{"id":32,"date":"2020-09-30T20:41:52","date_gmt":"2020-09-30T20:41:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu\/?page_id=32"},"modified":"2020-09-30T20:41:52","modified_gmt":"2020-09-30T20:41:52","slug":"commitment","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu\/2020\/commitment\/","title":{"rendered":"Commitment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Dr.
<\/div><\/div>

Letter from
the President<\/h2>
\n\n

Since our university was founded more than 150 years ago, we have generated essential new knowledge and solutions to our society\u2019s most complex problems. 2020 presented an unprecedented number of challenges at once \u2014 including a global pandemic that has infected more than 60 million people, a nationwide reckoning on systemic racism and injustice, and the ongoing existential threat of climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this perilous moment, I am proud that UC has continued to make steady progress toward our ambitious sustainability goals. From surpassing our sustainable food service target, to increasing our use of carbon-free electricity, and beginning to phase out single-use plastics, we have never wavered in our commitment to build a more sustainable university, and a more sustainable future.<\/p>\n\n\n

Read the full letter From the President<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n

Right now, many governments and other institutions are stretched to the limit by multiple crises competing for attention and resources. Some leaders have been pressured to roll back their sustainability commitments and shift their focus elsewhere. But as we continue to confront extreme drought and flooding, rampaging wildfires, and rising sea levels, this is not the time to shrink from our collective responsibility to tackle the climate crisis. On the contrary, the events of this year have shown just how important it is for elected leaders and institutions around the world to work collectively to address challenges that affect all of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking ahead, UC will continue to do everything we can to lead the way toward a cleaner, more resilient and more equitable future for all. I look forward to continuing to partner with the UC community on this journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Michael V. Drake, MD<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

President, University of California<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

\"David
<\/div><\/div>

Letter from the
AVP of Energy & Sustainability<\/h2>
\n\n

The theme for this year\u2019s Annual Sustainability Report is Resilience: From Coronavirus to Climate Change. Resilience is defined as \u201cthe ability of a system or community to survive disruption and to anticipate, adapt and flourish in the face of change\u201d by Second Nature, which coordinates the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3)<\/a>, a network of 22 leading North American research universities \u2014 including the University of California<\/a> \u2014 that are working together to accelerate local and regional climate action.<\/p>\n\n\n

Read the full letter<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n

In 2020, we were tested by massive changes, starting in March, when our campuses moved online to mitigate community spread of COVID-19. At the same time, our medical centers had to quickly transform their operations to prepare for coronavirus patients and protect our health care workers. The late spring brought widespread protests over systemic racism, and the UC community entered a period of self-reflection to assess how we can improve as an anti-racist institution. California\u2019s challenges continued through the summer, with record-breaking 130\u00b0 temperatures in Death Valley, power outages, widespread lightning-ignited wildfires and hazardous air quality due to smoke and ash. Fires forced the complete shutdown of UC Santa Cruz and evacuations from several other UC campuses. Blazes consumed nine buildings and an untold number of acres of grassland, forest, chaparral and other natural habitats in UC\u2019s prized natural reserves. Looking back on 2020, it\u2019s clear that UC has done a remarkable job in adapting to these disruptions, but our goal to flourish in the face of these changes remains a work in progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UC\u2019s sustainability goals are meant to help us mitigate future disruptions and improve our resilience. This year\u2019s report includes a focus on how our sustainability efforts have contributed to resilience in operations, within local communities, with student and staff populations, and in research. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are excited to present this year\u2019s report as an interactive website for the first time, which we hope will reach a broader audience and allow people to dive more deeply into our sustainability data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you for reading,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"David<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
David Phillips<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Associate Vice President, Energy and Sustainability
UC Office of the President<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

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Policy Areas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The University of California\u2019s sustainability commitment began in 2003 with a Regental action that led to the adoption of the Presidential Policy on Green Building Design and Clean Energy Standards in 2004. Since adopting that policy, UC has expanded the scope of the Sustainable Practices Policy to include climate protection, transportation, sustainable building operations, zero waste, procurement, food, water and health care facilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"UCR
UCR – Garden staff Crystal Brachetti harvesting kale. Credit: Stan Lim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Sustainable Practices Policy includes all 10 campuses, six academic health centers, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the UC Office of the President. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UC Sustainable Practices Policy<\/a> can be accessed online, and a summary is available below. UC’s Sustainability Data<\/a> summarizes progress toward the goals.<\/p>\n\n\n

Climate <\/h4>\n\n\n