Syracuse University uses a variety of strategies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reach the goal of carbon neutrality by 2032. Sustainability Management updates the greenhouse gas emissions inventory on an annual basis using information obtained from departments across campus.
The Climate Action Plan (CAP) serves as a roadmap to accomplish the goal of carbon neutrality while understanding the University will continue to expand and grow. The first Climate Action Plan was published in 2009. An updated CAP was published in 2022 highlighting greenhouse gas emission sources and initiatives that will help make greater progress towards carbon neutrality. With the goal of carbon neutrality moved up to 2032 in the spring of 2023, Sustainability Management issued an updated CAP in 2024. In 2024, a Plastic Reduction Plan was also published to lay the framework to drastically reduce single use plastics by the 2027-28 academic year.
Click on the links in this section to learn more about our goals and how the University tracks and assesses progress.