center for Computing & Data Sciences’ demonstration that carbon neutrality at scale is possible. After attending the December 2019 groundbreaking event highlighting the forthcoming largest carbon-free building in Boston, Mayor Walsh signed an executive order that all new municipal buildings will be carbon-free. 

Renewable Energy Best Practices:

With the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) completed for BU Wind to match 100% of Boston University’s electricity consumption, BU Sustainability has led workshops and forums on how to execute similar contracts. Because of these efforts, 40 institutions, corporations, and cities are pursuing large-scale renewable energy PPAs with ongoing guidance from BU. In particular, Washington University in St. Louis is using the marginal emissions model BU developed with the Azevedo Lab at Carnegie Mellon University and WattTime to maximize greenhouse gas reductions.  

National Best Practices Sharing:  

The BU Sustainability team engages in workshops, panels, and other activities to share best practices, such as:  

  •  “Higher Ed Together” Event on Green Job Development
    • Hosted by the GRC Higher Ed Working Group
  • “Growing Future Leaders: How to foster growth in sustainability leadership programs”
    • Hosted by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) as part of the Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education (GCSHE) 2021
  • “Strategic Contracting for Zero Waste” Conference
    • Hosted by AASHE as part of GCSHE 2021
  • International Education Week Climate Change Panel
    • Hosted by BU Global Programs
  • UC3 on Climate Action Plan Progress
    • Hosted by UC3
  • “Introduction to Emissionality”
    • Hosted by WattTime
  • UC3 on Boston Emissions Performance Standard
    • Hosted by UC3
  • Webinar: “Summarizing your STARS Report for Senior Leadership”
    • Hosted by AASHE
  • EPA “Deep Decarbonization”
    • Hosted by EPA Energy Star
  • “VPPAs” (Virtual Power Purchase Agreements)
    • Hosted by the Medical Academic and Scientific Community Organization (MASCO)
  • Boston City Council Hearing: BERDO
  • Leventhal Center Embodied Carbon event
    • Hosted by Boston Society for Architecture
  • “Carbon Offsets”
    • Hosted by A Better City
  • BR + A Earth Day Celebration
    • Hosted by BR + A Consulting Engineers
  • BSA Client Conversations
    • Hosted by Boston Society for Architecture
  • “Climate Action Impact”
    • Hosted by Boston Climate Action Network

    Racial Equity and Social Justice: 

    Both internally and externally, members of the BU Sustainability team are engaged in issues pertaining to racial equity and social justice. Data Manager Stephen Ellis has played an active role in racial equity and social justice work with AASHE’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee. The DEI Committee is comprised of sustainability professionals who advise on strategies, policies, and practices that advance diversity and inclusion in the higher education sustainability sector and AASHE’s programming.  

    At BU, Stephen serves as vice-chair of the Faculty & Staff of Color Community Network, a part of the larger Faculty & Staff Community Networks (FSCNs). The FSCNs foster and promote a healthy and supportive culture for individuals engaged with issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and full participation within the BU community. Through our communications, BU Sustainability amplifies racial equity and social justice thought leaders.