Rethinking carbon neutrality in higher education: Opinion

Carbon neutrality in higher education should be rethought so that institutions can more effectively respond to the climate crisis, writes Alex Barron. Barron provides tips that institutions can use to change their view of carbon neutrality, such as refocusing on plans to stop burning fossil fuels, strategically examining their purchasing decisions, and ensuring that the land owned by the institution is managed in climate-friendly ways. Barron also encourages promoting clean electricity, being educated about and establishing a plan to reduce the use of offsets, and speeding up climate change goals. “[I]nstitutions can’t be full climate leaders unless we are doing everything we can to collaborate with our communities to help our society meet our climate goals,” writes Barron. Inside Higher Ed (Editorial)