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The Climate Action Milestone Program is designed for the higher education sector with the intention to more fully recognize the climate action journey, prioritize decarbonization, and accelerate a broad suite of higher education’s assets towards these aims.
Eligibility is open to all Climate Leadership Network institutions (Climate Leadership Commitment Signatories, Affiliates, and UC3; regardless of size, location, country, or budget).
These four sample badges reflect the range of milestones institutions can achieve. Explore all 14 milestones below.
Second Nature recognizes the difficulty of decarbonizing on-campus energy systems – and the incredible impact of doing so. Campuses can receive this milestone for achieving a greater than 50% reduction in Scope 1 emissions. This milestone can be claimed again with distinction when a campus reaches 90% reduction from baseline. The milestone does not allow for the use of carbon offsets and cannot be claimed for investments in new fossil fuel infrastructure. Outsourcing campus district energy systems or reductions in campus size due to mission contraction does not count for this milestone.
Excluded from the milestone are a campus’s emergency backup generators that are only used in the event of emergent non-standard impacts to energy infrastructure.
Second Nature encourages institutions to demonstrate equity in vendor procurement for all decarbonization measures and to support diverse and minority-owned businesses when possible. Additionally, Second Nature encourages institutions to consider which climate actions could positively affect the health and economies of their communities, and especially communities that have historically experienced and/or are currently experiencing climate injustice.
How to Apply:
To apply for this milestone, institutions will complete a form requesting review by Second Nature and verification of their institutional SIMAP data.
This milestone can be claimed once for 50-90% and once for greater than 90% or greater.
Rationale:
Decarbonization of Scope I emissions is one of the most costly and difficult, yet most impactful climate actions that institutions can take on their campus. It is typically phased according to available capital and planning and is achieved through infrastructure projects that represent significant changes to energy systems. These are often “once in a lifetime” opportunities for a campus to transition away from fossil fuels. By participating in this kind of decarbonization, a campus can tangibly demonstrate their climate leadership through operational channels, and simultaneously provide learning and engagement opportunities through on-campus action.
To earn the 100% Renewable Electricity milestone, 100% of the institution’s investments in purchased electricity must be directed toward renewable or carbon-free sources (Reference: current definitions of green power per the EPA). This includes both deliverable load and consequential investments in grid optimization beyond the campus’ deliverable load.
Renewable energy procurement tools, such as Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Virtual PPAs (VPPAs), and Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) associated with the claim should be properly disclosed. In general, Second Nature recommends the use of PPAs and REC instruments for Scope II claims to demonstrate procurement of renewable electricity. However, there may be instances where carbon offsets could apply, for projects that can demonstrate emissionality. For information on Second Nature’s recommended renewable energy sources, see Carbon Management & Greenhouse Gas Mitigation.
When determining where to source renewable energy, Second Nature encourages institutions to consider whether a clean energy project improved conditions (reduced emissions or provided economic development) in communities that have historically experienced and/or may still be experiencing environmental injustice.
How to Apply:
To apply for this milestone, institutions will complete a form requesting review by Second Nature and verification of their institutional SIMAP data.
Note: Institutions that have received all 3 points in STARS for OP 5.3: Percentage of Energy from Renewable are eligible for this milestone.
This milestone can be claimed annually.
Rationale:
Transforming the grid with more renewable generation is an important part of the energy transition. Campuses can contribute to these efforts through their installation, purchase, and/or investment in renewable electricity. This milestone recognizes campus efforts towards this aim.
SIMAP Reporting has been updated to ask campuses to disclose instruments used for Scope II (purchased electricity) as well as additional context. This will help us better understand campus efforts regarding their green electricity and determine eligibility for this milestone.
To earn the Leadership in Scope III milestone, an institution must demonstrate exemplary action in tracking, reporting, goal-setting and/or abating (through reducing and/or offsetting) Scope III emissions.
For signatories: Attainment of this milestone can apply to any innovation in Scope III categories beyond the categories already required by Second Nature. The categories already required are Commuting, Business Air Travel, and Waste. Signatories may qualify for this milestone as a result of innovation in tracking, reporting or goal-setting for these required categories, but must demonstrate in their application why their practice is above and beyond standard practice in the sector.
For affiliates: Attainment of this milestone can apply to exemplary action in any single Scope 3 category.
How to Apply:
To apply for this milestone, institutions will fill out the requisite form and request review.
