Get the latest on climate action:
Donate

Six (6) Colleges and Universities Receive Pro Bono Consulting Awards Worth up to $25,000 each to Support Climate Action

Contact: Bari Samad, Director of Communications & Marketing, Second Nature; [email protected]

(March 14, 2024) – Today, Second Nature- an NGO focused on accelerating climate action in and through higher education- announced six (6) higher education institutions as the recipients of pro bono consulting services to support their climate action projects.

Through this initiative, technical and advisory support worth up to $25,000 will be provided to campuses at no cost in two areas: (1) Climate Action Planning and (2) Shifting to Renewable Power and Decarbonizing Campuses. Institutions that are Second Nature Climate Leadership Network signatories, affiliates, and University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) members were eligible to apply.

The pro bono consulting opportunities began in the Fall of 2020 as a new Solutions Center initiative. Provided and sponsored by Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D) and Coho, two long-standing Second Nature partners, 29 colleges and universities have received the award.

The 2024 Pro Bono Round IV recipient colleges and universities are:

Brailsford & Dunlavey:

Coho:

“At Second Nature, we are committed to supporting the innovative climate action projects of our member institutions and the impact they have both on campus and in adjacent communities,” notes Tim Carter, President of Second Nature. “The 2024 Pro Bono awardees reflect a diverse range of institutions, and their work is a testament to higher education’s leadership in creating impactful and equitable climate solutions. We thank Brailsford & Dunlavey and Coho for their generous support of this critical service for the past four years. This initiative would not be possible without them.”

The consulting services provided by Brailsford & Dunlavey and Coho are:

“Brailsford & Dunlavey is committed to accelerating climate action strategic planning through our partnership with Second Nature, and now in its fourth year, we continue to be impressed by the creative breadth and depth of proposals received,” said Dave Karlsgodt, the leader of B&D’s Energy and Sustainability practice group. “Higher education plays a vital role in mitigating the climate crisis through innovative operational advancements combined with expansive, solutions-based academic programming. As a business community partner, we look forward to advancing initiatives to address the planet’s most pressing issue.”

“Coho is proud to support the decarbonization of higher education in the United States. Second Nature and its member campuses are wonderful partners, and we look forward to a new round of high-impact projects,” said Gary Farha, founder and CEO of Coho, an ERM Group Company.

For Round IV, Second Nature received applications from twenty higher education institutions. The six awarded colleges and universities come from diverse regions and environments across the United States.

Below is more information about the Round IV Pro Bono awardee projects:

Loyola University Maryland

Partnering with Brailsford & Dunlavey will allow us to develop a comprehensive, data-backed roadmap built upon our existing climate action plan. This will include a pathway connecting our current progress to our 2031 and 2045 goals and an informed strategy that includes the associated support and funds necessary to implement these initiatives. We are grateful for this opportunity made possible through Brailsford & Dunlavey and Second Nature.

“Our Loyola University Maryland community is committed to caring for our common home. We are delighted and grateful to have the opportunity to partner with Brailsford & Dunlavey in helping us move this work forward. We know that collaboration and planning will be key to our success as an institution, as we strive to take positive steps forward to ensure a more sustainable future not just for our campus, but also for the world.”- Terrence M. Sawyer, J.D., President, Loyola University Maryland

Tulane University

The Second Nature Pro Bono award expedites university efforts to recalibrate the 2014 Climate Action Plan to maintain progress toward our climate commitment. In consultation with Brailsford & Dunlavey, this rapid and focused effort will update the university operations profile, incorporate external factors contributing to our emissions projections, revisit building design standards, and evaluate opportunities to accelerate our emissions reduction timeline. Work undertaken this spring will inform campus improvement projects in the pipeline with updated strategies to meet our 2050 neutrality goal.

“On behalf of Tulane University, we are honored to be selected as a recipient of Second Nature’s Pro Bono Consulting Award. These consulting services allow us to re-evaluate and improve various aspects of our Climate Action Plan in an effort to be more efficient and effective in achieving our goals. We are grateful for the opportunity to support this plan and the university’s efforts to build and maintain sustainable communities at Tulane and within the greater New Orleans area.”- Randolph A. Philipson, Vice President for Facilities, Campus Development, and Real Estate, Tulane University

University at Buffalo

This initiative is designed to leverage the University at Buffalo’s 10 in 10 Climate Action Plan (a roadmap of innovative, engaging and digestible steps UB is taking to increasing climate action) and specifically focuses on assisting UB to sharpen its strategy and increase the intensity of its pace. The work will develop detailed and specific goals pegged to a timeline and provide clear budgetary implications across all emission streams at the University. In addition, Brailsford & Dunlavey will partner with UB to create a detailed decarbonization and monitoring system that dials in the university’s climate neutrality efforts with SMART goals that will greatly assist in tracking KPI’s, increasing institutional accountability, and driving greater carbon emission savings all while supporting the commitment to climate justice.

