Goals & Commitments

Progress toward sustainability targets and data on our energy, water, and emissions will soon be available in our new Sustainability Dashboard . Long-term carbon emissions reduction goals, which are a 40 percent reduction in CO2 by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2040, are aligned with annual energy reductions of approximately 3 percent per year, depending on energy source. Goals are achievable in the near term through improvements in HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning) efficiency, lighting, heating fuels, operational controls, energy management, weatherization, IT, and conservation and behavior.

New York City Carbon Challenge

The New School has been active in the mayor's New York City Carbon Challenge since it was launched in 2006. To better reflect recent campus portfolio changes, The New School uses an updated 2014 calendar-year carbon baseline and is committed to a 40 percent reduction (per-square-foot basis) by 2030.

Second Nature Commitment

Seven hundred university presidents, including The New School's president, have signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment, recently renamed the Second Nature Commitment. The signatures pledge an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050 and the creation of a plan to reach carbon neutrality. In 2017, The New School joined other higher-education institutions in proclaiming that "We Are Still In" and will continue with our efforts in the global fight against climate change.

AASHE STARS

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (AASHE STARS) is a comprehensive self-reporting sustainability framework for universities. The New School is an  AASHE STARS reporting institution and is on track to release an updated submission shortly.