This milestone can be claimed multiple times for multiple categories.
Rationale:
This milestone recognizes leadership in tracking, abating, and offsetting additional categories of Scope III emissions.
For signatories: While Second Nature requires categories 6: Business Travel, 7: Commuting, and newly, category 5: Waste Generated in Operations, it is a worthwhile exercise for campuses to assess their impact in other areas of Scope III, as these emissions comprise a large portion of the institutional footprint, and Scope 3 innovation spurs higher education to influence suppliers to mitigate directly.
For affiliates: This milestone recognizes leadership in tracking, abating, offsetting, and target setting for any category of Scope III emissions.
To earn the Massive Single Action milestone, an institution must complete a project that displays a significant greenhouse gas reduction of 25% of its greenhouse gas emissions inventory compared to pre-project implementation. Examples include: closing a coal plant, a large fuel switching project, etc.
This milestone cannot be achieved with a change of scope (e.g., the divestment of a hospital or portfolio of buildings) or if the solution is fossil fuel infrastructure (e.g., natural gas cogeneration). Additionally, the actions taken to earn this milestone cannot be recognized and double-counted in another milestone; for example, a power purchase agreement cannot count for both the Massive Single Action milestone and the Powered by Renewables Milestone.
How to Apply:
To apply for this milestone, institutions will create a narrative describing the actions they have taken, compile all relevant data, and email the materials to Second Nature via [email protected] for review.
This milestone can be claimed three times.
Rationale:
This milestone is intended to celebrate efforts that contribute to significant progress on the decarbonization journey that don’t qualify for another specific milestone. This recognizes a significant progress that the campus has achieved.
To earn the Decarbonization of Mobile Emissions milestone, an institution must eliminate fossil fuel combustion from 90% of mobile emission sources owned by the campus: either campus vehicles, handheld tools and equipment, or both. Institutions may apply for this milestone for fleet and for grounds equipment separately.
If institutions wish to exclude highly specialized equipment from this milestone, they must provide a disclosure and justification for exclusion.
Second Nature encourages institutions to procure fossil-free vehicles and equipment from diverse or minority-owned businesses. Additionally, Second Nature encourages institutions to ensure their retired fossil fuel equipment does not end up in vulnerable communities (e.g., communities that already suffer from significant air pollution).
How to Apply:
To apply for this milestone, institutions will fill out the requisite form to request review of their institutional SIMAP data.
Note: Institutions that have scored the full 2 points in STARS OP 13.1: Vehicle Fleet, and/or the bonus point for IL 29: Zero Emissions Grounds Equipment, are eligible to apply for this milestone.
This milestone can be claimed more than once as appropriate.
Rationale:
Mobile equipment emissions have significant impacts on the campus community, especially employees and students adjacent to emitting vehicles and equipment. This milestone recognizes campus leadership to protect the health of campus users by addressing these emissions.
Transitioning a campus’ fleet from fossil fuel-powered combustion vehicles to alternative vehicles reduces on-campus emissions – tailpipe emissions and other emissions that affect air quality. Using electric vehicles signals environmental stewardship to your community. The campus can also support community EV conversion by installing EV charging stations for community – staff, faculty, and local community use.
To earn the Carbon Neutrality milestone, an institution must achieve net-zero emissions for Scope I, Scope II, and required Scope III activities (Commuting, Business Air Travel, and Solid Waste). This will be reflected in the institution’s greenhouse gas inventory.
When utilizing carbon offsets, institutions must disclose their purchases in SIMAP and their public reports, and participate in annual surveying by Second Nature pertaining to the source and nature of their offsets engagement. For more guidance on carbon offset best practices, see Offsets.
Second Nature encourages institutions to demonstrate equity in vendor procurement for all decarbonization measures and to support diverse and minority-owned businesses when possible. Additionally, Second Nature encourages institutions to consider which climate actions (e.g., renewable energy development projects) could positively affect communities that have historically experienced and/or are currently experiencing climate injustice.
How to Apply:
Institutions will fill out the requisite form to request a review and certification of their institutional SIMAP data.
For the institutions that achieved carbon neutrality before the launch of the Commitments 3.0 in 2025, we will provide a 5 year grace period* for inclusion of Waste Generated in Operations. This means by 2030, all carbon neutrality claims would include the waste category. We would like to see campuses move towards accounting for the additional Scope III category of waste.
