From the Climate Action and Sustainability Council Co-Chairs
From the Climate Action and Sustainability Council Co-Chairs
May 2024
We are proud of Miami President Gregory Crawford's commitment to carbon neutrality on Miami’s Oxford campus and of his resilient leadership. Since signing the Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitments in September 2020, President Crawford has led Miami through, among other issues, a global public health crisis, an economic downturn, and now, climate change.
Just over 10 years ago, Miami University's Office of Energy Systems implemented a bold and innovative long-range plan for energy systems infrastructure conversions, energy conservation, and building improvements. The success of that Utility Master Plan is the foundation of our Miami 2040 Climate Action Plan.
We submit this plan with a sense of urgency, facing the fact that Earth was hotter in 2023 than in any other year on record, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, and each month of 2024 so far has been the hottest on record (European Union’s Earth Observation Programme, 2024).
North Campus Geothermal Conversion Project begins
Miami broke ground this summer on the North Chiller Plant Geothermal Conversion project. When complete by summer 2026, the conversion will eliminate more than 5,810 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents in emissions (MTCO2e) annually
The Miami 2040 Plan takes our work to the next level, spreading deeper and wider across the Miami community — not only through energy systems but through curriculum, research, and outreach. The plan presented here is a living document: Our goals and actions will be updated and adapted as new opportunities and technologies are presented.
Already, Miami is moving forward with a large geothermal expansion project, with the drilling of wells set to begin this summer and a potential solar installation on campus in the near future.
The city of Oxford has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2045 per its Climate Action Plan approved in September 2023. We look forward to working together with members of the city’s Climate Action Steering Committee on our mutual goals.
Signing the Miami 2040 Plan
Thank you to the dozens of Miami community members involved in the development of this plan. We are grateful for the support of those involved in the implementation of this plan in the years to come.
Susan Meikle, B.Phil. ’83, lead writer Miami 2040 Plan, co-chair Climate Action and Sustainability Council, Miami University Communications and Marketing writer and sustainability communications
Olivia Herron, B.A./MEn. ’20, co-chair Climate Action and Sustainability Council, Director of Sustainability
Jonathan Levy, co-chair Climate Action and Sustainability Council, Director of the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability, associate professor of Geology and Environmental Earth Science
