News

Recognizing the responsibility of Penn to be a good neighbor in our West Philadelphia community, this year a partnership was formed among Penn Sustainability, Penn’s Office of Social Equity and Community, the Office of Government and Community Affairs, and a few student groups to provide off-campus students with means and opportunity to dispose of their unwanted belongings.

Penn has announced two new University leadership positions, the Vice Provost for the Arts and the Vice Provost for Climate Science, Policy, and Action, to advance the goals of the University’s strategic framework In Principle and Practice. 

Interested in helping to introduce Penn students to our sustainable practices on campus?  Undergraduate, second- through fourth-year students are invited to apply.

From April 20 - 26, the campus community continued an annual tradition of celebrating Earth Week at Penn, with Penn Sustainability again serving as a hub of programming and promotion. Inspired by the Earth Week at Penn 2024 theme of Restore & Regenerate, student clubs, academic departments, staff offices, and school green teams organized over 40 events championing environmental causes and advancing climate action.

Penn employees rank high in sustainable commuting, but more could still be done, survey finds.

The Penn Ice Rink has received a Green Fund grant to transition from fuel-powered to electric equipment. The grant enabled the purchase of a battery-powered electric ice edger, replacing the fossil-fuelled one. This move signifies a significant step in reducing the rink's carbon footprint, enhancing indoor air quality, and promoting sustainability.

Each year, a cohort of 10-20 Penn sophomores, juniors, and seniors are selected to participate in the Eco-Reps program. Students work in small teams throughout the year to develop in-depth projects aimed at solving environmental challenges on campus. This year, students of the program Alondra Betancourt, Daniel Boyko, and Paloma Gulick are working with Karen Verderame, Assistant Director of Outreach Education at Penn Vet to develop educational materials about conserving urban wildlife ecosystems and focusing on invasive turtle species in the BioPond.

Last month, Penn Sustainability in partnership with the Cobbs Creek Community Ambassadors rallied together 13 Penn students and employees to participate in a clean-up along Cobbs Creek, an environmental amenity nestled in West Philadelphia. This endeavor wasn't just about tidying up a natural space; it was a step towards addressing the environmental burdens that have long impacted the communities along Cobbs Creek.