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Our Progress

Penn Sustainability provides transparent, comprehensive, and university-wide reporting of our sustainability initiatives. We create annual reports from the data and metrics gathered from many academic and administrative units at Penn, often using the STARS framework. These reports aim to give our community a cohesive view of what Penn Sustainability has accomplished within the seven initiatives outlined in the University’s Climate and Sustainability Action Plan 3.0:

  • Academics
  • Utilities and Operations
  • Physical Environment
  • Purchasing Practices
  • Waste Minimization & Recycling
  • Transportation
  • Outreach & Engagement
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Anchor link: https://www.sustainability.upenn.edu/about/our-progress#progress
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Progress Reports
STARS
Partners
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Progress Reports

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2022 | Full Report PDF 2MB

Stepping together towards sustainability: building futures, empowering communities

This report highlights fiscal year 2022 progress made in each of the seven initiatives of the CSAP 3.0 - designed to transform Penn towards its goals.

Learn More
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2021 | Full Report PDF 2MB

Unity in sustainability: igniting progress, embracing inclusivity, envisioning a brighter future

The climate emergency affects all of us, but its effects are not felt equally. Climate change exacerbates existing social, economic, and racial inequities in the U.S. and around the world. This report highlights fiscal year 2021 progress.
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2020 | Full Report PDF 2MB

Our path to become a 100% carbon neutral campus by 2042

Our climate plan is Penn’s own moon landing—an enormous challenge of great logistical and technical complexity. In this effort, our greatest asset is the depth of faculty, student, and staff commitment to solving these problems. This report highlights fiscal year 2020 progress.
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2018 | Full Report PDF 2MB

Leading by green example: championing sustainability, crafting the future, unwavering in our commitment

Penn’s success in reducing carbon emissions, constructing energy efficient buildings, and expanding our research and curricular focus on sustainability, has made our University a national leader in the effort to improve the environment. This report highlights fiscal year 2018 progress.

All Plan Documents

Anchor link: https://www.sustainability.upenn.edu/about/our-progress#stars
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STARS

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The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS ®) is global benchmarking tool by AASHE, enabling universities to transparently measure and report their sustainability achievements. Recognizing a broad array of institutions - from community colleges to research universities, it is instrumental in advancing sustainability initiatives from their inception to leadership stages. Penn is proud of the recognition we've received:

  • 2021 - Gold 

  • 2018 - Gold 

  • 2014 - Silver 

Find all of Penn's STARS reports on the AASHE website.

Anchor link: https://www.sustainability.upenn.edu/about/our-progress#partners
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Partners

The Penn Sustainability Office moves forward purposefully towards our campus goals in alliance with a number of other organizations.

Environmental Innovations Initiative
Center for Environmental Building and Design
The McHarg Center
The Water Center
Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology
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