April 2024

Georgia Tech announced the publication of its first comprehensive Climate Action Plan in April. The plan is the Institute's road map to cut campus greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050 while supporting climate education and research to advance solutions globally. The effort was spearheaded by the Office of Sustainability with support, collaboration, and input from throughout the Georgia Tech community.

Groups around campus hosted more than 20 events as part of the Earth Month event series, attacting hundreds of attendees. The Earth Day Sustainable Org Fair and Celebration, a signature event hosted by the Office of Sustainability, brought nearly 30 sustainable student organizations and campus departments and more than 200 participants together on the Kendeda Building Patio for fun sustainability activities, networking, and snacks. We'll see you next year!

As a building coordinator for the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB), Leonard Law is on the front lines of sustainable operations at Georgia Tech. His commitment to composting, recycling, and bird safety makes the IBB building a greener place to study, research, and work. 

Know someone who advances sustainability at Georgia Tech? Nominate them as the Sustainability Champion for May 2024.  

The newly refreshed Student Sustainable Living Guide offers actionable tips on how to reduce your environmental impact as a Georgia Tech student. Check it out. 

Georgia Tech's Undergraduate Sustainability Education Committee (USEC) has released its third Request for Proposals for Undergraduate Sustainability Education Innovation Grants. 

Over the past year, the first two calls have resulted in the redesign or new design of roughly 40 courses at Georgia Tech to include transformative sustainability learning. These grants advance progress toward the ambitious sustainability education goals outlined in the Sustainability Next plan, part of Georgia Tech’s Strategic Plan initiatives, and the education portion of the Institute’s new Climate Action Plan. The third group of grantees will have many opportunities to learn from other faculty already engaged in teaching with sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This RFP invites applicants to include at least one of the following four areas within sustainability education: 1) community-engaged teaching & learning; 2) cross-disciplinary and transdisciplinary learning; 3) experiential learning tied to Georgia Tech’s Living Campus initiative; and 4) sustainability education research that evaluates the impact of sustainability education integration on student learning. Project budgets up to $10,000 will be considered and funds may be used for course release, student support, materials, course or conference travel, and other expenses allowable with state funds.

Auburn President Christopher B. Roberts visited the Kendeda Living Building in April. President Cabrera, the Office of Sustainability, and sustainability faculty hosted the visit to exchange information about living buildings and sustainability initiatives. 

As part of Earth Month event series, the Office of Sustainability coordinated a walking tour of the EcoCommons led by Jason Gregory, Institute Landscape Architect, and Jerry Young, Landscape Project Manager. One of Georgia Tech's most impressive sustainability features, the EcoCommons contributes to well-being in numerous ways in addition to acting as a performance landscape that captures stormwater, reduces pollution, and increases biodiversity.