39.2%
GHG Emissions
reduction since 2008 baseline
116,833
Pounds
of food diverted to combat hunger since 2015
620
Tons
of compostables diverted from landfill since 2014
16.5%
Electricity
came from renewables in FY21

Sustainability Reports

Transparently reporting progress is an imperative part of communicating University-wide efforts, goals, and achievements. The University of Pittsburgh regularly produces a number of publications related to campus-wide sustainability, greenhouse gas inventories, LEED building certifications, and more. Additionally, Pitt participates in a number of external sustainability programs, most notably AASHE STARS and the Pittsburgh 2030 District.

Pitt Sustainability Reports

The University of Pittsburgh Sustainability Reports are created to fully outline the institution’s sustainability efforts on campus and in the greater community. This publication includes information related to sustainable campus operations, education and research, and community outreach and leadership. These reports also inspired the development of the University Sustainability Committee and the ongoing efforts for a university-wide sustainability plan.

Pitt Sustainability Plans

Established in 2018, the Pitt Sustainability Plan identifies over 60 sustainability goals and key performance indicators for tracking Pitt’s progress over time. This plan established the Office of Sustainability at Pitt.

Pitt Climate Action Plans

In 2022, the first Pitt Climate Action Plan for the University of Pittsburgh’s Pittsburgh campus was released detailing Pitt’s strategy and pathway to reaching carbon neutrality by 2037.

Greenhouse Gas Inventories

Pitt is actively working towards carbon neutrality by 2037, with an incremental goal of 50% fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than 2008 by 2030.

Our Pittsburgh campus fiscal year (FY) 2022 inventory indicates we’ve already reduced GHGs ~36.7% .

Dig into the details below about how Pitt has been tracking and reducing our GHG impact over time through inventories published since 2008 or check out the GHG dashboard.

MCSI Annual Reports

Established in 2003, the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation is the oldest and largest sustainability research, teaching, and outreach center at Pitt, collaborating with all of 16 of Pitt’s sustainability-related centers

AASHE STARS Certification

The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS) is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance created by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).  The University of Pittsburgh has long-used AASHE STARS as a tracking mechanism, but first achieved certification in 2018.  Pitt’s AASHE STARS documentation is public online and the university must re-certify every 3 years.

Real College Survey Results

To better understand how Pitt can serve vulnerable students, Pitt’s Campus Basic Needs Committee, deployed the #RealCollege survey for the first time in Fall 2020. Created in 2015 by the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice at Temple University, the #RealCollege survey reveals the lived experiences of today’s students outside of classroom instruction and is now the nation’s largest and most well-established annual assessment of students’ basic needs.

Read Pitt’s 2021 Real College Survey report.

Nitrogen Inventories
Pittsburgh 2030 District Reports

In 2014, the University of Pittsburgh was a Founding Property Partner of the Pittsburgh 2030 District‘s Oakland boundary.  Since then, Pitt has worked closely with Green Building Alliance and other Pittsburgh 2030 District Partners towards achieving 50% reductions in energy use, water use, and transportation emissions (below baselines) by the year 2030.  In 2018, Pitt embraced the 2030 Challenge goals University-wide, contributing towards short- and long-term successes improved indoor and air quality, increased returns on investment, and growing campus and regional success.