Tag: Conservation

April 21, 2021

NYU Ranks Top University for Responsible Consumption and Production

NYU ranked #38 globally and #4 in the US on Responsible Consumption and Production through the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, which assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production measures how universities are working towards an efficient use of resources and the minimization of waste.

Through initiatives such as the Cool Food Pledge, waste mitigation strategies like the Water Bottle Purchasing Policy, and ongoing efforts to increase sustainable procurement practices, NYU has demonstrated our commitment to ethically sourcing goods and increasing upstream solutions to waste.

The 2021 Impact Rankings is the third edition and the overall ranking includes 1,115 universities from 94 countries/regions. This ranking is based on the data NYU reports through AASHE STARS, which captures information about how environmentally responsible a school’s policies and practices are, and how sustainability is embedded into campus life.

Sustainability at NYU is a team effort. We thank our partners especially in Procurement, Dining, and Grounds and Waste Management who helped us achieve this particular recognition.

November 30, 2020

Reflections from Native American Heritage Month: Environmental and Social Justice Resources

November is considered Native American Heritage Month. It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the various cultures, art, and traditions of America’s Native peoples. The native experience and perspective are in no way a monolith, so here are some resources highlighting the diverse groups of people that have long worked to cultivate a more resilient, sustainable future.

March 25, 2020

10 Actions For a VIRTUAL Earth Month

As we practice social distancing and find ways to reach out and check in with our neighbors, we are being called to consider how our actions affect the most vulnerable among us; is that not the very same collective action the climate crisis demands?

To that end, recent reports have examined how social distancing due to the spread of the coronavirus may have unexpected consequences for climate change. Many of the actions people are taking during this time from reducing air travel to consuming less could significantly reduce one’s carbon footprint.

Though in-person gatherings in honor of Earth Day at 50 have been cancelled or postponed, there are still ways to mark this occasion even in self-isolation. Here are 10 things you can start doing during this unique moment to stay healthy and safe while honoring the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and committing to a more sustainable life now and into the future. Read more

March 17, 2020

NYU Rolls Out University-wide IT Sustainability Initiative

From the devices in our hands to the cloud where important project documents are stored, information technology (IT) is a critical part of teaching, research, and work. As NYU IT requires substantial energy and resources to serve our diverse community needs, it also serves a major source of potential carbon reductions and energy savings. That’s why in 2019 NYU’s IT Sustainability Initiative formed: to reduce NYU IT’s carbon footprint. The Initiative is comprised of seven workstreams:

November 1, 2019

Reflecting on the Coastal Resiliency Days of Service: Billion Oyster Project

by Sophia Gumbs

Last Friday, October 25, a group from the NYU community joined the Office of Sustainability in a day of service with the Billion Oyster Project. Billion Oyster Project’s mission is to “restore oyster reefs to New York Harbor through public education initiatives.” The Project’s intention is to distribute one billion live oysters around 100 acres of reefs by 2035 in order to restore the New York Harbor’s previous role as the “most productive waterbody in the North Atlantic” and the “oyster capital of the world.” So far, the Project has planted 28 million live oysters, recycled 1 million pounds of shell, and worked with 75 restaurants, 70 schools, 1,215 high school students, over 6,500 middle school students, and over 9,000 volunteers!