DU’s Sustainability Council has created a plan for achieving carbon neutrality on campus by 2050.

The plan includes conservation, efficiency, organizing and funding on-and-off-campus energy generation and purchasing carbon credits.

This plan is not only designed to achieve the goal, but also to do so in a cost effective manner.

“As we stand on the brink of immutable destruction, we must act now,” said Dillon Doyle, a junior and voting member on the Sustainability Committee and a USG senator.

“The cost of inaction is far too great and we cannot continue our current lifestyles. I think DU has gone strides to pioneer a greener future, and a carbon neutral date is part of that!”

Since March 2007, members of the council have developed a five-step plan for decreasing carbon emissions around campus.

Chancellor Robert Coombe agreed to implement sustainability when he signed the American College University Presidents Climate Commitment. 

Carbon neutrality refers to the act of balancing an emitted, measured amount of carbon with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset.

This is one of many campaigns the Sustainability Council supports, but members find it to be one of the most important issues.

At the monthly council meeting, members explained that students can expect to see changes on campus, like the newly-launched Bike Share Program and reducing energy usage through higher efficiency lighting, making being environmentally friendly more convenient.

In doing this, the members hope to spread awareness and inspire action.

“Carbon neutrality is more than just reducing carbon emissions to zero,” said Doyle. “It’s a culture shift away from unsustainable consumption towards ecological alternatives.”

This plan also can serve to further unify DU’s population.

Committee members  understand the complexity of the goal at hand but are confident in the students’ abilities to drastically lessen their carbon footprint. 

“Achievement of this goal would require the collective effort of the entire University of Denver community and affirm our position as a great private university dedicated to the public good,” said Tom McGee, energy engineer and staff representative on the Sustainability Committee.

For more information visit du.edu/green.