Sustainability & Resiliency
UMass Boston has a strong and longstanding commitment to improving operational sustainability while being a leader in environmental sustainability education and research.
Sustainable UMass Boston
Sustainable UMass Boston is a collaborative University effort integrating sustainability across academics, research, operations, and community engagement through the active participation of students, staff, faculty, and community partners.
The Beacon Sustainability Council advises on goals and activities coordinated by Janna Cohen-Rosenthal, Sustainability & Resiliency Planner in the Office of Campus Planning & Sustainability. Progress to commitments is reported via multiple platforms.
"Our commitment to a healthy and sustainable community at UMass Boston will amplify sustainability initiatives at all levels. We seek to foster a consciousness of nature’s centrality to the human experience and our collective obligation to environmental sustainability. We understand that sustainability is not only about environmental and economic impacts, but it is about the overlap and interdependence of environmental and economic issues with restorative justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion." - Our Vision for the Future, Campus Master Plan, 2023
Updates
- The Beacon Sustainability Council was launched in Fall 2025
- A Solar Celebration for Earth Month 2025 was a success, as 1.5KW of new solar electricity planned for campus was announced.
- New Electric Vehicle Chargers are in West Garage & Campus Center
- Learn how to sign up for charging access through Transportation Services
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Interested in learning more about EVs?
- Learn about the Sustainability Features in the New Quad
- UMass Boston Earns Silver STARS Rating for Sustainability Achievements, view the STARS report
- The Energy & Carbon Master Plan was released in Nov. 2023.
- Sign up for updates
Student Views
Read student perspectives on sustainability activities at UMass Boston.
Contact
Janna Cohen-Rosenthal
Sustainability & Resiliency Planner
Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability
Campus: x75582
Commitments & Performance Data at UMass Boston
UMass Boston has a goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050. The University is held accountable for this target and other sustainability progress by reporting data and collaborating with the following organizations:
Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS)
UMass Boston earned a STARS Silver Rating on Nov. 20, 2023! The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and to measure their sustainability performance. It is managed by the non-profit Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
Leading By Example
The Leading by Example Executive Order: Decarbonizing and Minimizing Environmental Impacts of State Government (EO 594) sets targets and requirements that will eliminate the onsite use of fossil fuels to heat and cool state facilities, electrify the state fleet, among a number of other directives. UMass Boston reports sustainability data annually to the LBE program.
University of Massachusetts President's Office
The University Of Massachusetts Sustainability Policy was adopted in 2016. The five University of Massachusetts schools, Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, and Chan Medical School, collaborate to discuss sustainability on their individual campuses to implement the policy and report their progress annually to the President's Office.
Climate Commitment
Higher education institutions whose president/chancellor have made a formal commitment to climate leadership by signing onto at least one of the Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitments, managed by the non-profit Second Nature, become Climate Leadership Network signatories. UMass Boston signed the Climate Commitment, which integrates carbon neutrality with climate resilience and provides a systems approach to mitigating and adapting to a changing climate. In addition, signatories complete annual greenhouse gas inventories and a Climate Action Plan that includes:
- a target date for achieving carbon neutrality as soon as possible
- defined indicators and targets for increasing resilience
- actions to make carbon neutrality and resilience a part of the curriculum and other educational experiences for all student
- actions to expand research in carbon neutrality and resilience.
Additional Memberships & Affiliations
- Boston Green Ribbon Commission convenes leaders from Boston’s key sectors to advise/implement Boston’s Climate Action Plan. Chancellor Suárez-Orozco is a member, and staff participate in working groups.
- Higher Ed. Working group: Campus as Lab- Best Practices to Increase the Climate Action Impact of Higher Education Institutions
- Higher Ed. Working group: Campus as Lab- Best Practices to Increase the Climate Action Impact of Higher Education Institutions
- Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
AASHE is a membership organization that empowers higher education faculty, administrators, staff, and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation.- Every UMass member can create an account with your umb.edu email to access member resources across many sustainability topics
Beacon Sustainability Council
Beacons’ Sustainability Council is a new cross-functional entity began in Fall 2025, that guides the development of policies and programs to meet critical goals in For the Time’s: Strategic Plan, state environmental policies, institutional climate commitments, and wellness goals.
The Council utilizes the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) to prioritize resource investment, improve performance, and connect academics, operations, and the community to create a more Sustainable UMass Boston. Reporting to the council, task force groups are created for ongoing or time limited projects. Progress will be documented in annual reporting platforms.
Membership
- Faculty Co-Chair: Prof Elizabeth L. Sweet, Associate Dean in the School for the Environment
- Staff Co-Chair: Mike Kearns, AVC Facilities Management
- Staff to the Committee & member: Janna Cohen-Rosenthal, Sustainability & Resiliency Planner
Representation from the following areas:
- Chancellor’s Office
- Provost
- Administration & Finance
- Campus Planning & Sustainability|
- Student Affairs
- Student Representatives from Sustainability Club & SFE
- Advancement
Each Task Force has 2-3 leaders, including an academic and operational role, and can form task forces for specific issues or be standing. The task forces can develop appropriate meeting frequencies and work structures.
- Energy & Decarbonization
- Leaders: James O’Day, Director of Utilities & Prof. David Timmons (ECON)
- Academics & Engagement
- Leaders: Rajini Srikanth, Dean of Faculty & r, Janna Cohen-Rosenthal
Possible Future Task Forces
- Zero Waste Planning
- Transportation/Scope 3 Emissions
- Resiliency Planning
To learn more or potentially join a task force, contact Janna.
On-Campus Partnerships & Sustainability Information
Sustainable UMass Boston Updates
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Sign up to get the new Sustainable UMass Boston monthly newsletter to get updates across operations, engagement, academics, and research activities. You can submit info to include to janna.cohenrosenthal@umb.edu.
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