University of California

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

The UC system president has signed the Presidents Climate Commitment, as well as an updated Policy on Sustainable Practices. The new version adds sections on climate protection, sustainable operations, waste reduction, and purchasing. The policy is overseen by a system-wide sustainability steering committee and each campus has an advisory committee on sustainability in addition to sustainability staff. Several campuses have complementary policies of their own.

Eight campuses have joined the California Climate Action Registry to track their greenhouse gas emissions. The university has committed to achieving climate neutrality as soon as possible, as well as to purchasing 20 percent of its grid-purchased electricity from renewable energy sources by 2010, and to producing 10 megawatts of onsite renewable energy by 2014. The Alliance to Save Energy manages student-run conservation programs on six campuses.

The California Student Sustainability Coalition is working to bring local, organic food to cafeterias system-wide. UC–Santa Cruz purchases more than 25 percent of its produce from local, organic, and socially responsible sources, and UC–Berkeley has 100 percent organic salad bars in all of its dining halls. To-go containers and utensils are made from biodegradable materials on several campuses. The Policy on Sustainable Practices sets an ultimate goal of 100 percent waste diversion by 2020.

All new buildings and renovations must meet the LEED-certified level rating at a minimum and strive to achieve a Silver rating. A new section of the Policy on Sustainable Practices requires that the university develop a plan to operate and maintain buildings at a minimum standard equivalent to a LEED-certified rating for existing buildings. Each campus is required to submit one building for LEED-EB certification by July 2008.

UC–Riverside was recognized as having one of the top 100 alternatively fueled fleets in the country, while San Diego has a fleet with over 225 electric vehicles and 30 hybrids. UC–Irvine uses 100 percent biodiesel in all of its campus shuttles; Santa Barbara and Davis students receive free public transportation; and Santa Cruz has a bicycle shuttle program.

Per Regents’ policy, the Office of the President makes a detailed list of endowment holdings accessible online. The university does not have a policy addressing disclosure of its endowment shareholder voting record.

The university has not made any public statements about investigating or investing in renewable energy funds or community development loan funds.

The Office of the Treasurer provides its managers with guidelines for proxy voting. For all shares in external managers’ portfolios, the office appoints a third party organization to vote all proxies in accordance with the guidelines, and to provide an annual written report of all proxy votes.