White Papers Archives - Second Nature

Sector Social Cost of Carbon: Higher Education Sector 2025-2035

Chelsey Tarbet — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 15:00:06 +0000

The purpose of this document is to establish a recommended social cost of carbon for the higher education sector to guide internal carbon pricing from 2025 to 2035. It aims to support institutions in aligning their climate action efforts with external guidance and best practices. The document also seeks to promote the integration of carbon pricing into decision-making and financial planning across campuses. Read the full report here.

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Higher Education Complementarity for Climate Action

Chelsey Tarbet — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 19:51:21 +0000

Addressing global climate change requires a whole-of-society approach, with all sectors, including higher education, utilizing resources efficiently to drive climate solutions. This publication, authored by Second Nature, highlights varied approaches within higher education institutions, showcasing how complementary strengths across roles and classifications can enhance collaboration for more impactful climate action. Read the full report here.

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Using the Distinctives of Higher Education to Accelerate Climate Action

Second Nature — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 20:15:48 +0000

The higher education sector has played an important role in society for hundreds of years. Today, the sector is well-positioned to leverage its experience in its “missions” (to offer education and vocational training, advance research, and meet society’s needs through applied research) to create solutions to the complex and urgent global problems caused by climate change. This paper describes seven key distinctives of the higher education sector that have emerged from these missions, and how they are
being applied directly to address climate challenges. These distinctives are not entirely unique to the sector, but are areas of sector-specific strength. Articulating these distinctives clearly can help other sectors working on climate issues better understand how cross-sector climate action could be effectively and efficiently accomplished. We provide background on these distinctives, examples of these distinctives at a variety of institutions, and conclude with future opportunities. Read the full report here.

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Higher Ed and Climate Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act

Second Nature — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 16:42:44 +0000

This report, issued jointly with This is Planet Ed, the Aspen Institute, and the MIT Office of Sustainability, reviews provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that can support higher education’s role in addressing climate change. Read the full report here.

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The Role of Higher Education in Advancing Carbon Pricing: A Preliminary Briefing for University Leaders

Second Nature — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 20:16:08 +0000

The University Climate Change Coalition (UC3)’s first policy topic of interest as indicated by Ohio State University President Michael V. Drake and supported by his colleagues is carbon pricing. UC3 convened subject matter experts from across North America to discuss Higher Education’s Role in Advancing Carbon Pricing. This preliminary brief includes a menu of options for college and university leaders who want to engage on this issue internally on their campuses or externally with cross-sector partners.

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Does Location Matter When Selecting an Off-site Renewable Project?

Second Nature — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 15:09:56 +0000

A statistics-driven look into why project location impacts the ability to hedge against rising electricity costs.

This technical brief explores the impact of a renewable project’s location relative to the location of a campus’s load in hedging against rising electricity costs.

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Large-Scale Renewables: The Next Chapter in Higher Education Sustainability Leadership

Second Nature — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 18:28:00 +0000

Higher education is uniquely positioned to both expand and benefit from climate leadership. Many universities and colleges have substantially stepped up their commitments and efforts to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG). However, the ‘climate gap’ toward reaching these commitments is widening, as campuses become more technology and electricity intensive. Large-scale renewable energy (LSRE) provides higher education with an attractive solution to close this gap and show climate leadership, while reducing long-term electricity cost and managing risk.

This white paper, created in partnership with CustomerFirst Renewables, walks through the opportunities and challenges of LSRE projects, how to set them up, and firsts steps. Read the full report here.

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Moving Forward – Advancing the Intentionally Designed Endowment

Second Nature — Thu, 01 May 2014 19:36:44 +0000

On April 3-4, 2014, Second Nature and Hampshire College convened a group of high-level stakeholders to explore a wide variety of approaches to aligning higher education and foundation endowment investment portfolios with their institutional mission and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. Read the full report here.

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The Intentionally Designed Endowment | Primer

Second Nature — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 19:54:07 +0000

Associated with a conference exploring what it means for colleges and universities to invest intentionally, we developed a primer for participants to establish a baseline understanding of key issues related to aligning investment practices with institutional values. It provides a high-level overview of sustainability investing, including a brief history, and a select list of key resources and relevant organizations.

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Executive Summary: Higher Education: Leading the Nation to a Safe and Secure Energy Future

Second Nature — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:59:22 +0000

A summary of how the federal government should develop and enhance clean energy incentives and investments for the higher education sector to support sustainable practices on campuses.

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