Georgia Tech unveiled its first Climate Action Plan (CAP), an actionable road map for halving Institute emissions by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. It provides strategies for mitigation, adaptation, climate education, and research, while finding equitable, cost-effective solutions.  

The CAP is a deliverable of Sustainability Next, Georgia Tech’s 10-year strategic sustainability plan, and it is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Institute’s strategic plan, and the Comprehensive Campus Plan.  

“As one of the world’s leading research universities, Georgia Tech has the opportunity, and the obligation, to create and share solutions that can help curb climate change and mitigate its harmful impact on our planet and our lives,” said President Ángel Cabrera. “Our Climate Action Plan is bold and ambitious, aiming for 100% clean ground transportation by 2030 and 100% clean energy by 2050. These goals are not easy, but they reflect the seriousness of the challenges before us.”    

The CAP was led by Georgia Tech’s Office of Sustainability, with engagement across the campus community. The CAP Advisory Task Force, comprising experts and Institute leadership, helped guide the effort. Nine working groups in key focus areas developed climate action strategies, and additional stakeholder outreach with students, staff, faculty, and the Atlanta community took place at workshops, events, town halls, and webinars.  

The plan’s nine focus areas and guiding principles are:  

1. Community, Equity, and Accessibility: We seek to ensure that fair and just climate policies and strategies are in place at Georgia Tech and that they prioritize affordable climate change solutions that support our internal and external community. 

2. Building Energy: We are committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.  

3. Renewable Energy and Offsets: We prioritize clean energy technologies to eliminate emissions. 

4. Mobility: We optimize campus mobility through a variety of transportation modes that are accessible, affordable, and low- to no-emissions, considering environmental and human health impacts when determining and implementing transit and land use actions.  

5. Materials Management: We support a thriving circular economy that focuses on upstream systems for achieving zero waste, ensures sustainable procurement, and supports our local community.  

6. Water Management: We adapt our water infrastructure to be resilient to the impacts of climate change.  

7. Education: We prepare all students, regardless of discipline, to address climate-related challenges in their personal and professional lives. 

8. Research: We expand support for faculty, staff, and students to advance innovative research and projects to address climate-related issues.  

9. Carbon Sequestration: We leverage the natural and physical resources of our campus to sequester and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 

The plan has 30 strategies for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 and advancing climate research and education. The most ambitious strategies include: 

• Transition to electrification of combustion-based heating systems. 

• Increase energy efficiency in building operations. 

• Increase on-site renewable energy production, and procure energy generated from renewable and zero-emissions sources.  

• Transition the campus vehicle fleet to zero-emissions vehicles and increase sustainable and affordable commuting options. 

• Implement blackwater reuse systems and increase water efficiency and conversation. 

• Become a Zero Waste campus. 

• Prioritize climate education across Georgia Tech’s curriculum. 

• Identify and shape future climate research opportunities in which Georgia Tech aspires to lead.  

“Georgia Tech is committed to sustainability and the environmental stewardship of our campus community,” said Jennifer Chirico, associate vice president of Sustainability and chair of the CAP Advisory Task Force. “The CAP was developed in partnership with leadership and with our own experts from within Georgia Tech. As we move toward implementation, it will require a whole-community approach, and we will continue to work together to reach our goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.”   

To read or download the full plan, visit the Office of Sustainability’s webpage here. If you are interested in participating in an implementation committee, please fill out the form on the CAP website.   

April is Earth Month at Georgia Tech. Coordinated by the Office of Sustainability and hosted by partners across campus, it extends the Institute’s observance of Earth Day (April 22) by showcasing campus sustainability efforts and providing opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to learn and take action.  

This year’s Earth Month holds special significance, as Georgia Tech will soon publish its first Climate Action Plan, a road map for reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.   

“Earth Month presents us with a unique time to honor and safeguard our environment together,” said Vanessa Suarez, sustainability coordinator in the Office of Sustainability. “It's an opportunity for all of us to be inspired and make a positive difference, both locally and globally; a reminder that collective changes yield significant impact.”  

Events will be hosted by organizations and departments across campus during the month to learn, celebrate, and share best practices.   

Featured Event: Earth Day Sustainable Org Fair and Celebration  

Wednesday, April 17, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design 

This signature event will feature sustainability-focused departments and student organizations, Earth Month BYO T-shirt screen printing and other textiles, and free King of Pops popsicles. Sign up here to table. 

Earth Month Bird Walk – Lullwater (Emory)  

Friday, April 5, 10:25 a.m. – 12:35 p.m., Lullwater Preserve, 1463 Clifton Road 

Hosted by Georgia Tech Birdwatchers with support from the Office of Sustainability, attendees can observe and learn about birds with club experts at the scenic Lullwater Preserve near Emory’s campus. Binoculars provided.  

