{"id":1029,"date":"2023-08-08T00:39:13","date_gmt":"2023-08-08T00:39:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu\/2023\/?page_id=80"},"modified":"2025-12-23T01:14:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T01:14:19","slug":"policy-progress","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu\/2025\/policy-progress\/","title":{"rendered":"Policy Progress"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
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Climate<\/h2>\n\n\n

EMISSIONS<\/h3>
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*Methodological changes in scope 3 accounting introduced beginning in 2019<\/p>

**90% direct reduction of total emissions from 2019 levels with residual emissions negated by carbon removal<\/p>

Systemwide GHG emissions are based on campuses’ and academic health centers\u2019 reported emissions, which will be verified by a third party by early 2026.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Read More About UC’s Progress on Climate<\/summary>\n

Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rose by approximately 3% compared to the previous year, but they still stand at about 8% below the pre-pandemic (2019) levels. Scope 1 emissions experienced a slight increase of 2%, while scope 3 emissions saw a slight decrease of 2%. In contrast, scope 2 emissions showed a notable 18% rise due to changes in local electrical grid emission factors and increased electricity purchases while UC’s largest cogeneration plant was offline for engine replacements. Despite this fluctuation, locations remain committed to achieving UC’s 100% clean electricity goal, which will be reported next year. Additionally, this marked the first year that each location was required to submit scope 3 data for solid waste and business travel, including adding that scope 3 data to each year’s reported emissions back to the 2019 baseline year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all locations completed energy system decarbonization studies in fall 2024, the systemwide Pathways to a Fossil-Free UC Task Force<\/a> compiled the results of these studies in its final report, \u201cEvaluating decarbonization strategies across the University of California<\/a>.\u201d Locations are navigating changes in federal and state funding and location-specific financial constraints, making it essential to follow the task force\u2019s recommendation to implement decarbonization pathways in phases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In December 2024, UC locations adopted local targets for reducing GHG emissions by 90% by 2045, along with interim targets for scope 1 reductions that outline a path to meeting the 2045 goal. To support these targets, locations are drafting updated climate action plans to identify more specific actions to implement in pursuit of their scope 1, 2 and 3 climate commitments. The updated climate action plans will be submitted in June 2026 and will consider GHG emission reductions across all three scopes of emissions, as well as equity impacts and climate resilience as a continuation of each location\u2019s recent work in these areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Scope 1
<\/strong>Direct emissions (e.g., burning gas and oil)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Scope 2
<\/strong>Indirect emissions from purchased power<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Scope 3
<\/strong>Commuting, business travel, waste, etc.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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UC’s tracked greenhouse gas emissions<\/h3>
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View Climate Goals<\/use><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/details>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The University made progress in assessing how efforts to implement sustainable practices can avoid harm and benefit all University community members. Climate protection remained a significant focus, with findings and recommendations in the \u201cEvaluating decarbonization strategies across the University of California<\/a>\u201d report exploring how to ensure that the transition to fossil-free campus energy infrastructure includes plans for helping campus operational staff gain the skills needed to operate new energy systems and equipment. Campuses and academic health centers have integrated the decarbonization report\u2019s recommendations into their updated climate action plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read More About UC’s Progress on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice<\/summary>\n

Beyond decarbonization and climate action planning, systemwide working groups responsible for individual sustainability policy sections incorporated equity considerations into proposed policy updates for sustainable transportation and sustainable water systems, as well as grant funding processes for green laboratory operations and single-use plastics reduction. For example, the Sustainable Operations and Laboratories Working Group held collaborative discussions with working group representatives from each campus to understand each campus’s unique needs and priorities. This inclusive approach ensured that all campuses could utilize grant funding effectively. As another example, the Sustainable Transportation Working Group developed updated policy language and the \u201cElectric vehicle ramp-up guide,\u201d which includes strategies for reducing disparities in fleet electrification and charging infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n

View DEIJ Goals<\/use><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/details>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Energy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To continue to reduce its carbon footprint, the University is efficiently using its resources and changing the sources of energy that campuses and academic medical centers consume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read More about uc’s progress on energy<\/summary>\n

Energy Efficiency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Energy efficiency and green building practices have reduced UC\u2019s energy use intensity across its portfolio of buildings.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"Icon<\/div>$100M<\/strong>\n\n

Cost savings in 2024<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\"Icon<\/div>$623M<\/strong>\n\n

Cumulative cost savings since 2010<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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ENERGY USE INTENSITY (EUI)<\/h3>
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As a metric for relative efficiency, energy use intensity (EUI) is calculated by totaling all of the energy used by a location and dividing the sum by the associated square footage. In 2024, UC locations continued their energy efficiency efforts while working to retain the energy use reductions realized in previous years, now with increased on-campus activity and the significant expansion of UC Health facilities. As a result, the system was still able to achieve just under a 2% annual reduction in EUI but needs to drive additional efficiency increases over the next two performance years to meet UC\u2019s cumulative goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renewable Energy and the UC Clean Power Program<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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ENERGY – RENEWABLE ENERGY USE<\/h3>
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The University of California ranks first among colleges and universities<\/a> when it comes to green electricity use, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In addition to over 55 megawatts of on-campus projects, the University has three operating utility-scale solar projects in California under contract: Five Points (60 megawatts), Giffen Solar Park (20 megawatts) and Golden Fields (30 megawatts with a 15 megawatt battery). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The University of California signed its first-ever wind energy contract<\/a> in 2023, the largest renewable energy commitment by the University to date in support of campus decarbonization. The contract with SunZia Wind provides electricity from a 3,500-megawatt wind project in New Mexico delivered to California along a 550-mile transmission line. The expected electricity generation from UC\u2019s 85-megawatt portion of SunZia is equivalent to the total annual electricity consumption of UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara, UC Riverside and UC Merced combined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renewable energy from the wind project will be used by every UC campus and academic medical center. UC Clean Power \u2014 an electric service provider operating through California\u2019s Direct Access Program \u2014 will use a significant portion to continue serving campuses with clean electricity. The project will be a key resource for UC Clean Power to continue meeting the state\u2019s Renewables Portfolio Standard and statewide energy sector greenhouse gas reduction targets. UC Clean Power has provided 100% clean electricity to UC locations since 2018 and supplies approximately 48% of the University\u2019s purchased electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n

View Energy Goals<\/use><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/details>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Food Service<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Bok<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
16%<\/strong>\n\n

of food and beverage purchases met sustainability criteria ($24M)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

33%<\/strong>\n\n

of food and beverage purchases were plant-based ($50.3M)<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Campuses have a goal to procure 25% sustainable food products, as defined by AASHE STARS, by 2030.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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\"Heirloom<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
23%<\/strong>\n\n

of food and beverage purchases met sustainability criteria ($11.3M)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

27%<\/strong>\n\n

of food and beverage purchases were plant-based ($13.6M)<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

UC Health has a goal to procure 30% sustainable food products, as defined by Practice Greenhealth, by 2030.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Read More About UC’s progress on Food Service<\/summary>\n

This year, the UC Global Climate Leadership Council continued to fund technical assistance to advance sustainable food supply chain sourcing and dining practices, as well as a Bonnie Reiss Sustainable Food Services Fellowship to support UC Dining Services with sustainable food sourcing and data collection. Project outcomes included connecting campuses with local and sustainable producers and food hubs, holding an event with campus chefs to streamline meat product purchasing across the system to reduce cost and increase sustainable spend, modifying language in requests for proposals to prioritize sustainable food options and developing a toolkit for fellows supporting Dining Services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concurrently, UC campuses continued to face significant challenges, including food cost inflation and budget cuts, as well as continuing difficulties with data tracking and reporting. As a result, nine locations were able to increase their sustainable food spend, while others saw reductions. Sustainable food spend represented 16% of food purchases on campuses and 23% of purchases at health centers in fiscal year 2024\u201325. This amounts to over $35 million going to sustainable food suppliers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of the University\u2019s total food and beverage spend, 31%, or over $63 million, was on plant-based food items. Ten locations are already on track to meet the policy goal<\/a> of at least 25% spend on plant-based food by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sustainable Food Services Working Group is using lessons learned from engagement across the system and reviewing updated standards from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and Practice Greenhealth to develop updated systemwide food policy goals. <\/p>\n\n\n

View Food Service Goals<\/use><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/details>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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General Sustainability Performance Assessment <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"Berkeley
UC Berkeley STARS Report<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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UC Davis STARS Report<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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UC Irvine STARS Report<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"UCLA
UCLA STARS Report<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Merced
No current rating (previously rated Platinum under version 2.2<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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UC Riverside STARS Report<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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UC San Diego STARS Report<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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UC Santa Barbara STARS Report<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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UC Santa Cruz STARS Report<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Read More about UC’s General Sustainability Performance Assessment<\/summary>\n

All nine undergraduate UC campuses participate in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education\u2019s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System<\/a> (AASHE STARS). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six of the nine undergraduate campuses currently hold an AASHE STARS Gold rating. UC Berkeley and UC San Diego have a Platinum rating, the highest STARS rating. Three UC campuses, UC Berkeley, UC Riverside, and UC Santa Cruz earned ratings in the latest version of STARS, version 3.0<\/a>. UC Merced previously received a Platinum rating and is planning to submit for an updated rating in 2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

STARS is the leading North American sustainable campus rating system and was developed by colleges and universities, including UC. The AASHE STARS Steering Committee guides the STARS development and implementation process and currently includes representation from the University\u2019s sustainability officers. STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS provides the foundation for other campus sustainability rankings and is a primary standard by which peer institutions evaluate their overall achievements and progress in sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UC campuses, academic health centers and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory received many additional awards in fiscal year 2024\u201325.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

View Sustainability Performance Assessment Goals<\/use><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/details>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Green Building<\/h2>\n\n\n

LEED Certifications<\/h3>
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*Data reported only accounts for buildings certified through the first half of 2025.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Read More about uc’s progress on green building<\/summary>\n

In the past fiscal year, UC locations reported 14 new LEED-certified green building projects: three Platinum, nine Gold, and two Silver certifications. UC’s total LEED certifications now include 467 projects, representing approximately 41 million square feet. The past year saw an increase in the University\u2019s all-electric building portfolio, which now comprises 45 buildings, exceeding 4.5 million square feet of occupied space. An additional six facilities (1 million square feet) use only electricity for space and water heating. UC campuses continue to add to this total, with another 50 all-electric buildings in planning, design and construction phases, totaling almost 11 million square feet. UC locations are pursuing Parksmart certification for nine new parking projects, adding to the University\u2019s five existing certified facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Green Building Working Group has proposed an update to the Sustainable Practices Policy that would require monitoring-based commissioning (MBCx) throughout the first year of a new building project\u2019s occupancy. This is an opportunity to ensure that building systems perform as designed while taking advantage of the contractor\u2019s warranty period to make no-cost corrections. By making a small investment in MBCx, the University will reduce energy use, capture cost savings, ensure equipment longevity and optimize thermal comfort for occupants.<\/p>\n\n\n

View Green Building Goals<\/use><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/details>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Health and Well-Being<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Icon<\/div>23%<\/strong>\n\n

healthy vending spend on food ($525K)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\"Icon<\/div>34%<\/strong>\n\n

healthy vending spend on beverages ($916K)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

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Healthy vending is defined as meeting UC\u2019s Healthy Vending Guidelines<\/a>. Data is from 2023\u201324.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Read More about uc’s progress on health and well-being<\/summary>\n

