{"id":36065,"date":"2024-06-04T16:24:44","date_gmt":"2024-06-04T20:24:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/?page_id=36065"},"modified":"2026-03-06T15:01:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T20:01:31","slug":"introduction-to-sustainability-planning-and-climate-action","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/introduction-to-sustainability-planning-and-climate-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Introduction to Sustainability Planning and Climate Action"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"36065\" class=\"elementor elementor-36065\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc7abbe page-header e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cc7abbe\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e5b6068 e-con-full full-width-left e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e5b6068\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d7e3e7f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d7e3e7f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Introduction to Sustainability Planning and Climate Action<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0aa59a elementor-widget elementor-widget-breadcrumbs\" data-id=\"e0aa59a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"breadcrumbs.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<nav id=\"breadcrumbs\"><span><span><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/\">Home<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/nav>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-20fab02 e-con-full animated-slow full-width-right e-flex elementor-invisible e-con e-child\" data-id=\"20fab02\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;slideInRight&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-597c413 e-con-full logo e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"597c413\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-372b2a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"372b2a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"570\" height=\"428\" src=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/CLN-Logo-Vertical-Small.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-27288\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/CLN-Logo-Vertical-Small.png 570w, https:\/\/secondnature.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/CLN-Logo-Vertical-Small-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/secondnature.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/CLN-Logo-Vertical-Small-200x150.png 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4918344 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4918344\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1dfe1ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1dfe1ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>On this page<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85702ba elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"85702ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#change\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" id=\"Layer_1\" data-name=\"Layer 1\" viewBox=\"0 0 50 50\"><defs><style>      .cls-1 {        fill: #fff;        stroke-width: 0px;      }    <\/style><\/defs><polygon class=\"cls-1\" points=\"31.4 .7 21.7 .7 36.1 25 22 49.3 31.4 49.3 45.4 25 31.4 .7\"><\/polygon><polygon class=\"cls-1\" points=\"14.3 .7 4.6 .7 19 25 4.9 49.3 14.3 49.3 28.3 25 14.3 .7\"><\/polygon><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Transformative Change<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#decarbonization\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" id=\"Layer_1\" data-name=\"Layer 1\" viewBox=\"0 0 50 50\"><defs><style>      .cls-1 {        fill: #fff;        stroke-width: 0px;      }    <\/style><\/defs><polygon class=\"cls-1\" points=\"31.4 .7 21.7 .7 36.1 25 22 49.3 31.4 49.3 45.4 25 31.4 .7\"><\/polygon><polygon class=\"cls-1\" points=\"14.3 .7 4.6 .7 19 25 4.9 49.3 14.3 49.3 28.3 25 14.3 .7\"><\/polygon><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Why Decarbonization?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#why\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" id=\"Layer_1\" data-name=\"Layer 1\" viewBox=\"0 0 50 50\"><defs><style>      .cls-1 {        fill: #fff;        stroke-width: 0px;      }    <\/style><\/defs><polygon class=\"cls-1\" points=\"31.4 .7 21.7 .7 36.1 25 22 49.3 31.4 49.3 45.4 25 31.4 .7\"><\/polygon><polygon class=\"cls-1\" points=\"14.3 .7 4.6 .7 19 25 4.9 49.3 14.3 49.3 28.3 25 14.3 .7\"><\/polygon><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Why Carbon Neutrality?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#resilience\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" id=\"Layer_1\" data-name=\"Layer 1\" viewBox=\"0 0 50 50\"><defs><style>      .cls-1 {        fill: #fff;        stroke-width: 0px;      }    <\/style><\/defs><polygon class=\"cls-1\" points=\"31.4 .7 21.7 .7 36.1 25 22 49.3 31.4 49.3 45.4 25 31.4 .7\"><\/polygon><polygon class=\"cls-1\" points=\"14.3 .7 4.6 .7 19 25 4.9 49.3 14.3 49.3 28.3 25 14.3 .7\"><\/polygon><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Why Resilience?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#leadership\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" id=\"Layer_1\" data-name=\"Layer 1\" viewBox=\"0 0 50 50\"><defs><style>      .cls-1 {        fill: #fff;        stroke-width: 0px;      }    <\/style><\/defs><polygon class=\"cls-1\" points=\"31.4 .7 21.7 .7 36.1 25 22 49.3 31.4 49.3 45.4 25 31.4 .7\"><\/polygon><polygon class=\"cls-1\" points=\"14.3 .7 4.6 .7 19 25 4.9 49.3 14.3 49.3 28.3 25 14.3 .7\"><\/polygon><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">From Leadership to Action<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-469ba18 cln-content e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"469ba18\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64d7947 e-con-full sidebar handbook e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"64d7947\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c948f7d elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c948f7d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Jump to a Signatory Handbook Page<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e4a2089 elementor-nav-menu--dropdown-mobile elementor-nav-menu__text-align-aside elementor-nav-menu--toggle elementor-nav-menu--burger elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"e4a2089\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;vertical&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;svg aria-hidden=\\&quot;true\\&quot; class=\\&quot;e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-down\\&quot; viewBox=\\&quot;0 0 320 512\\&quot; xmlns=\\&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.w3.org\\\/2000\\\/svg\\&quot;&gt;&lt;path