UC Santa Cruz Commits to a Fossil-Free Future

If you are well-versed in sustainability conversations, you’ve most likely heard the phrase “carbon-neutral.” If not, I will give you a quick crash course. The phrase “carbon neutrality” has been tossed around in plenty of government conference rooms and jotted down in many a national sustainability proposal, illustrating the balance of carbon emissions with subsequent carbon removal. Also known as accomplishing a “net-zero” carbon footprint, companies creating unsustainable carbon emissions are now investing in “carbon sinks” to offset their environmental pollution. This already sounds like a lofty promise, and society will likely not reap the reward of this effort for the foreseeable future. However, UCSC is taking an even more ambitious stride toward a greener campus with its pledge to reduce fossil fuel emissions by 90% by 2045.

Although the fight for an eco-friendly campus came long before administrative recognition, the UC’s mission to tackle decarbonization began in 2024. In revising its Sustainable Practices Policy, the UC system requested that all campuses determine a date to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 90%. This decision marked a radical shift away from their mission of carbon neutrality to an even greater commitment: eliminating fossil fuels across all 10 California campuses. The UC takes its position as a “leader in climate action” very seriously, a testament to its international status and recognition in the climate solution sphere.

A Sustainable Action Plan

After assessing the current financial limitations and considering other campus priorities, it was concluded that 2045 is the most feasible timeline to implement these changes at UCSC. Likewise, there are a few goalposts UCSC has to hit before the 20 years is up. It starts small and builds up incrementally, beginning with a 5% reduction by 2030, a 16% reduction by 2035, and an 85% reduction by 2040. UCSC’s Decarbonization & Electrification Predesign Report outlines the details, so feel free to visit that page if the technical aspects of this project interest you.

How has UCSC begun chipping away at such a monumental project? Over the last two years, the university has made steady progress—revising the Sustainability & Climate Action Plan, completing the decarbonization pre-design report, exploring financial pathways to support these efforts, and swapping many natural gas purchases for electric alternatives.

On top of that, UCSC has moved away from using natural gas to heat new buildings, opting instead for carbon-free electricity. The university can power these spaces with clean energy thanks to the UC’s Clean Power Program, which has been independently verified to produce zero pounds of carbon emissions per megawatt hour since 2019.

Get Involved!

There are tons of ways to get involved! Do you have any ideas, questions, or feedback on UCSC’s Decarbonization & Electrification efforts? Drop them in this anonymous form! If you’re faculty or staff looking to take action, consider getting Green Office or Green Lab Certified, or join UCSC’s Climate Action Network to collaborate with others working toward sustainability. Students can take part in this opportunity, too! Explore this living lab engagement map to see hands-on opportunities, or check out groups like the Carbon Fund, Enviroslug, and Sunrise Santa Cruz to connect with others passionate about climate action.

What are you waiting for? Every action, big or small, helps move UCSC toward a more sustainable future. So be a part of the change today!