Universities play a vital role in addressing climate change and environmental challenges and preparing the next generation of leaders. The Academic Consortium for Climate, Environment, and Sustainability Solutions (ACCESS) was established in 2023 to create a community of practice and elevate the contributions of academia in supporting climate change and environmental solutions. Composed of university-wide programs that facilitate climate and environmental research and education, consortium members share an interest in fostering transdisciplinary investigations, advancing transformative education, and creating opportunities for inter-university collaboration

Following an inaugural meeting of the group at the University of Pennsylvania in the summer of 2023, ACCESS meets monthly on Zoom to share best practices and brainstorm strategies for maximizing collective impact, including planning a shared event at COP28 in Dubai. A second in-person meeting was held at Duke University in February of 2024.

• The Sustainability Initiative, Carnegie Mellon University

• The Earth Institute, Columbia University

• Environmental Collaboratory, Drexel University

• Office of Climate and Sustainability, Duke University

• Environmental Solutions Initiative, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Environmental Change Initiative, Notre Dame 

• ByWater Institute, Tulane University

• Environmental Innovations Initiative, University of Pennsylvania

• Planetary Solutions Project, Yale University

• Center for the Environment, Washington University in St. Louis

This group aims to expand membership in the 2024-25 academic year. If you are interested in learning more about the consortium or joining the community of practice, please contact the program co-chairs.

• Mitchell Foundation report on Interdisciplinary Sustainability Institutes

• University Climate Change Coalition

• Ivy Plus Sustainability Consortium

Daniel Giammar, Co-chair, Washington University in St. Louis
giammar@wustl.edu

Katie Douglas, Co-chair, Duke University
katie.douglas@duke.edu

Environmental Innovations Initiative
contact@environment.upenn.edu