The Catholic University of America is committed to sustainability.
The Catholic University of America has a legacy of committed and active leadership in sustainability at the local, national, and international levels. At Catholic University we have turned our commitments into actions that are visible across campus, from academics to community engagement to our buildings and grounds, resulting in recognition from a wide variety of organizations focused on sustainability.
Commitments
Catholic University is a leader in sustainability at the local, national, and international levels.- In November 2021, the Catholic University of America became one of the first universities in the world to sign onto a new Vatican initiative, the Laudato Si' Action Platform. Inspired by the 2015 encyclical on care for creation, Laudato Si', CatholicU is committing to a Laudato Si' plan for environmental sustainability.
- Nine District of Columbia higher education presidents including Catholic University’s President Garvey signed onto the District of Columbia Mayor’s College and University Sustainability Pledge (CUSP) in 2012 and again in April 2019. This university-based collaborative approach to sustainability was the first of its kind in the nation. DC was the first city in the U.S. to form such a compact between its higher education sector and local government to advance sustainability. Working together in this public/private partnership, the signatories are working to make the District of Columbia the “Greenest College Town in America”.
- Catholic University participates in the District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility's University Roundtable, a quarterly discussion for local colleges and universities in the District to come together, build connections, and share knowledge about their campuses becoming greener with a focus on energy.
- In August 2019, Catholic University became a member of the Better Buildings Alliance, a U.S. Department of Energy program dedicated to promoting leadership in energy innovation. Catholic U also joined the program's Better Buildings Challenge to reduce the University's energy consumption by 20% by the year 2026. Catholic University is one of 30+ colleges and universities sharing best practices and engaging with technical experts to advance energy savings goals.