While the university celebrates achieving carbon neutrality in 2024, it is looking ahead and collaboratively shaping Duke’s next climate and sustainability goals. The Operations Subcommittee of the Climate Commitment Advisory Council has identified a science-based target as the new leading-edge climate goal that will most demonstrate institutional climate leadership, and is mapping out Duke’s path to net-zero emissions by 2050. This goal will see the university reduce its on-campus emissions by more than 90% and only use carbon reduction credits to address the emissions that remain in 2050.

In addition to establishing an emissions reductions pathway, the new goal will also see the university expand its greenhouse gas emissions boundary to include the Duke University Health System– a significant increase in the emissions for which Duke will take responsibility. Lastly, this plan will also include goals and strategies for sustainable operations that include transportation, waste diversion, procurement, water, food and natural spaces. Though the framework of Duke’s next climate goal is established, the specific goals, interim targets and strategies will be developed over the next year.