Sustainability
Harvard Study Finds ExxonMobil Scientists Accurately Predicted Climate Change, Despite Denial
A Harvard-led team of researchers found in a study published earlier this month that internal ExxonMobil projections accurately predicted human-caused climate change even as the company downplayed its risks in public statements.
Harvard Kennedy School Dean Outlines Faculty Hiring Initiatives, Discusses Directorship Openings
Seven months after Harvard Kennedy School Dean Douglas W. Elmendorf announced the school was recruiting two senior professors studying climate change and sustainability, HKS is still trying to bring them to Cambridge.
Educators and Scholars Stress Collaboration, Urgency in Confronting Climate Change at HGSE Conference
Education officials and sustainability experts discussed how students and educators can “engage creatively and intelligently” on climate change at a Harvard Graduate School of Education conference Thursday.
Harvard Greenhouse Gas Emissions Remained Flat for Sixth Consecutive Year in 2021
Harvard’s campus greenhouse gas emissions remained stagnant for the sixth straight year in 2021, despite the University’s ambitious plans to eliminate fossil fuels from its operations by 2050.
Harvard Affiliates Advocate for a ‘Climate Champion’ as Next University President
Dozens of Harvard faculty members and student and alumni organizations signed onto a letter last week urging the committee searching for the school’s 30th president to select a “climate champion” as the University’s next leader.
Report Calls on Harvard to Expand Climate Change Education
A University report issued last week called on Harvard to expand its climate change offerings by hiring new faculty and staff in the field and establishing a standing committee to direct the school’s efforts.
Harvard to Establish New Institute for Climate and Sustainability Through $200 Million Donation
Harvard will establish the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability to advance the University’s commitment to climate-oriented research and foster a hub for collaborative studies, the University announced Tuesday.
Harvard Issues First-Ever Green Bonds to Finance Campus Construction Projects
Harvard issued its first-ever green bond — debt instruments that align with international sustainability standards — earlier this month.
Harvard Celebrates Earth Day with Events Across University
Seeking to raise awareness about Harvard’s sustainability efforts, schools and programs across the University have hosted events since Thursday celebrating Earth Day.
Experts Discuss Climate Action in K-12 Schools at HGSE Forum
More than 200 people attended a forum hosted by the Harvard Graduate School of Education addressing how K-12 schools can fight climate change Thursday.
Four All-Electric Shuttles Unveiled at Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The shuttles — which the University purchased in February to curb its use of fossil fuels — will replace four bio-diesel buses that comprise over 30 percent of the bus fleet at Harvard.
HMS Professor Presents Highly-Anticipated Climate Change Report at Webinar
The panelists worked through the contents of the report, which cautioned that climate change is having a severe and inequitable impact on human health around the world.
Harvard Greenhouse Gas Emissions Flatlined for Fifth Straight Year in 2020
Nearly every aspect of Harvard’s operations changed in 2020, with much of the campus left empty due to Covid-19. But the University’s campus greenhouse gas emissions remained stagnant for a fifth straight year last year, according to preliminary data released Friday as part of the University’s 2020 sustainability report.
Jim Stock, Longtime Economics Professor, to Serve as First Harvard Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability
Harvard announced Tuesday it would create a new vice provost position to oversee its efforts related to climate change and sustainability and appointed Harvard economics professor James H. Stock to the role.
Preventing Future Pandemics Depends on Environmental Action, Harvard Task Force Finds
Environmental efforts, such as forest preservation and wildlife trade regulation, are essential to preventing future pandemics, Harvard and international experts found in a report released Wednesday.
Philip Kreycik ’06, Who Died at 37 After Going Missing on Run, Remembered for ‘Quiet Strength’ and ‘Adventurous Spirit’
Philip Kreycik '06, an environmentalist and avid adventurer, disappeared on a trail run outside Pleasanton, Calif. on July 10. In a testament to his impact, hundreds rallied for a search and rescue effort that the Alameda County Sheriff's Office called one of the largest ever on the West Coast.
Allston Science and Engineering Complex Receives LEED Platinum Certification
Harvard’s new Science and Engineering Complex in Allston has received two top sustainability distinctions — LEED platinum status and the Living Building Challenge Petal certification, according to a Wednesday press release.
Harvard Falls Short on 2020 Goals to Reduce Waste and Water Use
Despite reductions in campus greenhouse gas emissions, Harvard failed to meet 2020 waste and water reduction goals set forth by the University’s 2014 Sustainability Plan.
Students Push for On and Off Campus Sustainability Efforts
Members of the Harvard Undergraduate Resource Efficiency Program have adapted their work to suit a virtual semester, pushing students to make sustainable choices and working to engage students on environmental issues before this fall’s elections.
Panel Examines Combating Climate Change Through Private and Public Reforms
Climate leaders, Harvard faculty, and current students discussed the governmental actions and economic reforms needed to address climate change during an online webinar on Thursday.
Harvard Forms Presidential Committee on Sustainability
Harvard has created a “Presidential Committee on Sustainability” to advise University President Lawrence S. Bacow and other top administrators, the University announced Monday.
Harvard Green Initiative
Pedestrians walk by a recycling bin in Harvard Square on Tuesday afternoon.
Divinity School Sustainable Building
Swartz Hall, located at the Harvard Divinity School, is undergoing serious renovations with the goal to create a more sustainable building. The construction project will upgrade the building's electrical, plumbing, and climate control systems.
Swartz Hall Renovations Involve Reducing Chemical Presence in Building
Scientific research from Harvard’s Healthier Building Materials Academy is being used to reduce chemical presence in the building formerly known as Andover Hall, according to a blog post from the Divinity School Director of Operations Ralph DeFlorio.
Harvard Pilots ‘Space-Age Technology’ in New Lowell Suite
Freshly renovated Lowell House features a new "Dynamic Energy Suite" – a six-bedroom pod of dorm rooms with built-in technological enhancements that monitor power consumption and adjust lighting for better sleep and energy efficiency.