Timeline

2025 

• July: The Berkeley Clean Energy Campus Initiative receives construction approval for Phase 1, marking a major step in the university’s clean energy transformation.

• Summer 2025: UC Berkeley’s Energy and Resources Group (ERG) celebrates its 50th anniversary, continuing its legacy of leadership in sustainability and justice.Learn more

• April: 

• UC Berkeley achieves a Platinum rating in STARS 3.0, the highest recognition for sustainability performance in higher education.

• During the Spring 2025 referendum, students vote to renew The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) for an additional 10 years by a 79% ‘yes’ vote, ensuring continued support for campus sustainability projects.

• February: The Haas School of Business hosts the 2025 ClimateCAP Summit, a premier climate- and sustainability-focused event bringing together global business leaders. 

• January: 

• UC Berkeley launches the Climate and Society Center(CSC), a groundbreaking initiative to accelerate California’s equitable transition to renewable energy and zero-carbon emissions.

• Campus certifies a total of 60 Green Labs, marking a major milestone in advancing sustainable research practices.

2024

• November: UC Berkeley co-hosts the Nobel Sustainability Trust Summit in San Francisco, under the theme “Sustainability in Action: Shaping the Future Together.”Learn more

• May: The UC Regents approves the Phase 1 project budget for the Berkeley Clean Energy Campus Initiative, designed to reduce building carbon emissions by 85%. 

• March: The inaugural Berkeley Corporate + Climate Summit focuses on the intersection of corporate governance and climate change.

2023

• November: UC Berkeley hosts its first Annual Sustainable Travel Event, bringing together airlines, hotel chains, rental car services, e-bike vendors, and campus departments to promote lower-carbon travel options.

• April: The Student Environmental Resource Center celebrates its 10 year anniversary and Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability celebrates its 20th year. 

2022

• November: UC Berkeley Takes #1 in the First Ever QS World University Rankings: Sustainability.

• October: The Office of Sustainability launches the Business Air Travel Carbon Mitigation Program, designed to help address carbon emissions from university travel.

• June: The State of California commits $249 million to the Berkeley Clean Energy Campus project.

2021

• July: UC Berkeley launches the Berkeley Clean Energy Campus Initiative

• March: UC Berkeley receives the STARS Platinum, the highest rating offered.

2020

• November: 

• The new Office of Sustainability Staff Training and Certification Program is launched.

• The newest UC Berkeley Sustainability Plan is published.

• April: UC Berkeley leads the way with the country’s strongest single-use plastic ban

2019

• July: Kevin and Connie Chou Hall earn a trifecta of green building credentials: True Zero Waste, LEED Platinum, and Well.

• May: UC Berkeley is crowned Coolest Campus in 2019 Cool Campus Challenge.

• February: UC Berkeley becomes the largest American university to fully commit to clean energy

2018

• December: UC Berkeley achieves a STARS Gold rating for sustainability performance.

2017

• January: Solar PV systems at MLK Student Union, the new Eshleman, the Recreation Sports complex, and the University Village apartments and Jacobs Hall, begin generating 1 MW of power from the sun.

2016

• December:  Jacobs Hall becomes Berkeley's first LEED Platinum building.

• April:  The Green Initiative Fund is renewed for an additional 10 years by a 68% “yes” vote.

2015

• Fall:  A new Environmental Science, Policy, and Management Food Systems minor offered.

2014

• January: Berkeley makes the strategic decision to voluntarily opt into the state Cap and Trade program.

2013

• November:  President Janet Napolitano announces the Carbon Neutrality Initiative, which commits UC to emitting net zero greenhouse gases from its buildings and vehicle fleet by 2025.

• January: Berkeley meets its first carbon reduction target, reducing emissions below 1990 levels. 

2012

• October: The Student Environmental Resource Center opens its first temporary space in the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union building.

2011

• Fall: WORKbright green staff sustainability training is offered for the first time. Campus installs 800 exterior LED lamps in all of the iconic exterior lamp posts.

• June: Cal Dining achieves Marine Stewardship Council certification for their seafood purchases.

• April: Chancellor Birgeneau commits to reducing potable water usage by 10% by 2020.

• February: Cal Energy Corps is launched.

2010

• November: The Berkeley Student Food Collective opens the doors to its new storefront in the fall.

• January: UC Berkeley meets the goal of reducing fuel use from fleet and commute by 25%.

2009

• July: The Campus Sustainability Plan is published.

• April: UC Berkeley certifies its first Green Departments and Green Events.

• March: The 2009 Climate Action Plan is completed.

2008

• July: The campus Strategic Energy Plan is completed, outlining almost 200 energy efficiency projects that the campus is implementing.

• April: Haste Street Child Development Center is the first campus LEED certified building project.

• January: The UC Berkeley Office of Sustainability is formed.

2007

• November: UC Berkeley adopts a Statement of Commitment to the Environment.

• Spring: The student fee referendum for the Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) passes by 69%.

• March: UC President Dynes signs the American Colleges and Universities Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).

2006

• September: The Society & Environment major is created in the Department of Environment Science, Policy, and Management. The campus releases its first Bicycle Plan.

• April: The Cal Climate Action Partnership (CalCAP) is announced. Crossroads launches an organic-certified salad bar – the first on an American university campus.

2005

• April: The first UC Berkeley Campus Sustainability Assessment is completed and the first Sustainability Award and Green Fund Grant winners are announced.

2004

• April: The Chancellor’s Advisory Council on Sustainability holds its first Sustainability Summit.

2003

• October: The Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability (CACS) is formed. A 59 kilowatt photovoltaic system is installed on the MLK student union, funded by the Graduate Assembly and ASUC.

• July: The UC Regents sign the “Green Building Policy and Clean Energy Standard,” the first sustainability policy for the University of California.

2001

• Residential Sustainability Education Coordinators (RSECs) program is formed.

• First UC Berkeley Recycling Summit is held.