Sustainable CUNY Task Force

“Our success in achieving our targets by 2017 is critical to the quality of life in an increasingly populated New York City...”

-Chancellor Matthew Goldstein

The CUNY Sustainability Project was given institutional clarity and impetus through the acceptance by Chancellor Goldstein of Mayor Bloomberg’s '30 in10' Challenge. This challenge will motivate New York City’s public and private universities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2017.

CUNY is committed to investing the resources necessary to construct, retrofit and maintain more sustainable and green facilities. To assure a more sustainable CUNY and a sustainable New York and in order to meet these challenges Executive Vice Chancellor and COO Allan Dobrin has created the CUNY Task Force on Sustainability.

All 23 CUNY Institutions and their leaders will create unique and measurable ten year sustainability plans in order to reach CUNY’s target in 2017, with support from the Task Force.

More broadly, CUNY will work to incorporate sustainability into the fabric of the University by integrating sustainability into the curriculum, supporting research and partnering with civic and business leaders to achieve a more Sustainable CUNY/Sustainable New York. CUNY will carry out its responsibilities to its students and the broader citizenry of NYC by using lessons learned through the study of sustainability to improve their lives and promote economic development opportunities for the future. With these measures CUNY will champion the changes our community and our society require for a viable and sustainable future.

Colleges
Every institution will identify a Presidential designee to carry out the College's portion of the challenge and set up their own campus based committee with student engagement. Each institution will be required to create its unique 10 year Sustainability Plan. The Task Force on Sustainability will act as a resource for the campuses. Benchmarks will be established within the plan. Progress will be measured as part of the Performance Management Program. Immediate focus should be on conservation, preventative maintenance, awareness and data gathering. The 5 year Capital Plan will include resources to support the greening of our campuses.

Task Force
The CUNY Task Force on Sustainability has been created with Iris Weinshall, Ron Spalter and Robert Paaswell as the co-chairs. An Executive Director, Tria Case, has been appointed to ensure coordination among the member's action plans. Members of the Task Force will include representatives from throughout the University.

Mission Statement and Task Force Committees Coming Soon.

Sponsored by:
Allan Dobrin, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer, CUNY

Co-Chairs
Iris Weinshall, Vice Chancellor, Facilities Planning, Construction and Management, CUNY
Ron Spalter, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, CUNY
Robert Paaswell Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering, City College of New York

Executive Director
Tria Case, Executive Director, Center for Sustainability Energy at BCC.

Project Manager
Laura Saegert-Winkel

Communication Director
Laurie Reilly, Communications and Special Projects Center for Sustainable Energy at BCC