“We are excited to work with Second Nature and Brailsford & Dunlavey while taking the next step in advancing our climate action and decarbonization work. While we have made strong progress in this space, we have more work to do. By leveraging outside expertise we are confident it will complement and propel our existing efforts into a detailed and impactful roadmap that can not only be effectively communicated to stakeholders but provide the next critical step in advancing our climate neutrality work. This effort will truly dial in our climate action strategy and we are grateful for the opportunity to partner.”- Laura Hubbard, Vice President for Finance and Administration at the University at Buffalo

Shifting to Renewable Power & Decarbonizing Campuses

Coastal Carolina University

University-owned vehicles provide important services that contribute to the daily functioning of the University: shuttles transport CCU students, faculty, and staff around campus and to nearby locations; vehicles are used by departments across campus to carry out daily tasks related to operations; and motor pool vehicles are available to faculty and staff to use locally to carry out University-related activities. Each year, the University’s fleet of vehicles consumes tens of thousands of gallons of gasoline and diesel, representing ~2% of CCU’s total emissions. Growing the percentage of electric vehicles in CCU’s fleet would reduce the emissions associated with fleet fuels, and reduce costs associated with purchasing fuel. This Pro Bono Consulting opportunity made available through Second Nature will provide valuable insight and best practices as to how CCU can cost-effectively transition to low emission vehicles and expand EV charging infrastructure on its campus. As an institution of higher education located in 4one of the fastest growing counties in the U.S., CCU has an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and serve as a model for the region around sustainable transportation.

“We are excited and grateful for this opportunity to work with Coho. This partnership comes at an opportune time as there is a great deal of momentum on CCU’s campus around sustainability and climate resilience. We have already taken positive steps towards electrifying our fleet and expanding EV charging infrastructure, and firmly believe that developing a high-level fleet electrification strategy in partnership with Coho will be transformative to our ability to systematically reduce emissions.”- Steve Harrison, Vice President for Auxiliary Enterprises & Chief Sustainability Officer, Coastal Carolina University

Creighton University

Creighton University launched the Sustainable Creighton Initiative in 2022, updating our 2013 Climate Action Plan and accelerating the decarbonization of campus. We have achieved a 40% reduction in emissions, to date, through prudent decisions surrounding campus planning, building design, recommissioning, and deferred maintenance. We know efficiency improvements alone are insufficient to achieving our desired goals. The Pro Bono work with Coho will provide us with industry expertise necessary to navigate the current– and changingrenewable energy landscape as we thoughtfully consider our pathways to faithfully meet our campus initiatives to reach 50% emissions reductions by 2028 and full carbon neutrality well before 2050.

“As a Jesuit, Catholic institution with locations in Omaha, Phoenix, and the Dominican Republic, Creighton University is committed to urgent and impactful actions that benefit our common home. As caretakers of the planet and the well-being of the students we serve, we must be authentically engaged in positive, forward-looking initiatives that give students the opportunity to pursue a hope-filled future. In so doing, we recognize that addressing our ongoing climate crisis, one that Pope Francis has noted is at a critical breaking point, must be informed by the virtues of prudence, integrity, and reason. The resources provided by Second Nature and Coho will accelerate our pursuit of sustainable energy across our campuses, helping us to reduce carbon emissions and move closer to achieving carbon neutrality. We are grateful to be the recipient of this valuable collaboration and eager to be partners in protecting our environment.”- President, Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD, Creighton University 

University of Alabama at Birmingham

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is guided by a Sustainability Strategic Plan that prioritizes resiliency and sustainability while promoting the three tenets of UAB: teaching, patient care, and research. UAB is investigating the feasibility of electrifying the campus bus system and fleet vehicle program. Coho will provide UAB with assistance in formulating a plan that will reduce Scope 1 emissions from the institution’s transportation sector. Our goal is to use Coho’s framework to develop an affordable and actionable plan for our campus.

“The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) Sustainability program is excited to be working with Coho through Second Nature’s Solutions Center Pro Bono Initiative. Coho has an excellent track record of catalyzing bold climate action and facilitating feasible solutions for complex problems. UAB has set transformative goals for decarbonizing our campus through our Sustainability Strategic Plan, and we look forward to benefiting from Coho’s extensive knowledge and experience in achieving emissions reductions.”- Bambi Ingram, Sustainability Manager, University of Alabama at Birmingham

###

About Second Nature

Second Nature is committed to accelerating climate action in, and through, higher education. This is accomplished by mobilizing a diverse array of higher education institutions to act on bold climate commitments, to scale campus climate initiatives, and to create innovative climate solutions. Second Nature aims to align, amplify, and bridge the sector’s efforts with other global leaders to advance urgent climate priorities. secondnature.org.

About Brailsford & Dunlavey

Brailsford & Dunlavey (bdconnect.com) is a Washington, DC‐headquartered national advisory and program management firm with comprehensive in‐house planning and implementation capabilities, dedicated to serving public agencies, professional sports organizations, educational institutions, and non‐profit clients. B&D has more than 150 people in seven offices throughout the U.S. For more information, please contact Doug Kotlove at 202-266-3410 or [email protected].

About Coho, an ERM Group Company

Coho is a trusted energy and water advisor that partners with impact-oriented clients to develop actionable strategies, implement tailored solutions, and optimize performance over time. Coho advises clients on strategy, procurement, and organizational implementation of renewable energy and resilient water solutions. https://www.cohoclimate.com

Stay Connected to Climate Action

Sign up for the Implementer, Second Nature’s monthly newsletter, for updates, network news, resources, and opportunities to engage in climate action across higher education.

Sign up for the Implementer