The University of Maryland has been working towards sustainability for decades, and each year we take new steps and further progress. Our goals and successes are tracked in three platforms:
Sustainability Goals
The UMD Sustainability Goals set broad targets, ranging from energy use to purchasing, to guide sustainability efforts. These broad goals are endorsed by the University Sustainability Council to guide UMD's sustainability efforts.
Climate Action Plan
The Climate Action Plan(CAP) sets out regular benchmarks to lower the university's carbon footprint and fossil fuel use. The plan is a living document that is updated regularly with minor adjustments and details as implementation proceeds. Major updates to the plan are completed every five to eight years and published online after approval by University Sustainability Council, endorsement by the Administrative Cabinet, and announcement by the President. CAP 1.0 was published in 2009; CAP 2.0 was published in 2017; and CAP 3.0 was published in 2024.
In Spring 2021, President Pines announced that UMD would accelerate its commitment to climate action by achieving net carbon neutrality in 2025 instead of by 2050 as the CAP 1.0 and 2.0 had laid out. CAP 2.0 was accordingly updated in 2021-2022 with new strategies to achieve this target. On Earth Day 2025, the Office of Sustainability announced that UMD has acheived carbon neutrality and will continue working toward long term goals of full vehicle fleet electrification and elimination of fossil fuels from the central energy plant by 2035.
Our university CAP is part of the Climate Leadership Commitments, which provide a framework and support for American colleges and universities to eventually become carbon neutral and improve regional resilience to climate change.
Other Commitments
Beyond internally set goals and climate strategies, UMD's operational programs to support sustainability are guided by an array of voluntary commitments and regulatory requirements. UMD aims to foster a culture of sustainability and act as a leader in voluntary and regulated environmental stewardship by going above and beyond the call of action. Explore other commitments and regulations that help UMD become more sustainable.