ALLEGHENY COLLEGE ACHIEVES
CARBON NEUTRALITY by Josh Tysiachney photos Ed Mailliard, Liam Michel ’20 and Second Nature
Allegheny College recently became one of the first 10 higher education institutions in the United States to achieve carbon neutrality, reflecting more than a decade of effort to enhance efficiency in operations, engage students in research and action, and build collaborations with partners. In addition, Allegheny was the first college in Pennsylvania to receive Second Nature’s Carbon Neutral Campus award. A carbon-neutral institution first reduces its operational carbon footprint and then balances remaining emissions by investing in projects that will remove an equal amount of carbon from the atmosphere. Carbon neutrality efforts demonstrate urgent climate action to reduce the concentration of climate-changing gases in the atmosphere dramatically, said Allegheny Director of Sustainability Kelly Mack Boulton ’02.
This was truly a collective effort that involved collaboration by the Board of Trustees, faculty, students, staff and external partners. I also want to recognize my predecessors, Presidents Emeriti Richard Cook and Jim Mullen, for their leadership in sustaining the momentum toward reaching this ambitious goal. Hilary L. Link Allegheny College President
“Carbon neutrality is not the end goal but rather another moment of progress in our continued efforts to be a sustainable and resilient campus and community member.”
Allegheny has a longstanding commitment to promoting sustainability practices and solutions. In 1972, the College established one of the first environmental science departments in the country. Allegheny’s Board of Trustees adopted environmental guiding principles in 2002, and the College became a charter signatory of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment in 2007. “I am very grateful to the Allegheny community for the dedication, insights and hard work that have enabled the College to achieve climate neutrality,” said Allegheny President Hilary L. Link. “This was truly a collective effort that involved collaboration by the Board of Trustees, faculty, students, staff and external partners. I also want to recognize my predecessors, Presidents Emeriti Richard
Allegheny College was recognized for its efforts to achieve climate neutrality at the Second Nature Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit in February. Pictured, from left: President Emeritus James H. Mullen, Jr., President Emeritus Richard J. Cook, Trustee Christine Scott Nelson ’73, Chief Financial Officer Linda Wetsell, Director of Sustainability Kelly Boulton ’02 and President Hilary L. Link. Cook, Link, Mullen and Nelson participated in a plenary panel, “Maintaining Climate Momentum Through Presidential Transitions,” at the summit. Nelson was chair of the Board of Trustees when Allegheny became an early signatory of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment.
Watch the panel at allegheny.edu/climatepanel
