This section includes resources that can help faculty or staff learn more about sustainability.
Scenarios for Climate Assessment and Adaptation
Here is a suite of scenarios produced as input to the U.S. National Climate Assessment, and designed to be useful to researchers, technical report teams, and decision makers.
Communication Guide on Climate Change
A well-planned and well-written resource.
The Field Guide to Teaching Sustainability (Penn State)
Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable Future
This is a UNESCO program for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. It provides professional development for student teachers, teachers, curriculum developers, education policy makers, and authors of educational materials. Resources include:
- Curriculum rationale
- Sustainable development across the curriculum
- Contemporary issues
- Teaching and learning strategies
Second Nature offers a number of resources:
http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/resources/topics
Published Studies
Higher Education’s Role in Adapting to a Changing Climate
An evaluation of how colleges and universities are preparing society for a changing climate through their education, research, operations, and community engagement activities. The report was developed by the Higher Education Climate Adaptation Committee–convened by the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).
Hands-On LEED: Guiding College Student Engagement
A document, developed by USGBC’s Center for Green Schools, discusses how campus faculty and staff can involve students in green building projects and facilitate their contributions to the LEED certification process.
Building a Resilient Power Sector
A comprehensive report that analyzes climate impacts on power systems, explores how to better forecast weather and long-term climate risk, and shares companies best practices from around the world.
Higher Education in a Warming World: The Business Case for Climate Leadership on Campus
This report presents the business, educational, and moral arguments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions on campuses.
Generation E: Students Leading for a Sustainable, Clean Energy Future
This report includes the many different ways in which students are employing to create a sustainable future at colleges and universities.
Going Green: The Vital Role of Community Colleges in Building a Sustainable Future and a Green Workforce
This report examines the growing role of community colleges in a low-carbon, clean energy economy. It offers examples of innovative strategies and practices being used by community colleges to address climate change, environmental stewardship, and green workforce development. It also provides information on the fastest growing sectors and jobs in the clean energy/green economy that provide strategic opportunities for community colleges and their students.
Green at Fifteen?
This environmental literacy study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is the first comparative knowledge base on what students know about the environment and environment related problems.
Green Buildings and Productivity
In this study of 154 green buildings, containing some 2,000 tenants, across the United States, researchers at the University of San Diego and CB Richard Ellis find that people who work in green buildings are more productive and call in sick less often than employees who work in conventional buildings.
Greening America’s Schools: Costs and Benefits
This Capital E Report by Gregory Kats examines the costs and benefits of using green technologies in the American educational system. This study was funded by the George Gund Foundation, the Kendall Foundation, and the US Green Building Council.
Guide to Climate Action Planning: Pathways to a Low-Carbon Campus
This document was prepared by the Sustainability in Higher Education (SCUP) and the Campus Ecology Project.