d=\\&quot;M31.3 192h257.3c17.8 0 26.7 21.5 14.1 34.1L174.1 354.8c-7.8 7.8-20.5 7.8-28.3 0L17.2 226.1C4.6 213.5 13.5 192 31.3 192z\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/path&gt;&lt;\\\/svg&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;},&quot;toggle&quot;:&quot;burger&quot;}\" aria-label=\"Signatory Handbook Menu\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav aria-label=\"Menu\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu--main elementor-nav-menu__container elementor-nav-menu--layout-vertical e--pointer-background e--animation-fade\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-1-e4a2089\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-36080\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/introduction-to-sustainability-planning-and-climate-action\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Introduction to Sustainability Planning and Climate Action<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-41464\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/commitments-implementation-handbook\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Commitments Implementation<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-36079\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/organizing-for-action\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Organizing for Action<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-36077\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/assessment-prioritizing-action\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Assessment &amp; Prioritizing Action<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-40908\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/reporting-guidance\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Reporting<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-36075\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/carbon-management-greenhouse-gas-mitigation\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Carbon Management &amp; Greenhouse Gas Mitigation<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-36074\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/examples-of-climate-action-plan-structures\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Examples of Climate Action Plan Structures<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-36073\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/frequently-asked-questions\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-41478\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/become-a-signatory-in-the-climate-leadership-network\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Become a Signatory in the Climate Leadership Network<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-toggle\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Menu Toggle\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"elementor-menu-toggle__icon--open e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-menu-bar\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M104 333H896C929 333 958 304 958 271S929 208 896 208H104C71 208 42 237 42 271S71 333 104 333ZM104 583H896C929 583 958 554 958 521S929 458 896 458H104C71 458 42 487 42 521S71 583 104 583ZM104 833H896C929 833 958 804 958 771S929 708 896 708H104C71 708 42 737 42 771S71 833 104 833Z\"><\/path><\/svg><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"elementor-menu-toggle__icon--close e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-close\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M742 167L500 408 258 167C246 154 233 150 217 150 196 150 179 158 167 167 154 179 150 196 150 212 150 229 154 242 171 254L408 500 167 742C138 771 138 800 167 829 196 858 225 858 254 829L496 587 738 829C750 842 767 846 783 846 800 846 817 842 829 829 842 817 846 804 846 783 846 767 842 750 829 737L588 500 833 258C863 229 863 200 833 171 804 137 775 137 742 167Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-e4a2089\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-36080\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/introduction-to-sustainability-planning-and-climate-action\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Introduction to Sustainability Planning and Climate Action<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-41464\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/commitments-implementation-handbook\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Commitments Implementation<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-36079\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/organizing-for-action\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Organizing for Action<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-36077\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/assessment-prioritizing-action\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Assessment &amp; Prioritizing Action<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-40908\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/reporting-guidance\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Reporting<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-36075\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/carbon-management-greenhouse-gas-mitigation\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Carbon Management &amp; Greenhouse Gas Mitigation<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-36074\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/examples-of-climate-action-plan-structures\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Examples of Climate Action Plan Structures<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-36073\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/frequently-asked-questions\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-41478\"><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/become-a-signatory-in-the-climate-leadership-network\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Become a Signatory in the Climate Leadership Network<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d52244 e-con-full handbook e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0d52244\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e12eee0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e12eee0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"change\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Transformative Change<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6cfcaa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e6cfcaa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We live in an era demanding transformative change. The climate and biosphere are undergoing significant transformations, and communities are experiencing the impacts of climate change. These changes are intertwined in all aspects of our society such that economic considerations cannot be divorced from environmental concerns, and climate action must include social, educational, economic, and policy dimensions, in addition to prioritizing changes to operational infrastructure. And while climate change raises the possibility of irreversible damage if action is taken too late or too slowly, every positive action taken to reverse climate change will have a lasting impact that lessens the degree of overall harm.