Please note: Solid waste is a NEW required reporting category for Scope III reporting. Full category is “Waste Generated in Operations” which includes: solid waste, wastewater, and includes as a proxy purchasing data that covers waste.
This milestone can be claimed each year.
Rationale:
Carbon neutrality continues to be an important milestone. The carbon neutrality milestone is well-recognized in the general public as a significant climate achievement. Entities with carbon neutrality commitments tend to outperform their counterparts without carbon neutrality commitments on decarbonization and climate action metrics. There are many reasons carbon neutrality is an important milestone in a campus’s decarbonization journey.
Carbon neutrality can be recognized each year that it is achieved.
*After the three-year grace period for tracking and reporting emissions in “Category 5: Waste Generated in Operations” Carbon neutral campuses have an additional two years to address this category of emissions in their carbon neutrality claims.
If your institution decides to change ambitions away from carbon neutrality, see Increased Ambitions milestone if appropriate. Second Nature recommends striving towards some of the decarbonization milestones regardless of your carbon neutrality status.
Resilience refers to the ability of a system or community to survive disruption and to anticipate, adapt, and flourish in the face of change. The Resilience Milestone recognizes institutions for working collaboratively with community stakeholders to increase adaptive capacity. This can include:
Second Nature encourages institutions to intentionally involve vulnerable, underserved, and minority populations as community stakeholders during the planning process.
This milestone can be claimed multiple times.
How to Apply:
To apply for this milestone, institutions will fill out the requisite form and request review.
Note: Institutions that have applied for the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability can use information from their Carnegie application, Section IX. Resilience and Adaptation, in their application for recognition under this milestone.
Rationale:
As campuses and communities continue to see an increasing number and severity of disruptive events, resilience initiatives are paramount to meeting challenges. Campuses, regardless of their commitment status, can enhance their campus and community resilience. This milestone recognizes steps in the resilience commitment process as well as innovations and acceleration of resilience initiatives beyond initial assessment and planning.
To earn this milestone, an institution must demonstrate attribution of institutional investment to a decarbonization activity or activities that will decrease source emissions. The attribution of funds should be at least multi-year, or otherwise demonstrate an enduring commitment to decarbonization. The impact of these funds should be significant to the tune of about 10% reduction from prior year emissions. Examples of achieving this milestone include, but are not limited to:
How to Apply:
To apply for this milestone, institutions will complete the requisite form and compile relevant data for Second Nature review.
Note: Institutions that have applied for the Carnegie Elective Classification can use information from their Carnegie application from Section II Institutional Context, item 7: Funding and Financial Investments in their application for recognition under our “Investment in Decarbonization” milestone.
This milestone can be claimed more than once.
Rationale:
We recognize that in order for decarbonization to happen, campuses must make financial commitments to capitalize projects. This milestone aims to recognize tangible and innovative ways that institutions are encouraging climate positive financial decisions to prioritize decarbonization, particularly within resource limited contexts.
To earn the Increased Ambitions milestone, an institution must publicly announce a plan for how and why its climate action ambitions are being increased.
Examples of increased ambitions include:
How to apply:
To apply for this milestone, institutions will complete the requisite form describing actions they have taken.
This milestone can be claimed multiple times.
Rationale:
20 years ago when the Commitments began, the primary emphasis was on carbon neutrality; this was a concept to rally around and drive change on campus climate action. Two decades later, there are many ways that campuses can demonstrate leadership on climate. Whether your target wasn’t bold enough, or you’ve decided to rally around another target, stretching your ambitions should be celebrated.
To earn the Inclusive Climate Action milestone, an institution must demonstrate robust inclusion in climate action efforts.
This milestone primarily recognizes inclusive governance in planning efforts. However, if there are implementation participation efforts that aren’t recognized in another milestone, we welcome your submission here. Examples of whom to involve in the could include: student government representatives, student environmental clubs/organizations, faculty and staff government representatives, faculty experts, campus environmental/sustainability committee, energy officer/manager, key operations offices (including facilities management, purchasing, transportation, public relations, etc.), vice presidents’ offices (including chief academic and business offices, VP for student affairs, VP for research, etc.), board of trustees, president, alumni, key community experts and representatives, underrepresented community members, regional planning agencies, etc.
For more information, see Organizing for Action.
How to Apply:
To apply for this milestone, institutions will complete the requisite form describing the actions they have taken and for Second Nature review.
