Phillips Andover 2019-2030 Climate Action Plan Presents a Whole School Approach to Addressing Climate Change
On November 10, 2018 the Phillips Academy Board of Trustees adopted the 2019-2030 Climate Action Plan, which puts forth a community-wide approach for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and waste on campus. According to the Plan, addressing the challenge of climate change involves educating the entire school community, adopting sustainable practices as policy, increasing the energy efficiency of campus buildings, and embracing renewable fuels and technologies.
The primary steps taken to develop the plan were:
- Benchmark emissions, water use, and waste across campus
- Audit buildings to better understand energy and water use
- Study Central Plant operations and technology efficiency
- Generate suite of energy, water, and waste measures
- Analyze cost and benefit of measures
- Propose moderate and aggressive investment and GHG emissions, water, and waste reduction scenarios
- Gain consensus on achievable targets with associated mitigation strategies, management plans, financial mechanisms, and systems for tracking progress
The Climate Action Plan Working Group was convened during the 2017 school year and was made up of faculty and staff. They put forth a plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and waste on campus.. The Sustainability Steering Committee (SSC) was also formed, made up of senior administration representing facilities, finance and administration, Dean of Studies Office, and residential life. The SSC had oversight over sustainability education and engagement, green building, renewable energy, and sustainable dining and materials procurement.
The Working Group, SSC, and students in the EcoAction Club, collaborated to set targets for emissions reductions, water conservation, and waste reduction and diversion following rigorous benchmarking and analysis of the campus footprint: 30% reduction in Metric tons of CO2e, 10% reduction in gallons of water used, and zero waste defined as 90% diversion. These groups also developed three principles with associated strategies to guide campus climate action. The three CAP principles ultimately work in concert to achieve meaningful reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and waste from 2019-2030. Off to a good start, in academic year 2019/20, the campus purchased 100% of its energy from renewable sources!
Check out the 2019-2030 Climate Action Plan and Sustainability at Andover, below: