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The Climate Commitment Action Plan (CCAP 2024) has been completed and posted and will serve as the University of Illinois Chicago’s roadmap to achieving a just climate future for the campus, city and beyond. Developed through an equitable and inclusive process, the plan aligns with the university’s Strategic Priorities and leverages its unique position to drive climate action.

Planning, Sustainability and Project Management (PSPM) plays a central role in advancing these commitments, coordinating efforts by tracking data, assessing progress, disseminating information and providing guidance under the direction of the Chancellor’s Committee on Sustainability and Energy.

We encourage each of you to read the plan and participate in UIC’s sustainability work.

Celebrate America Recycles Day at UIC! On November 15, visit the green Sustainability at UIC tables at Student Center East from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or at Student Center West from 1:30 p.m.

Learn more about recycling at UIC and bring items such as batteries, writing utensils, plastic bags/stretchy plastic film and personal electronics to recycle.

If you have questions or need more information, email Liz Bosarge, zero waste program director.

Join Chicago-based bicycle company SRAM and their high-performance team for a winter bike maintenance workshop on Wednesday, November 13 at 12:15 p.m. in the Engineering Makerspace in the Roosevelt Road Building, 728 W. Roosevelt Rd. (enter through Parking Lot 6).

The workshop will cover basic bike maintenance, including fixing a flat and maintaining your chain, and provide essential tips for preparing your bike for Chicago’s winter. Participants will also learn more about SRAM and the company’s passion for cycling.

The event is sponsored by SRAM, the College of Engineering and PSPM.

The Sustainability Internship Program (SIP) is a for-credit spring course (US/PUBH 390) that offers UIC undergraduates a chance to apply classroom learning through project-based engagement.

Since its launch in summer 2014, SIP has provided students from fields like engineering, architecture, urban studies, public health, nursing and liberal arts and sciences with internship placements in UIC departments and affiliated organizations. The program includes weekly seminars, field outings, leadership development and hands-on project management experience.

Applications for spring internships open in November. For more information, email Sustainability@uic.edu.

PSPM extends its thanks and congratulations to graduate student Francis Amoah on his graduation. Francis earned a master's degree in civil engineering at UIC and brought valuable experience and sustainability knowledge to PSPM.  

As PSPM’s net zero water assistant, he contributed to the Net Zero Water project and helped build a community of water issue experts within the UIC community in order to address the complexities of water sustainability and management at UIC and in the surrounding region.

Good luck to Francis as he pursues a career in the construction industry.

Stay connected with UIC's biking community by subscribing to the Cycling Listserv. Whether a casual rider or avid cyclist, the listserv provides updates on biking events, news and resources both on and off campus.

Information on cycling workshops, group rides, safety tips and bike maintenance services are shared and the listserv is the go-to source for all things biking at UIC and around Chicago. 

The Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition's (IFSCC) Young Professionals Group connects emerging leaders in the composting industry. Intended for individuals aged 21-35 or with less than five years of experience, the group provides opportunities to get involved with committees, collaborate on projects and help advance the success of IFSCC. Each participant will engage in discussions and leadership-driven initiatives.

Interested in joining? Fill out the form below to connect with its growing team of young professionals.

Embark on a unique study abroad experience in Grenoble, France, the “Green Capital of Europe,” while earning six to seven UIC credits. You’ll immerse yourself in the French language and culture, explore innovative sustainability initiatives and design a project to bring back to UIC.

The program includes visits to local organizations, coursework at Université Grenoble Alpes and a two-night stay in Paris and is open to students who have completed at least one semester at UIC. The application deadline is March 15, 2025.

An information session about the program will be held on Friday, November 15, from 4 to 5 p.m. via Zoom.

Do you want to protect public water for present and future generations? Are there aspects of industry, pollution or resource distribution that you would like to transform? Do you want to advocate for environmental justice?

If you answered yes to these or to related questions, then you’ll want to sign up for the Freshwater Lab Internship Course.

For more information, email raheleh@uic.edu.

Register for the next 2024 Speaker Series webinar hosted by the UIC Energy Resource Center (ERC). “Onsite Generation and Its Critical Role in Industrial Decarbonization” will be held on Wednesday, November 20 from 11 a.m. to noon.

According to 2021 data, the U.S. industrial sector is responsible for 23% of total U.S. CO2e emissions. The webinar will explore how onsite generation can help decarbonize the industrial sector and support the U.S. Department of Energy’s goals outlined in its Industrial Decarbonization Liftoff report. The session will also discuss how the DOE’s Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships (TAP) can aid this transformation.

NiSource and the UIC ERC will host the next in-person gROWing Chicago Habitat meeting on Tuesday, December 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the NiSource Southlake Campus, 801 E 86th Ave. in  Merrillville, Indiana.

The meeting  will focus on conservation and engagement activities, offering partners a platform to share updates, collaborate on conservation efforts in the Chicago Wilderness region, and discuss new initiatives in need of support.

Registration closes on Wednesday, November 20.

Climate Wayfinding is a workshop that helps individuals look inward, outward and forward to gain clarity around their role in climate engagement. The program aims to encourage higher education faculty and staff to bring this workshop to their campuses.

Beginning in February 2025, an eight-week online facilitator training workshop will equip participants to guide students through this critical time with purpose, courage and community. Apply to participate in the February cohort to help bring meaningful climate engagement to UIC.

Ken Dunn, a South Side pioneer in recycling and green living, passed away on October 14 at the age of 81. The founder of the Resource Center, a nonprofit recycling initiative and a leader in urban farming on Chicago’s South Side, Dunn was revered as a passionate environmentalist and a thoughtful philosopher. UIC worked with Dunn from the early 1970s, starting with the transportation of the university’s recycling and later with his hauling of compost from UIC’s first compost collection sites. His work continues to inspire sustainable practices in Chicago.

Greenlights will take a break in December and return in January 2025. As the holiday season approaches, remember to make sustainable choices - whether it’s reducing waste, supporting eco-friendly businesses or conserving energy. Wishing everyone a joyful and sustainable holiday season and we will see you in the new year!