In 2018 the University of Arizona joined the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3), comprising 20 leading North American research universities. The goal: helping communities accelerate climate action.
April 10, 2020

Mission Statement

The University Climate Change Coalition is committed to leveraging their institutional strengths as leading research institutions to foster a robust exchange of best practices and lessons learned in pursuit of accelerating local climate solutions that reduce greenhouse emissions and build community resilience. UA President Robert C. Robbins, a member of the organizing coalition’s steering and advisory committee, QUOTE TK.

UC3 by the Numbers

2018: Year the coalition was formed

2,600: Number of leaders convened from academia and the public and private sectors

2,000,000+: Number of students, faculty and staff represented in UC3

2050: Year by which the coalition has committed to achieving carbon neutrality

12: Number of cross-sector climate forums held in the coalition’s first year

The Mothership

UC3 is a select subgroup of the Second Nature Climate Leadership Network, founded in 1993 to make the principles of sustainability a priority in higher education.

UA Divisions Involved

  • Arizona Institute for Resilient Environment and Societies 
  • Institute for Energy Solutions
  • Transportation Research Institute
  • Water Resources Research Center
  • Biosphere 2

2ºC

A chief goal of the American UC3 members: meeting the target agreed to in 2015’s Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius.

5 Elements of Success

  • Institutional Leadership
    The head of each university appoints liaisons involved in several sustainability efforts to build a team.
  • Collaborative Networks
    The university teams meet monthly to share their knowledge and provide peer feedback.
  • Cross-Sector Convenings
    Member schools gather various stakeholders in their region to discuss climate risks, challenges and paths to solutions.
  • Demand-Driven Research
    The coalition evaluates forum outcomes and develops research priorities and ideas on how to engage additional stakeholders.
  • Solutions-Oriented Partnerships​​​​​​
    The coalition leverages existing relationships to establish cross-sector partnerships in each community.

Big-Picture Challenges

Water Shortages

Carbon Neutrality

Clean Energy

Climate-Friendly Investments

University Eligibility

  • Pledges to reduce its institutional carbon footprint, consistent with the Paris Agreement objectives
  • Is designated an R1 research institution by the Carnegie Classification
  • President/chancellor’s office commits to the UC3 mission; appoints and supports key liaisons
  • Agrees to hold a cross-sector climate change forum, convening within a year of joining the coalition

Cross-Sector Collaborators

  • Businesses
  • Local and state governments
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Community leaders
  • Higher education

University Key Roles in Cross-Sector Collaboration

  1. Knowledge Generator, through research performed and innovations undertaken
  2. Community Anchor, as a long-standing and credible local institution
  3. Collaborative Convener, bringing together public officials, business professions and community leaders

 

Members

Arizona State University

Boston University

California Institute of Technology

Tecnológico de Monterrey

La Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Queen’s University

The Ohio State University

The State University of New York

University of Arizona

The University of British Columbia

The University of California

University of Colorado, Boulder

The University of Connecticut

University of Maryland, College Park

The University of New Mexico

University of South Florida

University of Toronto

The University of Utah

The University of Washington

Washington University in St. Louis