Timeline

April 2023: The Student Environmental Resource Center celebrates its 10 year anniversary and Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability celebrates its 20th year. 

November 2022: UC Berkeley Takes #1 in the First Ever QS Sustainability World University Rankings.

October 2022: Office of Sustainability launches the new Business Air Travel Carbon Mitigation Program. 

June 2022: The State of California commits $249 million to the Berkeley Clean Energy campus projects.

July 2021: UC Berkeley launches the Berkeley Clean Energy Campus Initiative

March 2021: UC Berkeley Receives the Highest STARS Rating - Platinum for Sustainability Achievements

November 2020: New Office of Sustainability Staff Training and Certification Program launched.

November 2020: The newest UC Berkeley Sustainability Plan is published.

April 2020: UC Berkeley leads the way with country’s strongest single-use plastic ban

July 2019: Kevin and Connie Chou Hall earns a trifecta of green building credentials, True Zero Waste, LEED Platinum, and Well.

May 2019: UC Berkeley crowned Coolest Campus in 2019 Cool Campus Challenge

February 2019: UC Berkeley becomes biggest American university to fully commit to clean energy

December 2018: UC Berkeley reaches STARS Gold

Dec 2016:  Jacobs Hall becomes Berkeley's first LEED platinum building.

April 2016:  The Green Initiative Fund was renewed for an additional 10 years by a 68% ‘yes’ vote.

2015-2017:  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.

Fall 2015:  New ESPM Food Systems minor offered.

2014:  Berkeley made the strategic decision to voluntarily opt into the state Cap and Trade program.

November 2013:  President Janet Napolitano announced the Carbon Neutrality Initiative, which commits UC to emitting net zero greenhouse gases from its buildings and vehicle fleet by 2025.

2013: Berkeley meets its first carbon reduction target bringing emissions lower then they were in 1990.

October 2012: The Student Environmental Resource Center opened its first temporary space in the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union building.

Fall 2011: WORKbright green staff sustainability training offered for first time. Campus installs 800 exterior LED lamps in all of the iconic exterior lamp posts.

June 2011: Cal Dining achieved Marine Stewardship Council certification for their seafood purchases.

April 2011: Chancellor Birgeneau committed to reducing potable water usage by 10% by 2020.

February 2011: Cal Energy Corps is launched.

November 2010: The Berkeley Student Food Collective opened the doors to its new storefront in the fall.

2010: Goal of reducing fuel use from fleet and commute by 25% was met and exceeded; use is currently 30% below 1990 levels.

July 2009: The Campus Sustainability Plan is published.

April 2009: The campus certified the first Green Departments and Green Events.

March 2009: The 2009 Climate Action Plan is completed.

July 2008: The campus Strategic Energy Plan is completed, outlining almost 200 energy efficiency projects that the campus is implementing.

April 2008: Haste Street Child Development Center is first campus LEED certified building project.

January 2008: The UC Berkeley Office of Sustainability was formed.

November 2007: UC Berkeley adopted a Statement of Commitment to the Environment.

March 2007: UC President Dynes signs the American Colleges and Universities Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).

Spring 2007: The student fee referendum for the Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) passes by 69%.

September 2006: The Society & Environment major was created in the Department of Environment Science, Policy, and Management. The campus releases its first Bicycle Plan.

April 2006: The Cal Climate Action Partnership (CalCAP) was announced. Crossroads certifies organic-certified salad bar – the first on an American university campus.

April 2005: The first UC Berkeley Campus Sustainability Assessment was completed. First Sustainability Award and Green Fund Grant winners announced.

April 2004: CACS holds first Sustainability Summit.

October 2003: The Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability (CACS) formed. 59 kilowatt photovoltaic system installed on the MLK student union, funded by the Graduate Assembly and ASUC.

July 2003: The UC Regents signed the “Green Building Policy and Clean Energy Standard,” the first sustainability policy for the University of California.

2001: First UC Berkeley Recycling Summit held. Residential Sustainability Education Coordinators (RSECs) program formed.