Harvard University sets an example for a better future

08/26/2022

Harvard University is a private institution founded in 1636. Throughout the years the university has devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, and to developing leaders who are bound to make a difference globally. As every highly respected institution, Harvard University, as well has claimed its social stand regarding the environmental and climate tread we are all facing and is actively acting towards this world challenge.

Currently, the university offers more than 240 courses on energy, the environment, and sustainability. With more than 230 faculty engaged in research and teaching in those areas. "Our campus is part of the solution" is the moto the university goes by and thus has created "The Living Lab", where students, faculty, and staff together use the campus and the surrounding community as a test bed to generate new discoveries and pilot promising new solutions.

Furthermore, Harvard University has also created their own climate action plan and has advanced these goals by establishing a Presidential Committee on Sustainability to oversee progress and provide recommendations in key areas such as maximizing on-campus energy efficiency, exploring the development of a carbon price or surcharge on on-campus fossil fuel energy use and others. Their ultimate long-term goal is to be fossil fuel free by 2050, and the whole plan you can read here.

Throughout all of the programs, courses, and workshops related to sustainability in one way or another that are offered at Harvard University, there are many interesting stories and discoveries to be shared. One of the biggest and multi-disciplinary courses and research programs happens with the Climate Solutions Living Lab.

Some of the projects, that have made the greatest impact within this program are research on finding practical alternatives to carbon, reducing potent greenhouse gasses projects, building a healthy and energy efficient future in Rhode Island public schools, and many others.

Harvard University is assisting the fight for a better future in numerous additional ways. For instance, the Harvard Center for Greener Buildings and Cities seeks to revolutionize the construction sector by dedicating a design-centric strategy that directly connects research findings to the creation of novel procedures, systems, and goods. On the other side, the 3.500 acres of land, research buildings, and Fischer Museum make up the Harvard Forest, a Long-Term Ecological Research Site established by the National Science Foundation.

Additionally, the Office of the Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability sponsors the Harvard University Climate Change Fund, which supports research and policy initiatives to lessen the risk of climate change, hasten the switch from fossil fuel-based energy systems to those that depend on renewable energy, as well as other innovations toward cleaner energy, improved human health, and a greener world.

As a finale of this article, a thoughtful quote from the former president of Harvard University entails the following “Ideas, innovation, discovery and rigorous independent thought will serve as indispensable elements in combating the climate threat.”

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