Our Approach
Launching in April 2026, Stanford’s Climate Action Plan reflects a three-year, campus-wide process to develop a comprehensive roadmap of actions to reduce the impacts of climate change. The plan is designed to evolve over time, with updates that reflect new actions, shifting priorities, and progress across the university. It fosters a shared vision for greenhouse gas mitigation as well as climate adaptation and resilience, with a focus on fiscal responsibility—directing resources toward the most effective and high-impact solutions.
Vision
The Climate Action Plan sets a clear, shared direction for how Stanford will advance climate action across the university. It brings together schools and units around common goals, aligns resources with the highest-impact opportunities with a focus on fiscal responsibility, and creates a clear path from strategy to implementation and accountability. By building on existing efforts, advancing teaching and research, and reducing barriers to action, the plan accelerates meaningful progress on mitigation, adaptation, and resilience.
It is designed to activate the full Stanford community, strengthen collaboration, and spark action in areas not yet fully addressed. Through this approach, Stanford can move with purpose, make informed decisions, and deliver measurable, lasting impact over time.
Planning Boundary
The planning boundary reflects both where the university operates and where it has emissions impact. It includes assets under Stanford’s operational control as well as the full Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions profile. Together, this boundary defines where action can be taken across infrastructure, operations, and broader campus activities to reduce emissions and strengthen climate resilience over time.
Governance
With over 30,000 campus community members across 200 departments and seven schools, Stanford relies on a centralized governance framework for collective decision making and decisive action.
The following entities supported the development and implementation of the Climate Action Plan.
Climate Action Plan Working Groups
Working groups are the foundation of the climate action planning effort. They are made up of subject matter experts from across the Stanford ecosystem to propose action strategies in the following content areas:
- Grounds Operations
- Building Electrification
- Design & Construction
- Energy Systems
- Food Systems
- Land Use & Planning
- Leased Property
- Purchasing
- Refrigerants & Research Gases
- Fleet
- Student & Business Travel
- Transportation
- Waste Systems
- Water Systems
Members conduct studies, collect data, and connect with stakeholders to inform necessary actions to mitigate emissions in a particular category or to build resilience to climate change impacts.
Community Engagement
From tabling efforts and community forums to subject-specific focus groups, the Climate Action Plan engaged both internal and external community members and partnered with dedicated groups of students and faculty to help shape and inform the plan.
Climate Action Advisory Committee
The Climate Action Advisory Committee assesses recommendations and develops proposals to the Executive Governance Group and senior leadership. The Advisory Committee is composed of appointed staff and faculty and students nominated by the Stanford community.
Climate Action Executive Governance Group
The Executive Governance Group provides guiding principles, sets priorities, and assesses proposals from the Advisory Committee. The group reviews reports on climate action progress annually.
Office of Sustainability
The overall development and coordination of Stanford’s Climate Action Plan is facilitated by the Office of Sustainability in the Sustainability, Utilities & Infrastructure department of the Land, Buildings and Real Estate division.
Climate Action History
Stanford’s current approach builds on more than a decade of climate action and emissions reduction efforts. Stanford released its first Climate Action Plan in 2008, with an update in 2015. Both plans focused primarily on the university’s energy system.
In 2015, Stanford implemented the Central Energy Facility, one of the most efficient district energy systems in the world. In 2022, the renewable electricity program was completed. The Central Energy Facility and renewable electricity were significant in achieving an 82% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions from a 2011 peak, providing a strong foundation for expanding climate action across the university.