Accelerating climate action in higher education
Higher education presents a significant opportunity—and unique challenge—for advancing climate action.
The 1 Million Tonne Campaign
Higher education institutions often operate large, multi-use campuses with extensive energy demands, from research labs and dorms to athletic facilities and transportation fleets. This is compounded by an often-aging infrastructure that is difficult and costly to retrofit for energy efficiency, while historical buildings pose additional challenges for modernization.
Institutions must also balance sustainability investments against competing budget priorities, driven by diverse constituencies with varied goals. Additionally, emissions extend beyond campus borders—faculty and student travel, study abroad programs, and research-related transportation contribute significantly to their carbon footprint. Achieving carbon neutrality requires both direct reductions and carbon offsets for unavoidable emissions.
Creates a measurable, permanent climate impact on campuses.
Enables institutions to co-develop high-quality carbon credits by permanently destroying refrigerants.
Fosters knowledge-sharing through Second Nature’s Solutions Center.
Partnering for impact
Pamona College
Pomona adopted a rigorous, multi-pronged approach—including student involvement—to select Tradewater credits as part of its carbon offset portfolio.
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola achieved carbon neutrality across its Chicago-area campuses in 2024, leveraging Tradewater’s carbon credits—becoming the first university in the region to do so.
Austin College
Austin College strategically planned carbon offset purchases to mitigate unavoidable emissions, including air travel. Their first offset purchase done in 2025 is a step toward their goal of carbon neutrality by 2035.
Building on strong support
The 1 Million Tonnes Campaign builds on a strong basis of higher education support for Tradewater with leading universities throughout the United States.
Brown University
Through its Sustainability Strategic Plan, Brown will eliminate 137,500 tons of greenhouse gases through the purchase of high-quality carbon offset credits from Tradewater.
Duke University
Reached its carbon neutrality goal in 2024 in part through the use of Tradewater high quality carbon offsets.
Interested in joining the 1 Million Tonne campaign?
To explore refrigerant management, carbon offset quality, and how offsets can support your institution’s climate action plan, contact Tradewater or Second Nature today.