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since 2006, Second Nature has supported bold commitments from leaders in higher education to address the most pressing issues of climate change via the Climate Commitments. During the past two decades, we have seen that driving change within the higher education sector has broad impacts beyond the campus, and that action by campuses even without a public commitment to carbon neutrality has ripple positive effects. This sector can and should be the bed of innovation that will drive the next century; it is the place where future leaders are shaped and educated. Climate action from higher education leaders catalyzes and focuses society\u2019s activity in ways that exceed ordinary goals.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Second Nature\u2019s Guidance and work supports campuses at the forefront of climate innovation, grounded in the understanding that higher education cannot fulfill its obligation to support a thriving civil society if that society is not sustainable.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c256f01 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c256f01\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"decarbonization\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">WHY DECARBONIZATION?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6fb1ecd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6fb1ecd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under the previous iteration of the Presidents\u2019 Climate Leadership Commitments, climate neutrality was positioned like an end goal. However, with the launch of <a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/unify-for-climate\/\">Unify for Climate<\/a>, climate neutrality is a major milestone, not an end goal in and of itself. Second Nature encourages campuses to go beyond carbon neutrality and strive to achieve decarbonization.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most effective method to reduce carbon emissions is through decarbonization. Under Unify for Climate, campuses have the opportunity to achieve and be recognized for reaching Carbon Neutrality through the <a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/climate-action-milestones\/\">Milestones Program<\/a>, in addition to receiving public recognition for achieving several other milestones related to decarbonization. For example, the Leadership in Decarbonization milestone recognizes campuses for completely eliminating on-site fossil fuel combustion, and the Powered by Renewable Energy milestone recognizes campuses for purchasing the majority of their electricity from renewable energy sources.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some types of emissions are indeed extremely difficult to abate, and Second Nature acknowledges the difficulty and nuance involved in fully electrifying or eliminating fossil emissions. In these cases, carbon offsets can be used to deal with residual emissions, or campuses can disclose financial contributions to mitigation valued in line with the <a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/2025\/04\/10\/whats-the-cost-of-carbon-second-nature-releases-recommendations-for-the-higher-education-sector\/\">sector social cost of carbon.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c8fa27 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0c8fa27\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">SECTOR TARGETS FOR OPERATIONAL ACTION BY 2050 <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7d83e2f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7d83e2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Second Nature recommends that the higher education sector prioritize common targets for decarbonization by midcentury, either 90% across Scope 1 &amp; 2 emissions by 2045, or 80% reductions across all emissions by 2050.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These targets support our update to the Climate Commitments to support the addition of a decarbonization target for Climate and Carbon Signatories. These targets can be adopted by Signatories in place of a prior carbon neutrality commitment, or added as a long term target that stretches the institution\u2019s ambition beyond carbon neutrality. These targets can also be used by institutions that do not have a public carbon or climate commitment, but that want to set ambitious goals in line with a collective of peers.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33ce378 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"33ce378\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">WHY CARBON NEUTRALITY?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-633728b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"633728b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The original commitments provided a way for campuses to achieve carbon neutrality as soon as possible. These early commitments jumpstarted the sector, catalyzed a proliferation of innovation and replication in climate action, enabled institutions to begin planning for real decarbonization, and surfaced important opportunities for higher education to do better. Given the urgency of the climate crisis, carbon neutrality should no longer be positioned as an end point of climate action, but it is still an important milestone for serious actors, and can jumpstart difficult conversations on campus about how to become truly accountable for the institution\u2019s climate impact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Second Nature maintains that carbon neutrality is important, and urges campuses to position carbon neutrality targets as mid-term goals in relation to a longer term decarbonization target. In this regard, carbon neutrality target dates should fall before mid-century. The goal of carbon neutrality (i.e., \u2013 or net-zero greenhouse gas emissions)\u00a0 \u2013 is intended to dramatically and quickly reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from the current levels of over approximately 427 ppm (pre-industrial levels were approximately 280 ppm).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pairing carbon neutrality and decarbonization targets offers a shared vision with short term and long term goals for institutions. While strategic planning must work within an institution\u2019s current constraints (financial or otherwise), it must also set a compelling vision of the goals that make action worthwhile.