Clarkson University is one of the nation’s most environmentally responsible colleges, according to the Sierra Club. Clarkson is 70th on the list, which is among the top 25% of the universities that were ranked.
The magazine analyzed 328 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada on a wide range of environmental factors — from research and curriculum to campus energy use, transportation, and fossil fuel divestment. The Sierra Club Cool Schools point system emphasizes Curriculum (38%), Campus engagement (20%), Public Engagement (20%), and Climate (18%).
“The Sierra Club Cool School ranking adds to a long list of accolades that Clarkson receives for our sustainability initiatives. For example, we were recently recertified by the Arbor Day Foundation as a 2020 Tree Campus USA for our commitment to urban forest management,” Susan Powers, the Director of Clarkson’s Institute for a Sustainable Environment said. “We are proud of these rankings, as they show our dedication to sustainability.” Our current initiatives include revamping our Clarkson Woods to make them more accessible and safe, reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, increasing bicycle use on campus, and addressing food waste management on campus and in the community, at least partially through the campus anaerobic digester.
Clarkson University is also rated gold by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (AASHE STARS) program for its socially responsible investment in sustainability education and research. STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance.
https://www.clarkson.edu/news/clarkson-university-again-named-sierra-club-cool-school