Category: Office of Sustainability

2040 Now: Highlights & More

From April 17 to April 21, 2023, the NYU community was invited to explore climate optimism and new sustainability initiatives through the university-wide event, 2040 Now. 

We learned that through meaningful climate action, including both individual choices and societal involvement, there are different ways to create a climate-stable future and be healthier and happier. 

While the week of 2040 Now has passed, we invite you to explore some of our favorite moments from a week full of events, panels, competitions, initiatives, and sustainable change! 

Jess X. Snow speaking at Community Mural reveal

2040 Now Center

The 2040 Now Center offered the NYU community an opportunity to learn about climate solutions and envision a greener future. Over 25 administrative groups, student groups, and outside organizations shared how they are tackling climate change while artist in residence, Jess X. Snow, painted a mural that highlighted the role of Indigenous people and people of color in the climate movement.

 

2040 Now Ambassador in front of advocacy board.

Advocacy

Throughout the week, we challenged the NYU community to advocate in support of their vision for achieving a more sustainable and just future, and they did not disappoint! During 2040 Now, 368 NYUers took the 2040 Now Climate Action Pledge or reached out to their elected representatives. You can still explore our advocacy toolkit to create lasting, positive change. 

Students grabbing some food from Beyond Meat event.

 

Events

We offered 70+ events and programming throughout the week for our community to join conversations on climate change. Events offered community members interactive, first-hand experiences on how to live more sustainably and focused on topics such as food systems, storytelling, resiliency, transportation, environmental justice, networking, and so much more.

A student modeling designs inspired by upcycling denim.

 

Competitions

We hosted a variety of competitions for the NYU community to describe how they tackle climate change while having fun. Our short film competition featured stories that combat climate despair by inspiring us to act. Our writing competition featured op-eds from undergraduates advocating for the changes demanded by the climate crisis. While our Re-Fashion Show encouraged designers to explore the climate-related implications of how we dress.

Campus Safety on Bike PatrolNYU Initiatives

NYU piloted sustainability initiatives throughout the week to test their feasibility for larger-scale efforts – as change is necessary at the institutional level for NYU to meet its climate goals. These initiatives included plant forward menus in dining halls, with one day of plant-forward dining at two dining halls on campus leading to a reduction of around 55 metric tons of CO2 emissions, the roll out of Campus Safety’s Bicycle Response Unit for the first time in over a decade, and pop-up organics and e-waste collection to help the community reduce food waste and divert trash from the landfill. 

 

Many thanks to all members of our community for making 2040 Now possible. While 2040 Now has wrapped, NYU remains dedicated and committed to making our university one of the greenest urban campuses. In May, we started renovating Rubin Hall that will be the largest Passive House retrofit in the United States. With exciting, new initiatives and programs planned, we look forward to seeing you again.

How to Take Sustainable Graduation Photos

Student in graduation cap standing in front of flowersEvery May, public spaces near NYU buildings (like Washington Square Park) are flooded with violet gowns and black caps as graduating students capture photos they’ll cherish for years. Cameras flash and families exchange congratulations. The streets in between the many iconic NYU buildings come alive in jubilation. 

But after the party ends and the graduates leave, the setting is quite different. Glitter, balloons, and streamers may look great in pictures, but a lot of them get left behind and become an environmental nuisance. 

Don’t let your joy become a pain for the parks, the streets, or the planet! Below are some tips on how to celebrate your graduation more sustainably. Read more

NYU Sustainability 2022 #YearinReview

 

Year after year, NYU continues to strive for excellence in sustainability, 2022 was no exception.

From new initiatives to community partnerships, building renovations to welcome week events; students, faculty, staff, and administrators from across the university have been invaluable to making a greener NYU. We’re shining the spotlight on some of 2022’s great accomplishments! 

Solar panels on Bobst Library's roof

 

New Addition to Bobst! 

In February, President Andrew Hamilton revealed that Bobst Library would be equipped with 304 solar panels and installation was completed by early this summer. The solar panels generate 110 kilowatts of energy, that’s the same as powering the Seventh Street student residence for a year! 

 

NYU Biking

In March, NYU was awarded Silver-level Bicycle Friendly University and Business status by the American League of Bicyclists for efforts to support affordable, sustainable, and healthy transportation. Biking is a central part of the NYU community, with our 2019 survey showing that there had been a 627% increase in bike ridership over the last decade. In addition to doubling bike parking across NYU’s campus over the last two years, NYU also coordinated group rides, bike education, gave out more than 300 helmets to the community and much more! Learn more about biking at NYU.

Students at the Earth Day Fair

Earth Month

For the first time since 2019, we once again held the Earth Day Street Fair! The NYU and NYC community came out to celebrate the planet we live on and learned about actions they can take to protect it. 

During the 2022 State of Sustainability address, we reported on recent accomplishments, announced new initiatives, and recognized community leaders for their significant contributions to our sustainability efforts. We also unveiled 2040 Now, a university-wide, week-long initiative in April 2023 to envision a sustainable future in the year 2040, when NYU plans to be climate neutral! 

In May, we successfully removed over 9 tons of waste during our annual Green Apple Move Out, our annual initiative to collect and donate unwanted items from students moving out of residence halls. More than 500 items were diverted from the landfill, and were instead rehomed or recycled!