For registration and additional information, click here.  

Tech Beautification Day 

Saturday, April 6, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Tech Green 

Come get your hands dirty to make our campus green and beautiful at the 25th annual Tech Beautification Day, a volunteering event hosted by the Student Government Association and Infrastructure and Sustainability. The event is capped at 300 volunteers, so sign up today! 

For registration and additional information, click here.  

Global Media Festival Film Screening: ‘Bigger Than Us’ Documentary + Live Q&A   

Sunday, April 7, 2:30 – 5 p.m., John Lewis Student Center, Cypress Theater 

Bigger Than Us follows Melati Wijsen, an 18-year-old Indonesian activist fighting plastic pollution in her country as she expands her impact by collaborating with activists across the globe. The screening will be followed by a live virtual discussion with the film’s director, Flore Vasseur.  

This event is part of the Global Media Festival, taking place March 29 – April 7 and exploring themes around the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The festival is co-sponsored by the School of Modern Languages; the Atlanta Global Studies Center; the School of Literature, Media, and Communication; and the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems. 

For registration and additional information, click here.  

EcoCommons Tour  

Wednesday, April 10, Noon – 1 p.m., The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design 

The 80-acre EcoCommons is one of Georgia Tech’s most impressive sustainability features. Institute Landscape Architect Jason Gregory will lead attendees on a tour to learn about the native performance landscape adjacent to The Kendeda Building. 

Carbon Reduction Challenge Info Session – Virtual  

Thursday, April 11, 11 – 11:50 a.m., Online 

The Carbon Reduction Challenge is a competition focused on empowering students to become part of the climate change solution. Join the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business for a virtual information session to learn more about participating in the challenge this summer.  

For registration and more information, click here.  

Climate FRESK Workshops  

• Thursday, April 11, Noon – 3:30 p.m., Kendeda Seminar Room 118 

• Monday, April 15, 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Kendeda Seminar Room 118 

• Thursday, April 19, 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., O’Keefe Building, third floor, Sunroom conference room* 

Climate FRESK is an internationally recognized workshop based on scientific reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that teaches the fundamental causes and effects of climate change through a collaborative and engaging game. The Office of Sustainability will host three FRESK Workshops throughout April. 

*The workshop on April 19 is co-sponsored by the Georgia Tech French Club and will be held partially in French.  

For more information and registration, click here.  

BBISS Seminar Series: Neha Kumar 

Thursday, April 11, 3 – 4 p.m., Hybrid Event – Online and BBISS Offices, 760 Spring Street, Suite 160 

Neha Kumar is an associate professor in the School of International Affairs and the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech. She will present a new paper that describes opportunities for human–computer interaction to reimagine the design of sociotechnical systems toward advancing sustainable, just, and humane futures. 

For more information and the event link, click here.  

Atlanta Global Studies Symposium: Languages of Sustainability and the Global South 

Friday, April 12, 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m., Main Auditorium, Technology Square Research Building 

Hosted by the Atlanta Global Studies Center and with support from the Emory University Office of Global Strategy and Initiatives, the symposium will present initiatives that promote global education, language learning, sustainable development, and community engagement. Partners, faculty, students, community organizers, K-12 teachers, and the public are welcome.  

For more information and registration, click here. 

Frontiers in Science: Climate Action  

Thursday, April 18, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., The Dalney Building 

The College of Sciences will convene 100 campus and community stakeholders to discuss groundbreaking research on climate change, challenges, and solutions. More than 25 speakers and panelists from across Georgia Tech and Atlanta will share their work and ideas to address major climate and community challenges. Frontiers will also feature leadership keynotes, a student video showcase with scholarships, networking lunch and reception, and a Strategic Energy Institute interdisciplinary seed grant challenge for assistant professors. 

Attendance is by invitation, and registration is limited.  
To suggest participants, please contact: events@cos.gatech.edu. 

Carbon Reduction Challenge Spring Showcase 

Friday, April 19, 2 – 4 p.m., The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design 

Eight teams composed of students enrolled in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 3111, “Energy, Environment, and Society,” will present their final semester-long Carbon Reduction Challenge projects. The projects show more than 9 million pounds of carbon dioxide reductions annually while generating yearly savings of over $500 million in energy bills and carbon sequestration. Attendees can enjoy snacks and drinks and vote for their favorite project.  

For more information and registration, click here.  

Sustain-X Hangout 

Tuesday, April 23, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., Hybrid/Scheller College of Business, Room 4426 

A partnership between the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business and CREATE-X, Sustain-X is a Sustainability Next and Georgia Tech strategic plan project. With events occurring on the fourth Tuesday of every month, this session will examine social and environmental entrepreneurship and how to access resources for projects. 

