5/18
Sustainability
Inspiring people, place, and purpose
Penn President Amy Gutmann’s record tenure of nearly 18 years is the University’s most transformative.
Understanding climate stories
In the latest episode of Penn Today’s “Understand This …” podcast series, Bethany Wiggin of the School of Arts & Sciences and Jennifer Pinto-Martin of the School of Nursing discuss climate stories, climate grief, and climate literacy.
A call for tools to navigate the future of the Delaware River watershed
The Penn Program in Environmental Humanities is partnering with Philadelphia’s Independence Seaport Museum to solicit designs for tools to help Delaware River watershed residents adapt and respond to climate change and other ecological challenges.
How consumers and retailers can reduce returns
Wharton’s Gad Allon looks at how both retailers and consumers alike can improve the reverse supply chain and increase awareness of the toll that a massive rate of returns takes.
Progress toward a more sustainable University
Two years into the Climate and Sustainability Action Plan 3.0, Penn is tracking significant steps toward its goals.
An investment in energy and sustainability ‘for the survival of humanity’
Significant new support for research and hires will bolster Penn’s existing strengths in developing the energy and sustainability solutions of the future.
Penn launches $750M investment in science, engineering, and medicine
The investment will cover research in novel therapeutics and health-related initiatives, energy and sustainability, data engineering and science, and infrastructure to support physical science research over the next five years.
‘The climate girl’ at Penn
In a Q&A with Xiye Bastida, the second year describes how she’s bringing climate activism to her college experience, how her Indigenous background influences her path, and why storytelling and protecting Earth go hand in hand.
Learn, reflect, and act during Climate Week
Climate Week at Penn, sponsored by the Provost’s Office, offers a variety of events—both in-person and online—that invite the whole University community to learn about, reflect on, and address the climate crisis.
New ways to reduce waste on campus
Reusable food containers, a new program to recycle flexible plastics, and mask and glove recycling are among the ways that Penn is helping members of the community keep the environment in mind this year.
In the News
Could Florida electric bills go up because of a fuel made from manure?
Danny Cullenward of the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the Weitzman School of Design says that federal and California state subsidies have led to a gold rush of companies trying to get into the business of renewable natural gas around the country.
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Why don’t we just ban fossil fuels?
Joseph Romm of the School of Arts & Sciences says that stronger action against fossil fuels is essential to save the planet.
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UN reports worrying rates of warming as COP28 tries to tackle climate crisis
Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences warns that the steady warming rate of the planet’s surface and oceans is fueling increasingly dangerous extreme weather events and coastal flooding.
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An oil executive is leading the UN climate summit. It’s going as well as you’d expect
Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that Ahmed al-Jaber’s comments about fossil fuels betray an ignorance of climate science and a dismissiveness about the need for rapid decarbonization.
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Princeton and Penn scientists win Philly award for their climate change work
Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences has won the 2023 John Scott Award for his work to address climate change.
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Should you stop flying to fight climate change?
Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that decisions by individual climate scientists of whether or not to fly won’t change the system of air travel.
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