 

 

Student Engagement

During fall welcome week, we got to hear from students about how we can confront the climate crisis and achieve climate neutrality by 2040. Our interactive kiosks, focused on 2040 Now, invited students to think about and leave their comments on how they’d like to lower their environmental impacts in their spending, community, and otherwise. We were excited to hear from so many students on how NYU can achieve climate neutrality as a community!

 

 

 

Art Installation

*This Is Not a Drill*, funded through our Green Grants program, produced an exhibit with artworks that focus on the intersection of technology, equity, and the climate emergency and was displayed in Bobst’s Gallery. During the exhibition’s closing event, Cecil Scheib, the Chief Sustainability Officer at NYU, along with a panel of climate science experts discussed how we can create a public pedagogy to combine technology, the arts, critical thinking, and climate justice activism.

 

Pilot Program

In October, through community partnership with Union Square Partnership, the Clean Curbs Pilot program was brought to NYU, just outside the Carlyle Court residence hall. Normally, bags of trash are placed on sidewalks, where it can obstruct pedestrian traffic, leak, emit odors, and attract pests. With the new bins, trash bags can be placed within a solid structure eliminating those issues.

Food waste collected in bins

 

Waste Week

Our annual Waste Week in November featured an array of events, workshops and engagements centered around multiple key waste areas that included fashion, food, and material waste. One of our most popular events was our live food waste tracking at Downstein and Third North, where front-of-house food waste was recorded, measured, and analyzed. We were able to compost 44 pounds of food scraps from plate waste and students were incredibly excited to know their food was going towards composting efforts!

 

Intersectional Environmentalism 

The Environmental and Racial Justice Network (ERJN) sponsored the Critical Voices working group, which examines the relationship between environmentalism, biodiversity conservation and racial justice to discuss the critical role that histories of settler colonialism and ongoing capitalist paradigms have played in the ideologies and approaches to the teaching, practice and academic study of environmental justice. The ERJN held a virtual Spring Summit and Fall Summit, which invited conversation on durability of racism and its many material forms, working across diverse cultures, and dismantling environmental injustice at NYU and beyond.

Green Grants and Green Workplace Recap 

In 2022, we awarded $90,000 in Green Grants funding! Grantees’ projects range from creating biodegradable mesh bags, analyzing noise pollution at NYU, to creating an edible farm and garden lab at NYUSH. If you’re looking to start a project of your own, visit our Green Grants webpage for more information!

Our Green Workplace Certification was a hit in 2022. We added 32 new certified workplaces with 19 being awarded Platinum, 12 awarded Gold and 1 awarded silver. If your workplace hasn’t been certified don’t delay, download the checklist and let’s discuss. 

Many thanks to all members of our community for making our favorite memories of this year possible, and for the dedication and commitment to making a greener NYU. With exciting new initiatives and programs planned, we look forward to seeing you in the new year and are excited to continue advancing sustainability at NYU! 

 

Waste Week 2022

Waste Week 2022

 

NYU’s Waste Week 2022 takes place on Monday, 11/14 to Friday, 11/18. Throughout the week, the Office of Sustainability is hosting events, workshops, and engagements centered around multiple key waste areas that include fashion, food, and material waste. As a community, we can work together to eliminate landfill waste, reduce our carbon footprint, and contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable city!

Head over to our instagram page @nyu_green to share your favorite zero-waste recipes, best thrift stores in the city, and your recycled and upcycled creations. Keep your eye out for farmer’s market reels, cooking demonstrations, upcoming events, and student takeovers! 

Read more

Celebrate Biketober 2022

Person biking in front of New York City skyline. Title saying "Happy Biketober!"Happy Biketober! Join us for a month-long celebration of biking this fall. Whether you want to join us for a group ride or explore the city by bike on your own time, there are several ways to get riding this fall. 

And, if you’re an avid cyclist, share your #BikeStory with us on our instagram @nyu_green, email sustainability@nyu.edu, or even comment down below! We’re featuring Bike lovers in our Biking Wednesdays segment on our instagram page. Reach out to be have your #BikeStory included. 

Stay tuned for more events that will be added throughout the month.

 

Office of Sustainability Events:

Group Rides with the Office of Sustainability (RSVP required):

Bike Safety Workshops with Campus Safety:

External Programming:

Group Rides:

    • Bike the Block Brooklyn (Get Women Cycling hosted by DOT):
      • Sunday, October 23, 2022, 11:00 AM-3:00 PM @ 259 Bristol Street, Brooklyn, NY

Self-Guided Rides:

Outdoor Bike Repair Classes with Time’s Up:

    • Thursday, October 13th, 5pm @ La Plaza Cultural, East 9th St & Ave C. NYC
    • Thursday, October 27th, 5pm @ La Plaza Cultural, East 9th St & Ave C. NYC

Other Resources:

This fall, get outside and get biking with the Office of Sustainability! And, if you’re an avid cyclist, share your #BikeStory with us on our instagram @nyu_green, email sustainability@nyu.edu, or even comment down below! We’re featuring Bike lovers in our Biking Wednesdays segment on our instagram page. Reach out to be have your #BikeStory included.