The University made significant progress toward its goals for healthy vending and chemicals of concern in the past year. Nine campuses and five health locations reported fiscal year 2023\u201324 data on food and beverage vending machine spend. This is the first year that the UC Annual Sustainability Report includes this data, which shows that, on average, healthy food accounted for 23% of all food sold from vending machines, and healthy beverages accounted for 34% of the beverages sold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sustainability and Well-Being Working Group also explored ways to reduce chemicals of concern on campus. The working group developed informational materials to augment the furniture section of the UC Sustainable Procurement Guidelines<\/a>, clarifying the policy goals for buyers and vendors. The working group also assessed implementation challenges, meeting with key stakeholders to explore how to make the guidelines clearer, and provided recommendations to improve the guidelines. As a result of this effort, data collection for the furniture green spend was updated to better represent UC\u2019s goals to purchase furniture free of chemicals of concern.
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View Health and Well-Being Goals<\/use><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/details>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Procurement<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Icon<\/div>$55.2M<\/strong>\n\n

green spend on electronics (62%)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\"Icon<\/div>$25.5M<\/strong>\n\n

green spend on indoor office furniture (84%)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\"Icon<\/div>$5.4M<\/strong>\n\n

green spend on cleaning supplies (53%)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\"Icon<\/div>$1.8M<\/strong>\n\n

green spend on office supplies (20%)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Green spend is defined as meeting preferred or minimum criteria in UC’s Sustainable Procurement Guidelines<\/a>.
Suppliers reporting: Electronics (12), Furniture (8), Cleaning supplies (7), Office supplies (5).
UC Systemwide Spend Analytics category data provided by CalUSource.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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\"Icon<\/div>$20.7M<\/strong>\n\n

green spend on appliances and IT hardware (98%)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\"Icon<\/div>$792K<\/strong>\n\n

green spend on office supplies (23%)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\"\"<\/div>$11.7M<\/strong>\n\n

cost savings through medical device reprocessing, representing 247,000 pounds of medical waste avoided<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Green spend is defined as meeting preferred or minimum criteria in UC’s Sustainable Procurement Guidelines<\/a>.
Suppliers reporting: Appliances and IT hardware (8), Office supplies (1).
\u201cReprocessing” refers to the FDA-approved re-manufacturing process carried out on a used device, including cleaning, disinfection, sterilization, testing and related procedures to allow its safe reuse. This process allows health facilities to reduce their reliance on single-use devices.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Read More About UC’s Progress on Procurement<\/summary>\n

This year, the Sustainable Procurement Working Group began a process of updating the Sustainable Procurement Guidelines<\/a> to address implementation challenges and changing regulations. Updates will include the replacement of the Economically and Socially Responsible Spend section with the Economic and Community Impact Spend section to better support UC’s local economy and communities, changes to the foodware section to address composting challenges and updates to the furniture section to facilitate implementation.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The University also continued to improve its process of collecting sustainable campus procurement data. The UC Procurement Analytics team analyzed data for over $138 million in total campus spend from 32 suppliers for the 2024\u201325 fiscal year; this represents a 51% increase in the amount of spend analyzed from the prior year. Within that spend, the University found that 62% of electronics, 84% of indoor office furniture, 53% of cleaning supplies and 20% of office supplies met UC\u2019s requirements on minimum or preferred green spend, as outlined in the Sustainable Procurement Guidelines<\/a>. This represents nearly $88 million in spend on products meeting green certification standards. UC Health locations also reported their green spend on office supplies and electronics and contributed an additional $21 million in spend on products meeting green certification standards. Analysis of UC\u2019s support of small businesses, presented to the state each year, can be found online<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trademarks and Licensing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The UC Code of Conduct for Trademark Licensees Steering Committee met throughout the 2024\u201325 academic year to collectively assess trademark licensees\u2019 progress in meeting the contractually binding UC Trademark Licensing Code of Conduct<\/a> sustainability standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The committee discussed current and emerging developments affecting UC campuses\u2019 trademark licensees\u2019 adherence to the code, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n