Leadership Priorities

• Achieve a Gold rating in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) and continue the improvement of GHG reporting using the Sustainability Indicator Management and Analysis Platform (SIMAP).

• Take a strong public stance on the climate crisis with a clear focus on equity, health, and well-being by declaring a climate state of emergency and committing to environmental justice.

• Make a strong public commitment to addressing the climate crisis by pledging to achieve carbon neutrality in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035. Further, Western will declare the 2026-2027 academic year the “Year of Climate Action,” with featured programming and outreach.

• Publicly reporting on climate action and sustainability initiatives by setting key performance indicators and managing a public-facing sustainability dashboard.

• Conduct a thorough assessment of climate variability risks in our bioregion and develop strategies to enhance institutional and community resilience.

• Continuously advance sustainability initiatives to address opportunities and challenges by establishing the PSC as a standing committee for ongoing action and accountability, with regular consultations from subject matter experts.

• Emphasize social justice as a key part of sustainability by identifying and appointing ADEI representative(s) to the PSC and expanding synergies between sustainability efforts and ADEI initiatives.

• Emphasize individual and community health and wellbeing as a key part of climate resilience and sustainability by increasing collaboration between the PSC and the Wellbeing Collaborative and further supporting health-promoting campus initiatives.

• Western has made sustainability a core value. Therefore, we will continue to emphasize sustainability in our strategic budgeting process and identify the necessary resources to support the advancement of the SAP priorities.

• Enhance the PSC by regularly inviting key community representatives, including advisory members from the region, city, county, and local tribes, for deep conversations.

• Build on existing relationships by appointing more students, faculty, and staff representatives from Western to participate in key community climate action and sustainability working groups, reporting back to the PSC.

• Serve as a vital partner in community initiatives focused on climate action and sustainability by identifying essential efforts within the city, county, and tribes where collaboration can increase impact, including the Whatcom County Climate Action Plan.

• Highlight climate action and sustainability in the Western community by adding a goal in the university’s updated strategic plan that prioritizes sustainability efforts and incorporates sustainability topics into orientations for new students, staff, and faculty.

• Align our climate action and sustainability efforts with regional organizations by continued participation in and support of regional, national, and international conferences and working groups, for example, the Washington Oregon Higher Education Sustainability Conference (WOHESC), hosted by Western in 2024.

• Lead climate action and sustainability efforts among regional institutions by drafting and guiding a memorandum of understanding with local government agencies or colleges to declare a climate emergency and achieve carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2035.

• Provide research, workforce development for students, and technical support that align with the climate change and sustainability goals and needs of communities in the region.

• Leverage climate action and sustainability in our sector by advocating with local, tribal, national, and international organizations to promote policies that support the well-being of students, staff, faculty, local communities, and the planet.

• The Foundation for WWU & Alumni will make a defined commitment to responsible investing by updating its Investment Policy Statement to include a statement and definitions regarding responsible investing.

• The Foundation for WWU & Alumni will share information with the university and the broader community about its responsible investing activities by consistently showcasing its approach to responsible investing on the Foundation website.

• The Foundation for WWU & Alumni will develop responsible investing metrics according to its current Investment Policy Statement and will regularly report on these metrics to the university community.

• The Foundation for WWU & Alumni will exclusively hire investment advisors who are signatories to the Principles for Responsible Investing.

• The university will explore opportunities to invest in the university-owned investments currently managed by the Foundation for WWU & Alumni, according to the Board of Trustees' Policy on Socially Responsible Investing and consistent with university values.