UMD's Response to the Climate Crisis
University-wide Strategies to Address Climate Change
"Climate change is a grand challenge that demands action from all of us."
Climate Action Plan 3.0
UMD's Current Plan for reaching Net Zero Carbon
Since 2007, UMD has been committed to carbon neutrality. Strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from the university's day-to-day operations are detailed in this technical plan that is updated regularly with input from operational leaders who are implementing these actions. The third overarching version has been approved by the University Sustainability Council and will be launched by President Pines in late fall 2024.
Climate Action Plan 3.0 (coming soon)
Climate Action Plan 2.0: Carbon Emission Reduction and Removal
This is the second overarching version of UMD's Climate Action Plan (CAP), activated in 2017 and updated in 2021.
Resources for Living with Climate Change
- Use the following resources to help you grapple with the real life weather, societal inequities, and feelings that can emerge when you think about climate change
- UMD has a wealth of public information available about climate change-related research and the overview below offers a jumping off place to begin delving into the ways that Maryland scholars are making contributions
"We are guided by an unwavering commitment to all of our constituencies--students, faculty, staff, partners, allies, and alumni--to fearlessly forge a better world for all of humankind." - Fearlessly Forward Guiding Principles
- In the spirit of the strategic plan, the final section of this page provides context on how CAP 3.0 and UMD fit within the larger vision of Agenda 2030 and the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals
Resilience to the Changing Climate
UMD partners with Prince George's County and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management to ensure that we are prepared for flooding, extreme heat, tropical storms and other impacts of global warming. The Office of Emergency Management & Business Continuity has quick tips for weather related emergencies and other helpful resources.
Climate Justice
Higher education has a critical role to play in ensuring that society's transition from fossil fuels to greener alternatives includes opportunities and wellness for everyone, regardless of their level of education, race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion and abilities. UMD has strong research and service capabilities in the realm of social justice. The university is well positioned to contribute to a just climate transition.
Climate Emotions
We are all dealing with an uncertain future. The Office of Sustainability, the Division of Student Affairs, the Campus Arboretum, the Office of Community Engagement, and other campus groups work to create communities and provide resources to help students, staff and faculty process difficult emotions and harness them for positive changes.
Climate Research
UMD is a global leader in research initiatives to address the complexities of climate change, with interdisciplinary teams working on multiple fronts to protect public health and ecological resources. This site highlights a few major research efforts but does not capture everything underway at UMD. For more information please contact the Division of Research.
Climate Action and Sustainable Development Synergies
"Maximizing on the interlinkages between the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement by leveraging Climate and SDG Synergies, has the potential of achieving both agendas and guaranteeing a livable future for next generations by leaving no one behind." - United Nations Global Climate & SDG Synergy Conference
The world is facing numerous crises that are interconnected by shared social, economic, and environmental drivers. Addressing the climate crisis requires both climate action, initiatives that aim to reduce the severity of climate change and its impacts, and sustainable development, development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Rather than working separately, aligning climate action and sustainable development can create synergies and co-benefits that far exceed the benefits of either alone.