For more information and to register, click here.  

Interdisciplinary and Critical Approaches to Sustainability 

Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

The Atlanta Global Studies Center will present a conference entitled “Sustainability in a Planet of Diverse Knowledges and Persistent Inequalities.” The event features Georgia Tech faculty panels   and keynotes from Nelson Maldonado-Torres and Jessica Hernandez on “Colonial and Decolonial Sustainabilities” and “Indigenous Science: From Local to Global Context,” respectively. 

For more information and registration, click here.  

BBISS Seminar Series – Fani Boukouvala 

Thursday, April 25, 3 – 4 p.m., Hybrid/BBISS Offices, 760 Spring Street, Suite 160 

Fani Boukouvala, assistant professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, will present a talk about a new approach for chemical conversion of waste plastics to their original raw materials, including a detailed process modeling of a chemical reactor validated by experimental data, and proceed with simulation of an entire pilot scale facility.  

For the event link, click here.  

Additional events, volunteer opportunities, and campaigns are posted on the Earth Month calendar.  Submit your event to be featured via the Earth Month form. 

Celebrating Georgia Tech Women: Pathway of Progress is the new name of the forthcoming, permanent tribute to the impact of women from Georgia Tech, now under construction near the John Lewis Student Center and Stamps Commons. Set to open in Fall 2024, the physical installation and accompanying digital experience will celebrate 70 graduates, as well as 98 women and events with historical significance to the Institute. 

The Institute is proud to reveal the inaugural alumnae whose names and legacies will be recognized. The historical honorees will be announced this fall.

Inaugural honorees include several College of Sciences alumnae — see the honoree list and learn more about the project here.

Georgia Tech opened the 11th annual Atlanta Science Festival (ASF) with record attendance for Science and Engineering Day. Despite the drizzly weather, about 4,000 people of all ages from throughout metro Atlanta — more than double the number of attendees in 2023 — visited campus on Saturday, March 9, 2024, for the space-themed event. They explored more than 45 exhibitions and hands-on activities related to art, robotics, nanotechnology, chemical and systems engineering, and biology, as well as other STEAM areas. 

Visitors began their investigations at “Earth” (the Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design), where they picked up a galactic passport specially designed to guide them from building to building — each designated with the name of a planet — and the demonstrations housed within.

At “Mars” (Marcus Nanotechnology Building), attendees measured their height in nanometers, experimented with fruit batteries, and took a window-tour of the largest cleanroom in the Southeast, where semiconductors are developed. Inside “Venus” (Parker H. Petit Biotech Building), budding scientists examined bioluminescent bacteria under a microscope and made Play-Doh models of the human brain. When visiting “Saturn” (Ford Environmental Sciences and Technology Building), visitors studied density by making DIY lava lamps and inspected human brain specimens the way a pathologist would.

“Getting to hold a human brain was cool,” said a 12-year-old participant from Alpharetta. “And I also liked comparing it to the brains of a pig and a mouse.”

Other activities included math games and puzzles, the opportunity to build an artificial hand and a gallery display of research-inspired artwork. Georgia Tech faculty, students, and staff hosted all the demonstrations and served as volunteers who helped Science and Engineering Day guests navigate campus and the demonstration sites.

For many participants, the undoubted highlight was the chance to hear a presentation by former NASA astronaut and Georgia Tech alumnus Shane Kimbrough, MS OR 1998. Kimbrough spent 388 days in space over three missions and served as commander of the International Space Station (ISS) in 2016. He captivated the standing-room-only crowd with photos and descriptions of his time living and working aboard the ISS and answered questions from the kids in the audience.

“It’s really exciting to see all the activities around campus today … we’re inspiring the next generation of scientists and explorers for our country,” Kimbrough said afterward.

The event was a resounding success for Georgia Tech and the Atlanta Science Fair.

Lauren Overton-Kirk, who organized the event for the Institute, said, "Georgia Tech Science and Engineering Day 2024 was so wonderful to share with the community. What started years ago as a day for young scientific exploration became an all-ages, space-themed scientific spectacular. You could feel the passion for learning fill the campus in a way only Georgia Tech could do.”

Both the Georgia Tech and the Atlanta Science Festival teams are looking forward to next year’s Science and Engineering Day.

“As one of the founding organizations of the Atlanta Science Festival, Georgia Tech has been deeply invested in sharing the Institute’s innovations with the community,” said Meisa Salaita, ASF co-director. “And that investment was deeply evident on March 9th as they opened their doors to kick off the 11th annual Science Festival. Their students and faculty came out with enthusiasm to showcase science to the public. We couldn't be more thrilled with this partnership — and the many ways Tech has helped us show our community that Atlanta is a science city.”