Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Climate Action Globally
Climate change is a reality. 2019 was a record year for warm temperatures, carbon dioxide emissions,
and the level of other greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. As a result of human
activity, the world is already seeing changing weather patterns, rising sea levels, and
an increase in extreme weather events.
Urgent action is needed. Adopted in 2015, the Paris Agreement is one example of an international agreement
to implement new technologies and keep global temperature changes to a low. Much of the
solution can be found in working towards achieving all of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Investing in clean and affordable energy, protecting life below water and life on land,
and increasing education around the climate crisis will all contribute to the solution.
Climate Action Locally
Approved in May of 2020, the Dallas Comprehensive Environmental and Climate Action Plan
provides actionable steps to reduce Dallas emissions and work towards environmental
protection. The plan recognizes the unique threats the Dallas area will face as a result
of climate change, including extreme heat, drought, flooding, and public health concerns.
At UT Dallas, we believe all students can contribute to climate solutions. In
providing an education that includes sustainability, we equip students with the tools
to become future leaders in their field. Whether it be business, biology, policy, or
psychology, everyone has a role to play in the climate solution.
Highlights
Learning Outcomes
SDG 1: No Poverty
SDG 4: Quality Education
Sustainability is the lens through which student learning is assessed at the
institutional level with the Comets to the Core program. In the 2018-2019 academic year
student learning was assessed based on their collaborative, interdisciplinary projects that address
SDG 1 [Sustainable Development Goal 1] :
No Poverty and in 2018 students worked on projects related to the water crisis. Comets
has adopted the learning outcome that students should be able to identify the social,
political, environmental, and economic components of a complex world problem, and will
provide a solution that address sustainability in each of these areas. Upon graduation,
49.71% of UTD students have experienced a program that adopts at least one
sustainability learning outcome.
Environmental Studies Minor
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 14: Life Below Water
This minor will provide students from all majors with a better understanding
of environmental issues and the skills to analyze future environmental problems. The
name “Environmental Studies” reflects the goal of this interdisciplinary
minor to encourage students to learn to view environmental issues from scientific,
economic, political, and social standpoints. The 18 semester credit hours of the
Environmental Sciences minor enable UT Dallas students to develop expertise
in this important area. The framework provides all students with a policy and science
perspective and allows students to tailor the minor, through choice of electives, to
their individual goals. Students will be strongly encouraged to include an Environmental
Studies Internship/Project (BIS 3310) in their minor though it may not
be possible for all students.
Green Libraries
SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
The McDermott Library provides exceptional resources in sustainability research
and learning collectively called “green” libraries. Green libraries emphasize
stewardship of resources, impact on the natural environment, economy, ecology, and equity.
Economy is the management, or stewardship, of the resources; Ecology is the relationship
of the community with its environment, particularly the natural environment; and Equity
is fairness to all. These Green Libraries encourage climate action through research,
education, and engagement.
Eco Reps
SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
The Office of Sustainability hires student educators, known as Eco Representatives,
and decides on goals and projects for events, communication, and initiatives that align
with the short- and long-term sustainability goals of the University. Examples include
educating students on how to reduce water and energy consumption with behavior change
education and competitions, promoting recycling and composting through demonstration,
contributing to social media, and coordinating events such as Earth Week, Sustainable Labs,
Tree Campus USA, Bee Campus USA, Monarch Butterfly Way Stations, sustainability service honors,
film screenings, and more. Students are also available to partner with any interested
student organizations or campus offices on additional programming. For example, the
Office of Sustainability can offer mock climate negotiations for classes or organizations
upon request. The entirety of the campus community is invited to attend events and
participate in programming hosted by The Eco Representatives through the Office of Sustainability.
Student Organizations
SDG 14: Life Below Water
SDG 15: Life on Land
Among the hundreds of student organizations at UT Dallas, several focus on
environmental stewardship and climate action specifically. ECO UTD is an organization
for sustainability-minded students focused on environmental education, campus clean-ups,
and protecting the natural environment. The UT Dallas chapter of Citizen’s
Climate Lobby lobbies for bipartisan climate legislation, such as carbon pricing bills.
The Sunrise Movement also has a newly founded chapter at UTD; this organization focuses
on direct action for progressive climate policies. Additionally, the Office of
Sustainability Eco Reps host the Green Convene, a semesterly event focused on bringing
together sustainability-focused student organizations. The first Green Convene was held
in Fall of 2020, with over 16 student organizations in attendance. Students who are
interested in getting involved with climate action can find a home with other
like-minded students.
Earth Week
Each year, the Office of Sustainability
(OoS [Office of Sustainability] )
hosts programming, and events to celebrate Earth Week at UT Dallas. Most recently, in 2021, the
OoS [Office of Sustainability]
held several virtual events throughout the week with sustainability partners. These
included an Office of Sustainability Townhall, Sustainable Menstruation Event, and the
semesterly Green Convene hosted by Eco Reps. In 2020, the Office of Sustainability quickly
executed Digital Earth Week, comprised of an informational video resource library based
around the Sustainable Development Goals. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of
Sustainability held these Earth Week events in person. Students could set a sustainability
goal for themselves, volunteer with on-campus sustainability projects, and learn more
about climate action. In 2018, UTD hosted a Climate Reality Project Speaker to engage
with students about the climate crisis specifically. The Office of Sustainability looks
forward to returning to in-person Earth Week programming in the future to continue
climate education for the campus community.
Goals / Future Work
- Incorporate climate action into Office of Sustainability events
- Continue improving Comets to the Core program
- Engage students through in-person Campus Sustainability Month (October)
and Earth Week (April) programming
Other Work We Do
The programs highlighted here are just one piece of the work we do on campus to achieve
SDG 13 [Sustainable Development Goal 13] .
View the full dataset (PDF [Portable Document Format File] ),
guided by the Association of Advancement in Higher Education
(AASHEAssociation of Advancement in Higher Education)’s
Sustainable Development Goal translation guide.
Learn More
- Take the online courses regarding Climate Action from SDG Academy
- Learn more about the targets and indicators at the UN Global Goals website
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