UMass Carbon Zero

To limit the dangers of climate change, our campus is pursuing an ambitious goal: We seek to power the UMass Amherst campus with 100 percent renewable energy.

Learn more about UMass Carbon Zero.

Historical Progress

In 2007, former UMass President Jack M. Wilson signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), which committed the five UMass campuses to developing a plan for reaching carbon neutrality.

To achieve the goal of the ACUPCC, former UMass Amherst Chancellor Thomas Cole appointed the Environmental Performance Advisory Committee (EPAC) and charged the group with implementing sustainability projects and to develop a Climate Action Plan (CAP). The first CAP was approved in 2010 and guided the campus for two years. 

Climate Action Plan 1.0 (2010)

The CAP was updated by the Chancellor's Sustainability Committee (formerly the EPAC) to reflect campus accomplishments and to present a comprehensive plan for future sustainability efforts across all aspects of the campus. Climate Action Plan 2.0 helped establish metrics and sustainable goals for the campus.

Climate Action Plan 2.0 (2012)

UMass is now developing a Carbon Mitigation Plan (CMP) during the calendar year of 2020.  This plan focuses on Scope I and II emissions and will chart a path towards carbon neutrality and 100% renewable energy by 2030.  More information about the CMP planning process HERE.  Watch an 11 minute video about the plan below...

UMass Amherst Carbon Mitigation Plan April 2020 from GreenerU CM on Vimeo.