Image
Vision
Duke University has tackled the climate crisis by using its education and research platform to foster leadership and innovation. It has modeled responsible operations by achieving a carbon-neutral campus, woven a culture of sustainability throughout the institution, and ensured a climate-literate student body that carries this knowledge and experience forward in their lives.
Mission
Sustainable Duke’s mission is educating and empowering the Duke Community to create a more sustainable campus future through social, economic, and environmental change on our campus and beyond.
History
Sustainable Duke started in 2004 when Duke hired its first sustainability staff member. The senior leadership solidified Duke's broad sustainability commitment in 2005 with the development of the Duke University Environmental Policy. The next large milestone was in 2007, when President Richard Brodhead signed Duke's carbon neutrality commitment, which led to the development of Duke's first Climate Action Plan and the setting of goal for the university to become climate neutral by 2024.
The Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative (DCOI), the first university-based offsets department in the U.S., was created in 2009 to develop and enact the university's carbon offset strategy. The DCOI has developed a variety of offsets projects including swine waste-to-energy, residential energy efficiency and renewable energy, and urban forestry. As of 2022, the Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative was fully merged into Sustainable Duke with staff continuing to pursue high-quality offsets, while also identifying strategies for Duke University to continue to reduce on-campus emissions.
In 2022, Sustainable Duke co-led the creation and implementation strategy of Duke's Climate Commitment, which is a university-wide, impact-oriented initiative to address the climate crisis by creating sustainable and equitable solutions that place society on the path toward a resilient, flourishing, carbon neutral world. Through education, campus operations, innovative research, community partnerships, external engagement, the Climate Commitment seeks to imagine, design, and implement a sustainable future for all.
In 2023, Sustainable Duke became a part of Duke's Office of Climate and Sustainability, which is led by Dr. Toddi Steelman, Vice President and Vice Provost of Climate and Sustainability. The Office of Climate and Sustainability is comprised of Duke Gardens, Duke Forest, Duke Campus Farm, and the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability.
Staff and Interns
Sustainable Duke is a small, yet mighty, team of 7 staff members who focus on infusing sustainability throughout all of Duke University. The primary focus areas for Sustainable Duke as it relates to the Climate Commitment include sustainable campus operations, education and engagement with the campus community, and developing robust community connections and partnerships.
Sustainable Duke also has a team of 10-15 interns each year known as Green Devils. These students are the powerhouse behind developing a variety of programming that infuse sustainability in all corners of campus. Some programming that they lead include the Devils Thrifthouse (a pop-up thrift store), applied learning connections with staff and faculty, sustainable athletics programs, and educate first-year students about climate and sustainability through Sustainable Duke's ambassadors program.
Image
