Aggies Recognizing Earth Month, April 17 Is Campus Earth Day

Texas A&M University’s Office of Sustainability and Campus Enrichment will celebrate Earth Month through a variety of educational events aimed toward empowering attendees to be more sustainable in their daily lives.

The office was created in March 2008 to enhance the university’s sustainability efforts. Over the years, Texas A&M has made notable strides in this area. For example, the university used 7% less total energy in fiscal year 2022 than it did in 2002, even though the campus has grown by 67% during the past two decades.

“Texas A&M University took steps to ensure a sustainable Aggieland for generations of Aggies by creating an office devoted to sustainability, and today as we kick off Earth Month we continue to celebrate that commitment,” said Kelly Wellman, director of the Office of Sustainability and Campus Enrichment. “Throughout Earth Month we’re inviting students, faculty and staff to come learn about how they can make a difference on our campus, in our community and the entire world with in-person and virtual events.”

Events planned for this month can be found at TX.AG/EarthMonth.

Aggies Commit To Sustainability, With Results

Despite the growth of the university over the years, Texas A&M has reduced waste, energy use and water use thanks to the hard work of students, faculty and staff, Wellman said.

“Across campus, the use of alternative transportation such as bikes, skateboards and buses is also reducing our carbon footprint,” she said. “It’s a real testament to individual actions making a collective impact.”

Earth Month also provides an opportunity to celebrate another recent achievement: Texas A&M has received its eighth Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) Gold Rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). The STARS program evaluates institutions based on performance in academics, engagement, operations, and planning and administration.

Texas A&M’s progress in these areas is detailed in the recently released 2023 Sustainability Highlights Report. Some key highlights include: a 67% reduction in potable water use on campus since 1991; 50% of sponsored researchers on campus are engaged in sustainability-related research; and 65% of waste was diverted from landfills through recycling, composting and/or donation and reuse.

“I want to encourage every Aggie to contemplate the ways you can provide hope and change with your acts of selfless service to the Texas A&M community and the world around you,” wrote Scott Shafer, executive director of Campus and Community Enrichment, in the report. “Together, we can make a sustainable difference.”

For more information about sustainability at Texas A&M and for updates on Earth Month events, visit the Office of Sustainability and Campus Enrichment website. And follow @SustainableTAMU to discover code words for a chance to win prizes throughout the month.