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Climate Action

A New Plan for Climate Action


As climate change continues to cause and intensify both local and global challenges, the University of Utah (the U) is choosing to act boldly and leverage its collective impact as an institution to pave the way for a better future. Building on the U’s first Climate Action Plan, released in 2010, this updated Climate Action Plan (CAP) highlights progress that has been made and articulates new ways university research and education can contribute to more positive climate outcomes. It outlines a path toward meeting the U’s accelerated 2040 target date for achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions and builds on the U’s recent Climate Resilience Assessment, identifying steps to prepare for impacts of climate change on U facilities and people.

Read The Plan

Goals & Targets


RESEARCH

Generate climate-related research that supports those most impacted and drives solutions in Utah and beyond.

Faculty producing climate-related research

2022 Status

By 2030

By 2040

EDUCATION

Graduate students with knowledge and skills to address climate-related challenges and opportunities.

STARS Curriculum & Engagement Points Earned

2022 Status

By 2030

By 2040

MITIGATION

Take urgent action to reduce green house gas emissions.

Reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions

2022 Status

By 2030

By 2040

RESILIENCE

Increase university and community resilience to the current and future impacts of climate change.

U of U Resilience Assessment metrics improved

2022 Status

By 2030

By 2040

Climate News Around the U


University leaders lay out plans for strategic reinvestments

At a meeting June 6, President Taylor Randall said the legislation actually accelerates processes he...

University of Utah signs partnership agreement with Ariel University

The university routinely signs agreements with colleges and universities around the world. Currently, the U...

Humans of the U: Gail Zasowski

“I enjoy working with things that are too far away and too big for our...

Fruit flies on cocaine could reveal better therapies for addiction

Flies and humans react to cocaine in similar ways, and are likely to share many...

New chiral photonic device combines light manipulation with memory

U engineers develop multifunctional, reconfigurable component of an optical computing system that could be a...

Utah Student Robotics wins NASA’s Aretemis Grand Prize

Each year, NASA hosts the Lunabotics Challenge, tasking college teams with building a prototype lunar...

@theU June 2, 2025

Check out what’s happening on campus this week!

Utah Asia Campus community embraces Korean baseball culture

Korean baseball is a high-energy event with nonstop cheering, songs, drums and synchronized fan chants.

Thicker sediments under Salt Lake could result in more intense ground shaking

A study based on new seismic data indicates earthquake hazard models may need to be...

7 books and readings to commemorate Juneteenth

The books will be on display and available for checkout during the Juneteenth celebration on...

VIEW THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

Approximately 4,300 participants provided input during the CAP’s stakeholder engagement period, helping to ensure that this plan reflects the needs and collective expertise of the broad university community. The CAP differs from previous efforts in its inclusion of U of U Health: patients and health care providers were engaged to help the plan address climate-health impacts.

View Plan PDF