DECEMBER 2020
A Look at FY20 Sustainability Achievements
A power purchase agreement, collaborations with campus wellness initiatives, and increased transportation options are areas of significant achievement on the goals of the University of Pennsylvania’s Climate and Sustainability Action Plan 3.0, says the Penn Sustainability Office. Read more about these and other results in the recently released Climate and Sustainability Action Plan 3.0 FY20 Annual Report. This report is based on data and metrics from fiscal year 2020 gathered from across many academic and administrative units at the University.

Penn Sustainability By the Numbersthese infographics describe Penn’s achievements in each of the seven initiatives of the CSAP3.0.
WELCOME NINA MORRIS
Penn's New Sustainability Director
Nina Morris joined the Penn Sustainability team in October 2020. Nina comes to Penn from the University of Virginia and brings her vision that sustainability is about more than the environment: “Sustainability is centered in creating a world and making decisions that support human flourishing.” READ MORE
PENN PARK FARM
Site Flourishes Despite Closed Campus
Penn Today shared the story of the Penn Park Farm, which has expanded from its start as the Penn Park Orchard, under the umbrella of the Penn Food and Wellness Collaborative. Read the Penn Today article. READ MORE
Sharing Our Stories
Student Eco-Reps Take on
Real-time Campus Projects
This year’s Student Eco-Reps cohort is working on several projects in collaboration with Housekeeping, Dining, the Nursing school, and in the areas of campus water footprint, climate literacy, civic engagement, and waste reduction. READ MORE
Penn's First Climate Week a Virtual Success
Penn's first Climate Week, September 21-25, presented 47 events, organized by 28 separate Penn organizations, on topics from climate science to climate storytelling, with a special emphasis on racial justice and local action. READ MORE
Students Analyze Air Travel
Students in Professor Megan Ryerson's class worked with Penn Purchasing to understand the scope of air travel emissions from Penn travel and the current systems that exist for data collection. The students also surveyed faculty, staff, and students regarding their awareness of air travel emissions and to learn how they make travel decisions. READ MORE
Preceptorials Introduce Students to Penn Sustainability
At the end of August 2020, two partner groups of Penn Sustainability hosted New Student Orientation (NSO) Preceptorials - informal, non-credit seminars on assorted topics that offer a unique way for first-year students to “Zoom in at Penn” and take a closer look at the cultural, social, and intellectual environment at Penn during NSO 2020. READ MORE
ESAC Meeting Recap
All members of Penn's Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC) convened for a full meeting on November 30. Co-Chairs for each of the seven ESAC Subcommittees shared committee goals and priorities for the 2021 fiscal year. Participants also heard from Penn professors Simon Richter, Joe Francisco, and Bill Braham. READ MORE
In the News
Bird Friendly Lauder College House
Reducing the number of bird strikes against reflective glass and bright lights has had the attention of those planning Penn’s built environment for some time. Read about Penn's partnership with experts from Audubon Pennsylvania to reduce bird-window collisions at Lauder College House. READ MORE
Penn Measures Up in 2020 Sustainable Campus Index
Penn is a top performer in two categories in AASHE’s annual Sustainable Campus Index (SCI). SCI recognizes top-performing colleges and universities by overall institution type and in 17 sustainability impact areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). READ MORE