Note: Institutions that have applied for the Carnegie Elective Classification can use relevant information from their Carnegie application from Section VII.Climate Action Plan, subitem 2, in their application for recognition under our “Inclusive Governance in Climate Action” milestone.
This milestone can be claimed multiple times.
Rationale:
To earn the Education Integration milestone, an institution must describe how it has meaningfully integrated educational opportunities alongside campus decarbonization and climate action efforts. Integration can occur through the curriculum, the campus as a living lab, experiential learning opportunities, etc. For more information, see Academics — Education and Research. Please consider the number of students impacted in your submission.
Examples might include:
How to Apply:
To apply for this milestone, institutions will fill out the requisite form for Second Nature’s review.
Note: Institutions that have applied for the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability can use specific climate curriculum and pedagogy information from their Carnegie application, Section V. Academic Integration of Sustainability, in their application for recognition under this milestone.
This milestone can be claimed multiple times.
Rationale:
Connecting climate action to higher education’s primary mission of education is one of the most fundamental actions that an institution can take against climate change. Empowering students with the knowledge and skills to take action and lead with critical thinking and nuance on pressing social and environmental issues is imperative for higher education institutions to maintain their relevance to society. Climate change affects almost every area of life that our students inhabit and the world they will inherit. This milestone recognizes a campus’ exemplary efforts to help students see themselves in climate solutions, solve wicked problems, influence the world around them, and transform lives and communities.
To earn the Community Collaboration milestone, an institution must describe how it is engaging deeply with local and regional communities to co-create climate solutions.
This campus-community collaboration may include outreach programs, community-based projects, partnerships with local organizations, and resilience/sustainability/climate committees and higher education working groups.
Examples of community collaboration include:
How to Apply:
Institutions will complete the requisite form for Second Nature review.
Notes: Institutions scoring points in STARS EN 6: Community Partnerships should consider applying for this milestone, noting that Second Nature will reward the milestone based on partnerships with a focus in climate action and climate justice.
Institutions that have applied for the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability can use specific climate focused community collaborations from their Carnegie application, Section VIII. Ecosystem Model for Collaborative Community Partnerships and Climate Solutions, in their application for recognition under this milestone.
This milestone can be claimed multiple times.
Rationale:
Institutions of higher learning are often anchors in the community – and yet many institutions have tenuous relationships with their surrounding communities. This milestone recognizes efforts to build trust, collaborate in good faith, and enact concerted solutions that benefit the surrounding community.
After feedback on the justice milestone (as a standalone category), some campuses felt that they couldn’t be recognized with that language and suggested combining community collaboration and justice prioritization. If your justice work is primarily on-campus, we welcome you to apply to the Inclusive Climate Action milestone. Second Nature’s Climate Luminary Honors continues to have a Justice category, so please let us know if you’d like to be considered for that recognition.
To earn the Workforce Development Innovations milestone, an institution must describe how it is preparing students for climate-focused careers and fostering a skilled workforce ready to tackle climate-related challenges.
Examples of workforce development include:
How to Apply:
Institutions will complete the requisite form describing their project or program.
Note: Institutions that have applied for the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability can use specific climate workforce development assertions from their Carnegie application, Sections VI (subsections A and B, as applicable): Workforce Preparation, in their application for recognition under this milestone.
This milestone can be claimed multiple times.
Rationale:
Developing prepared, capable students ready to tackle the workforce is of critical importance to our economy and society. It’s been said “every job is a climate job.” Initiatives that demonstrate a campus’ ability to make that a reality will be recognized by this milestone.
To earn the Research milestone, an institution must describe how it is conducting exemplary climate solutions research that meets society’s needs. All disciplines are welcome, including transdisciplinary research.
Examples of exemplary research include:
We especially welcome research that involves and addresses those who are most vulnerable and who are impacted “first and worst” by climate and extreme weather events.
How to Apply:
Institutions will complete the requisite form describing their project, program, or enterprise.
Note: Institutions that have applied for the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability can use specific climate research assertions from their Carnegie application, Section VII. Research and Innovation for Sustainability and Climate Solutions, in their application for recognition under this milestone.
This milestone can be claimed multiple times.
Rationale:
The research enterprise is an important asset of higher education and it should be leveraged to address societal problems, like climate change. Institutions can invest in researchers, research itself, research participants, communicating, and applying research.
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