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Who We Are

The Tufts Climate Initiative is the pioneer in the field of climate change mitigation at institutions of higher learning.

In 1999, Tufts University committed to meeting or exceeding the Kyoto target for its greenhouse gas emissions. In 2003, President Lawrence Bacow renewed the University’s dedication to climate protection by adopting the goals of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers. In 2004, Tufts also joined the Chicago Climate Exchange.

Tufts University was among the very first to make sustainability a high priority in its teaching, planning, and operations. TCI is continuing this tradition of being a forerunner by choosing the ambitious approach of fostering change on a university wide level.

In 2005, Tufts and TCI won the prestigious EPA Climate Protection Award.

TCI Team (left to right): Anja Kollmuss, Sarah Creighton, Prof. William Moomaw, Ramsay Huntley

TCI’s approach is one of partnerships and opportunity. TCI works simultaneously on dozens of projects with many different departments, staff, faculty, and students. This broad approach is TCI’s chosen strategy towards our ultimate goal: the evolution of a paradigm shift that will lead the university on a path of full sustainability. We recognize that this is a tall order.

Read the 1999 Tufts commitment to Kyoto

The Kyoto Protocol on global warming asks the United States for a 7% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2012.

Tufts University is committed to meeting or beating the Kyoto target for university-related greenhouse gas emissions. Given the university's projected growth rate, this translates into a 30% emissions reduction by the year 2012 (see Tufts emissions inventory).

The TCI staff includes a part-time project manager, a part-time outreach coordinator, and a climate entrepreneurship specialist, and two faculty members.

Launched under the sponsorship of the Tufts Institute of the Environment (TIE), TCI's rapid progress has been advanced through the collaboration of the entire Tufts community and the participation and funding of a few generous foundations. TCI's ability to make changes at the university is largely due to our successful partnership with the Tufts Division of Operations. TCI’s newest partner, the University College of Citizenship and Public Service, has helped broaden TCI’s community reach and promote climate change action as active citizenship.

TCI’s main role is to catalyze change. TCI works closely with university operations, staff, faculty, and students and focuses on four key areas:

C02 Reductions
Realizing direct and measurable reductions in carbon emissions;

Research and Monitoring
Developing an understanding of the actions needed and the incentives that must accompany them;

Education
Increasing awareness about climate change and the personal and institutional connections to the problem;

Outreach and Events
Helping other institutions make similar commitments to reduce their own contributions to global climate change and increase their awareness of climate change action.

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tci [at] tufts.edu – ph. 617-627-5517 – fax 617-627-6645