\u00a0 An aggressive target date for carbon neutrality that falls before mid-century can spur creativity, innovation, and intellectual curiosity. A decarbonization date by mid-century allows that innovation and ambition in action to continue to grow. These targets provide a common aspiration, which helps foster alignment so that the many disparate parts of a large organization can work together toward the same goal, even when complexity and size makes centralized coordination of such efforts difficult.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alongside ambitious targets, institutions are encouraged to be flexible and adaptable. Given the complexity of the challenge of achieving carbon neutrality and decarbonization, plans can and should be designed to be iterative and adaptable. We cannot know with certainty what the world will be like 20 or even 5 years from now. New laws, discoveries, technologies, and cultural shifts will impact the best-laid plans. Target dates for decarbonization and interim carbon neutrality can and should be adjusted as circumstances change, especially if it sets an institution on the leadership pathway.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your institution needs assistance in changing targets or adopting new targets, <a href=\"mailto:reporting@secondnature.org\">contact the Second Nature Team<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-84ea9ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"84ea9ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"resilience\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why Resilience?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1fa2da5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1fa2da5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The impacts of climate change are being felt in all regions of the world. From wildfires and droughts on the West Coast to longer hurricane seasons in the East, it is evident that extreme events in the U.S. are causing ever greater destruction. The events are costing us in terms of actual lives and dollars as well as in disruption to progress (deferred cost). Campuses are already and will continue to face direct impacts from climate-related extreme events, and many schools are already taking steps to increase tolerance to extremes such as drought, flooding, or storms. However, we also have an opportunity to engage not just in a protection-focused mentality, allowing us to recover from impact, but also in a much more proactive and community-focused approach that allows us to invest and flourish in the face of change.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Resilience Commitment complements the investments already being made in decarbonization and carbon neutrality, encouraging institutions to include climate adaptation-specific goals., The Resilience Commitment also focuses on building community capacity to deal with a constantly changing climate, including changing extremes.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Higher education institutions are often at the heart of a community and provide expertise, potential future workforce, engaged young people, space for community events, and other advantages. Institutions also <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">use<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> community resources \u2013 water, power, transportation systems, and can either contribute to the diversity or the inequity of social access to education, training, and opportunity. In terms of resilience, it is critical that colleges and universities are working hand in hand with their community partners in examining resilience, increasing it, measuring progress towards shared goals, and leading smart and innovative solutions, even as we deal with climate disruptions and impacts along the way.<\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-action-guidance\/resilience-landing-page\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More about <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Resilience<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/a><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-288c56f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"288c56f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"planning\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why Integrated Planning?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c95388 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6c95388\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Second Nature acknowledges that colleges and universities have a lot of plans: strategic visions, campus master plans, academic plans, development plans, utility master plans, transportation master plans, and more. Taking climate action often results in campuses adding separate climate action and sustainability plans, and resilience plans to these existing efforts.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most effective plans seek a balance between integration and uniqueness. On the one hand, it is an excellent goal to embed climate action principles into existing planning mechanisms (and this is often highly effective in shifting the culture of an institution in a more sustainable direction). The risk, however, is that these other plans are too broad to include the focused attention on the more complex climate goals. Finding this balance for the unique qualities of an institution is one of the most difficult aspects campus climate leaders face.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The goal of the Climate Leadership Commitments is to address the challenge of climate change holistically by transforming the way higher education operates and educates. Integrated planning to avoid the most serious effects of climate change while simultaneously responding to the already occurring and anticipated impacts is essential for achieving this goal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05f4555 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"05f4555\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">FROM LEADERSHIP TO ACTION<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b13343 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3b13343\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The model of change that Second Nature champions is that of collective mobilization, driven by a critical mass of institutions bringing the diversity of higher education\u2019s strengths to bear in pursuit of climate action. This began with a call to action via strong, public commitments by Presidents in the higher education sector, yielding big changes at multiple levels \u2014 not only in the institutions where those commitments originated,\u00a0 but in the sector at large, and even beyond.<\/span><\/p><p>The Commitments that Second Nature has developed and upheld for two decades guide presidents, sustainability directors, and other campus leaders to advance progress as efficiently and effectively as possible. Further, the Commitments have laid the groundwork and developed mainstream avenues for climate action such that now, institutions are making inroads in climate action and resilience without public commitments. Second Nature\u2019s updated Guidance acknowledges all of these approaches, and with these institutions, Second Nature continues to maintain and update guidance resources for climate action that are relevant, accessible, and tailored to the higher education sector. Institutions that use the guidance, report, and provide feedback on their successes both receive insights from and contribute insights to the network, which advances innovation, catalyzes further leadership, and allows the sector to scale action effectively.\u00a0<\/p><p>In partnership with the Sustainability Institute at the University of New Hampshire, Second Nature supports reporting and evaluation by a critical mass of campuses. Second Nature strives to\u00a0 develop our reporting requirements that enable institutions to measure progress and celebrate success both locally and nationally. Additional <a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/climate-action-milestones\/\">Climate Action Milestones<\/a> are recognized for members of Second Nature\u2019s Climate Leadership Network using reported data to verify claims, which acknowledges significant progress by institutions, and translates data into real world outcomes.\u00a0 More information about reporting can be found on the <a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/reporting-guidance\/\">Reporting Guidance page.<\/a><\/p><p>Second Nature further supports leaders via convenings, via stakeholder engagement groups and our annual Climate Leadership Summit. Through these network building opportunities, individuals can directly engage in shaping the direction of the Climate Leadership Network and its impact. Finally, there are numerous regional and topical workshops, webinars, and other convenings each year. To ensure you hear about these opportunities, subscribe to our <a style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/get-involved\/newsletters\/\">monthly newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c01c4f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1c01c4f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Acknowledgements<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-503d795 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"503d795\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Second Nature would like to graciously thank all of the contributors and reviewers of this documentation and for the support and contributions all of our peers and colleagues throughout the Second Nature network over the 20 years of learning and practice that went into the creation of this guide.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc1085f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cc1085f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">REFERENCES<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-992030b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"992030b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sector target developed by balancing the assertion in <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anderson, K., Martin, P., &amp; Nevins, J. (2021). Introduction and Abridged Text of Lecture: \u201cLaggards or Leaders: Academia and Its Responsibility in Delivering on the<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paris Commitments.\u201d <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Professional Geographer<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">74<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(1), 122\u2013126. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/00330124.2021.1915809\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/00330124.2021.1915809<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that academia should reduce 100% of emissions by 2035, the Biden administration\u2019s commitment to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/presidential-actions\/2021\/01\/27\/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">netzero across all industries by 2050<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and work by Alex Barron, Aaron Strong, and Lucy Metts <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidehighered.com\/views\/2021\/10\/27\/five-ways-colleges-should-respond-climate-crisis-opinion\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">suggesting 100% decarbonization by 2050.<\/span><\/a><\/p><p>Energy Information Administration (2015) Annual Energy Outlook:\u00a0<a style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eia.gov\/forecasts\/aeo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/www.eia.gov\/forecasts\/aeo\/<\/a><\/p><p>IPCC, 2014: Summary for Policymakers, In: Climate Change 2014, Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Edenhofer, O., R. Pichs-Madruga, Y. Sokona, E. Farahani, S. Kadner, K. Seyboth, A. Adler, I. Baum, S. Brunner, P. Eickemeier, B. Kriemann, J. Savolainen, S. Schl\u00f6mer, C. von Stechow, T. Zwickel and J.C. Minx (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ipcc.ch\/pdf\/assessment-report\/ar5\/wg3\/ipcc_wg3_ar5_summary-for-policymakers.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/www.ipcc.ch\/pdf\/assessment-report\/ar5\/wg3\/ipcc_wg3_ar5_summary-for-policymakers.pdf<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On this page Transformative Change Why Decarbonization? Why Carbon Neutrality? Why Resilience? From Leadership to Action Jump to a Signatory Handbook Page Transformative Change We live in an era demanding transformative change. The climate and biosphere are undergoing significant transformations, and communities are experiencing the impacts of climate change. These changes are intertwined in all [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":0,"parent":36048,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"topics":[],"class_list":["post-36065","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Introduction to Sustainability Planning and Climate Action - Second Nature<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Read more about Sustainability Planning and Climate Action prepared by Second Nature for campus leaders committed to carbon neutrality.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/climate-leadership-network\/signatories\/introduction-to-sustainability-planning-and-climate-action\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Introduction to Sustainability Planning and Climate Action - 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