Our Sustainability Commitments
Climate Commitment
In 2022, NIU became a signatory to the Second Nature Carbon Commitment, with the goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. We recognize the urgency of the climate crisis and are committed to transformative change to protect our future as an institution and the communities we serve.
Our campus initiatives demonstrate the efforts NIU is taking related to mitigation of carbon emissions, adaptation and building community resilience.
Higher Education Commitment
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) promotes sustainability by working with institutions of higher education to lay the foundation for a thriving, equitable and ecologically healthy world. AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) program measures participating institutions’ sustainability efforts and goals. This creates a framework for understanding sustainability and allows participants to assess their actions in comparison to other institutions.
Over 1,000 institutions across more than 40 countries are registered in the STARS program. These participants report their achievements in five categories of credits: academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership. These institutions are then assessed by AASHE and given scores based on the credits they submit. STARS publicly publishes scores and awards those that qualify a rank of bronze, silver, gold or platinum.
NIU earned STARS bronze certification in 2024. STARS data will be used to benchmark current sustainability activities on campus and identify key areas for improvement as we work toward the goals in our climate and sustainability action plan.
