Information
- Submitted by: Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI)
- Primary SD area: Education
- Keywords: education
- Location: Fairfax, United States (The)
- Date of completion: 1 Jan 2000
- More information
Deliverables & Resources
Higher Education Sustainability Initiative - George Mason University
Organization(s) making commitment
George Mason University
Achievement of Commitment
George Mason University aims to be a leader in strategic research, education and service to promote a more sustainable campus, community and world. Our sustainability projects through 2015 span five kinds of actions -
1. Teach sustainable development concepts:
2. Encourage research on sustainable development issues:
3. Green our campuses:
4. Support sustainability efforts:
5. Engage with and share results through international frameworks:
How this will be achieved
As part of its ACUPCC commitment, Mason aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Our Climate Action Plan commits us to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions at or below 2006 levels from 2012 onward and to decrease energy intensity by 2% per year thereafter. Mason’s Office of Sustainability leads in coordination and reporting for both ACUPCC and AASHE initiatives. This office also administers a « Patriot Green Fund » of $100,000 per year to make Mason’s campuses more sustainable through facility upgrades or installations and student research projects.
The Mason Sustainability Institute provides sustainability-oriented education and skills development workshops for Mason and its surrounding communities. Workshops span topics from solar panel installation to bicycle repair to permaculture. Mason faculty participate actively in environmental governance advisory groups, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future, and the MWCOG Climate, Energy and Environmental Policy Committee.
Mason spearheaded the first Global Problem Solving Consortium International Conference in March 2012. Eight universities across four continents participate in the Consortium. Mason’s Office of Global and International Strategies leads this initiative. We also expect to start participating in the UN Global Compact and UN Academic Impact initiatives.
| Deliverables | |
| Deliverable | Date |
| Global Problem Solving Consortium International Conference | 2012 |
| Patriot Green Fund | 2015 |
| Climate Action Plan | 2015 |
| SIP/COP (Sharing information on Progress) (PRME, UNGC) | 2015 |
| Resources devoted to delivery | |
| Type | Details |
| Staff / Technical expertise | Expertise of students and staff concerning sustainable development |