University of Colorado Boulder
Be Boulder in Sustainability
Finalist, Sustainability Institution of the Year
About
CU Boulder is committed to addressing the urgent challenges of our time, encouraging students, faculty, and staff to “Be Boulder in Sustainability.” Sustainability is one of Chancellor Justin Schwartz’s top four priorities on campus. In 2025, CU Boulder launched numerous new efforts in support of this vision, including: 1) establishing the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Sustainability, 2) The SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education and the Sustainability Research Initiative; 3) Boulder Climate Ventures; 4) two new masters in sustainability 5) two solar projects; and 6) the elimination of single-use plastics in beverages. CU Boulder is rapidly expanding how sustainability is embedded throughout the university’s governance, academics, operations, and external engagement. Other notable highlights include the university’s Climate Action Plan, which aims to cut emissions in half by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and CU’s 2025 #1 rank for university-related startups, over 1/3 of these focusing on sustainability.
Top 3 learnings
- We found that centering equity in our sustainability work makes outcomes stronger and more durable.
- We discovered that measuring progress publicly holds us accountable and motivates continuous improvement.
- Training our students as sustainability practitioners creates impact beyond any single program or policy.
Sustainable Development Goals
| 2026 | |
| Sustainability Institution of the Year | |
| Finalist, International |
