UMCES works every day to harness the power of science to transform the way society understands and manages the natural environment. By conducting innovative research on today’s most pressing environmental problems, including global climate change, UMCES is developing new ideas to help guide of state, region, nation, and world toward a more environmentally sustainable future. UMCES’ commitment to integrating environmentally sustainable thinking in all operations, including all aspects of future planning, is essential to its mission.
Today, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science's research is needed more than ever when we look at the challenge of environmental sustainability. As our state, region, nation and world develop, it’s critical that our leaders remain vigilant of maintaining sustainable relationships among people, natural resources and the environment. It’s equally critical that they are able to rely on UMCES cadre of objective experts to provide the best scientific understanding of the problems at hand.
While our research helps others live more sustainably, it’s essential that we lead by example. The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science is a signatory to the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (Second Nature) and has launched several programs aimed at reducing our environmental footprint:
- Our Climate Action Plan outlines the steps we will be taking to reduce our environmental impact.
- We have taken greenhouse gas inventories and set goals for reducing emissions at each of our laboratories.
- We have upgraded aging infrastructure to newer, more energy-efficient alternatives by working with Constellation Energy. Agreements will save both energy and reduce costs over the next 15 years.
- All new campus construction will be built to at least the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Silver standard or equivalent.
- We will purchase or produce at least 15% of our institution's electricity consumption from renewable sources.
- We are a member of the Maryland Green Registry.
UMCES President Peter Goodwin also leads the University System of Maryland’s 12-campus sustainability effort as the system’s Vice Chancellor for Sustainability.
Through our work as researchers and advisors, UMCES' work not only stretches the bounds of our scientific understanding, but also feeds our imagination, encouraging society to find new ways to ensure that our future is a sustainable one.