{"id":292,"date":"2017-12-06T12:44:10","date_gmt":"2017-12-06T12:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-sustainability\/college-commitments\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T16:47:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T16:47:50","slug":"college-commitments-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/sustainability\/college-commitments-2\/","title":{"rendered":"College Commitments &amp; Accomplishments"},"content":{"rendered":"<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t        <h2 class=\"accordion-group__heading\">Initiatives<\/h2>\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Sustainable Transit<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p>Content coming soon!<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-2\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-2\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Decarbonization<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-2\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p>Content Coming soon!<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-3\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-3\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Zero Waste<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p>Content Coming Soon!<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-4\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-4\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Landscape &amp; Outdoor Spaces<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-4\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p>Content Coming Soon!<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accomplishments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:32% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1022\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/401\/2025\/06\/Screen-Shot-2025-06-27-at-10.44.10-AM-1-1024x1022.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4447 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/401\/2025\/06\/Screen-Shot-2025-06-27-at-10.44.10-AM-1-1024x1022.png 1024w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/401\/2025\/06\/Screen-Shot-2025-06-27-at-10.44.10-AM-1-300x300.png 300w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/401\/2025\/06\/Screen-Shot-2025-06-27-at-10.44.10-AM-1-150x150.png 150w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/401\/2025\/06\/Screen-Shot-2025-06-27-at-10.44.10-AM-1-768x767.png 768w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/401\/2025\/06\/Screen-Shot-2025-06-27-at-10.44.10-AM-1.png 1316w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>An AASHE STARS Gold rating&nbsp;signifies a significant commitment to sustainability in higher education.&nbsp;It indicates that a college or university has demonstrated a substantial level of achievement across various areas of sustainability, including academics, engagement, operations, and planning &amp; administration.&nbsp;Gold institutions are recognized for their comprehensive and integrated approach to sustainability, fostering a campus environment that prioritizes environmental responsibility and empowers their community to make a positive impact.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:32% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"289\" height=\"190\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/401\/2025\/11\/Screen-Shot-2025-11-07-at-11.04.46-AM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4697 size-full\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>Macalester has been named to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.princetonreview.com\/college-rankings\/green-guide\">The Princeton Review&#8217;s Guid<\/a>e to Green Schools for 2026. Drawing from official data and student feedback, the guide recognizes colleges and universities that go above and beyond to show their commitment to sustainability.&nbsp;Macalester is ranked 18th among the top 50 schools.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Commitments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>We Are Still In<\/strong> (2017)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>By signing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wearestillin.com\/organization\/macalester-college\">We Are Still In declaration<\/a>, Macalester joined more than 3,800 leaders from all sectors of the US economy, including many college and university presidents, sending the message that, despite the actions of the Trump administration in withdrawing the United States from the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, American leaders are committed to addressing climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">American Campus<strong>&nbsp;Act on Climate Change (2015)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"272\" height=\"185\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/401\/2019\/02\/Unknown.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-960\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/the-press-office\/2015\/12\/11\/american-campuses-act-climate\">American Campuses Act on Climate Change<\/a> is a White House initiative signed by President Rosenberg<br>Further commits Macalester to become Carbon Neutral by 2020<br>Integrates carbon neutrality and sustainability into the curriculum at Macalester<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Real Food Campus Commitment (2012)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/401\/2016\/05\/RealFoodChallengelogo.png\" alt=\"&quot;&quot;\" title=\"Real food Challenge logo \" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Signed by President Rosenberg<br>Commits college to purchasing 30% real food by 2020<br>Real food is local, community-based, fair trade, humane, and\/or ecologically sound<br>ÈÕº«¾«Æ· the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realfoodchallenge.org\/commitment\">Real Food Campus Commit<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realfoodchallenge.org\/commitment\">ment Website<\/a> to learn more about the initiative. Find out more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/90\/2019\/12\/Accomplishments.Food_.2019-Final.pdf\">Food At Macalester<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Commitment To<\/strong> Sustainable<strong> Practices of Higher Education Institutions (2012)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Signed by President Rosenberg<br>Full title &#8211; Commitment to Sustainable Practices of Higher Education Institutions on the Occasion of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development<br><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainabledevelopment.un.org\/content\/documents\/1889HEI%20Declaration%20English%20new%20version.pdf\">The Commitment to Sustainable Practices of Higher Education Institutions<\/a>&nbsp;ties Macalester&#8217;s commitment to internationalism to its sustainability goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Presidents&#8217; Climate Leadership<\/strong> Carbon<strong> Commitment (2007)&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/401\/2019\/02\/Unknown.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"126\" height=\"126\"><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Signed by President Rosenberg<br>Climate Neutral (no net greenhouse gas emissions) by 2025<br>Incorporate sustainability and climate issues into our curriculum<br>The Presidents&#8217; Climate Leadership Carbon Commitment is an initiative of the non-profit Second Nature. &nbsp;As a signatory of the commitment, Macalester makes <a href=\"https:\/\/secondnature.org\/signatory-handbook\/the-commitments\/\">annual climate progress reports<\/a>&nbsp;available to the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Talloires<\/strong> Declaration<strong> (2000)&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/401\/2016\/05\/TailloresDeclarationlogo.jpg\" alt=\"&quot;&quot;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Signed by President McPherson<br>First official commitment to environmental sustainability in higher ed<br>10 point action plan for incorporating environmental sustainability in teaching, research, operations and outreach<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h3>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Accomplishments An AASHE STARS Gold rating&nbsp;signifies a significant commitment to sustainability in higher education.&nbsp;It indicates that a college or university has demonstrated a substantial level of achievement across various areas of sustainability, including academics, engagement, operations, and planning &amp; administration.&nbsp;Gold institutions are recognized for their comprehensive and integrated approach to sustainability, fostering a campus environment [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-292","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=292"}],"version-history":[{"count":64,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4905,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/292\/revisions\/4905"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}