Leadership
Inspiring the minds that lead the world
Yale’s teaching and research reaches far beyond the classroom. From developing national rankings for resource use to improving air quality in rural developing country homes, Yale’s thought leadership builds a more sustainable world.
Yale’s Efforts
- Yale plays a leadership role in creating strategic partnerships, both locally and amongst our Peer Institutions.
- As we integrate sustainability into the scholarship and operations of the university and position Yale as a local and global leader, the YSP 2025 governance bodies ensure this process is dynamic, iterative, and inclusive.
What You Can Do
- Explore opportunities for teaching, learning and research in sustainability at Yale.
- Learn about the New Haven Climate and Sustainability Framework and ways to engage in New Haven.
Our Objectives and Goals
Teaching, Research, Learning, and Service
Enrich and enhance teaching, research, learning, and service that explore and contribute to sustainability solutions.
In fall 2023, a Yale-led study was awarded funding for the Energy Earthshot Initiative to explore geochemical methods for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The award will allow the research team—including scientists from Yale School of the Environment, the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, and peer institutions—to explore accelerated natural carbon removal processes, including enhanced rock weathering and ocean alkalinity enhancement. The study, which explores the potential global impacts of these methods to offset fossil fuel emissions and mitigate past ocean acidification, is a flagship initiative of the Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture, a research center within Yale Planetary Solutions.
Sustainability Working Group
ACHIEVED
By 2017, establish a set of interdisciplinary working groups to be identified by faculty conveners. Working groups will focus on teaching, research, and service around key themes such as urbanization, health, food systems, land use, and climate change.
We achieved this goal in 2017. Since then, interdisciplinary efforts have evolved and expanded, particularly through Yale Planetary Solutions. The Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture sets out to study the science of natural carbon capture, and the new Center for Geospatial Solutions enables transformative research on challenges including climate change, biodiversity loss, pandemics, and more.
Applied Research and Active Learning
ACHIEVED
By 2018, identify and support institutional pathways for applied research, active learning, and the use of the campus as a living laboratory.
We achieved this goal in 2019. Since then, the Yale Planetary Solutions seed grant program has supported 66 projects originating from Yale faculty and staff, many of which result in applied research at Yale and in the community. Recent projects range from the deployment of a carbon dioxide emission sensor network in New Haven to the creation of the Success Lab to understand and replicate impacts of local environmental organizations.
Sustainability Network
ACHIEVED
By 2019, establish a network to foster communication across the University on sustainability research and teaching, and to build connections between the University’s scholarship and operations.
This goal was achieved in 2020, when Yale Planetary Solutions was created as one outcome of the University Science Strategy Committee’s work. This broad initiative aims to catalyze all that Yale is and all that Yale does in support of Planetary Solutions, engaging the full campus—academics, research, operations, and external engagement—in its ongoing efforts. In fall 2023, Yale appointed its inaugural vice provost for Planetary Solutions, who will help accelerate and elevate these efforts.
Leading Dialogues
Act as a convening voice and leader for dialogues about local, national, and global sustainability challenges
Town-Gown Collaboration
ON TRACK
By 2025, aim to support a suite of projects in collaboration with the City of New Haven and local area groups that enhance equity, the economy, and the environment.
The university continues to collaborate with New Haven and community groups by convening conversations around transportation, resilience, and the connection between nature and health. In 2024, Yale placed nine student fellows at local organizations, including New Haven’s Office of Climate and Sustainability, to carry out impactful environmental work.
External Collaboration
ACHIEVED
By 2019, develop a strategic plan to chart the course for ambitious national and international collaborations on sustainability research, teaching, and practice.
This goal was achieved in 2019. The external collaboration strategy has focused on scope 3 emissions accounting; justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion; carbon neutrality; and capacity building. In 2024, the Office of Sustainability collaborated with 30 peer institutions to establish best practices and collective leadership around scope 3 emissions.
Sustainable Solutions Association
ACHIEVED
By 2020, formalize an alliance of Yale alumni, donors, and friends to cultivate enduring and meaningful dialogues about sustainability challenges and successes.
This goal was achieved in 2020, when Yale Blue Green launched its Sustainability Initiative, an alumni effort helping Yale strengthen its commitment to leadership in sustainability as a globally applicable decision-making framework balancing people, planet, and prosperity. In 2023, the Initiative supported Sustainable Development Goal research; resilience and adaptation planning support; and sustainable transportation efforts.