Sustainability and Climate Action Commitment

President Danko signing the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment.
Butler President Jim Danko signs a climate pledge on campus April 16, 2012.

Butler University is a signatory of the Second Nature President’s Carbon Commitment, initiated by President Danko in 2012. This commitment states that Butler will reduce its scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 15% by 2020 (achieved), 45% by 2030, and 100% by 2050 from 2011 baseline levels. This important goal of carbon neutrality highlights Butler’s commitment to reducing its contribution to climate change for the local and global community.

In addition to emissions commitments, Butler University has pledged

  • Zero waste by 2030, diverting over 90% of solid waste from landfills and incinerators.
  • Conserve and sustainably manage 70 acres of campus grounds by 2035.
  • Sustainability literacy for more than 90% of faculty, staff, and students by 2040.

These commitments are actualized by 5-year strategy plans that advance campus-wide sustainability initiatives, Green Programs, curricular innovation, and sustainability events and workshops. Together these efforts empower and engage our campus community in building a more sustainable and resilient campus.

Butler University Sustainability and Climate Action Plan

The 2014 Butler University Sustainability and Climate Action plan (BUSCA) and associated five-year strategy plans serve as the roadmap that unifies across disciplines in the campus community to create holistic, sustainable change. BUSCA encompasses a wide range of efforts, from operational sustainability to individual well-being and education. five-year BUSCA plans—which encompass a wide range of efforts from operational sustainability to individual well-being and education—are informed by a cross-disciplinary group of faculty, staff, and students called the Butler Sustainability Leadership Council (BSLC). This group of camps leaders embodies the University’s collective effort to enhance environmental responsibility and create a more sustainable campus community. In 2024, Butler’s Board of Trustees approved the Butler University Decarbonization Master Plan, created in collaboration with HEAPY Solutions. This document provides a high-level strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

View the 2026-2031 BUSCA Strategy and Implementation Plan

BUSCA, the 2026-2031 five-year Strategy and Implementation Plan, and the Decarbonization Master Plan form the connective tissue across all three pillars of the Boldly Butler strategy:

  • Transformational Learning Experiences
  • Dynamic Campus and Community
  • Thriving Butler

Sustainability and climate action power the University’s aspirations—through operational innovation, experiential learning, and elevating the national reputation of Butler University. Sustainability initiatives are not costs; they are investments that pay dividends for decades to come. They reduce utility and maintenance expenses, strengthen campus longevity, and elevate sustainability as a compelling avenue for philanthropic support. Sustainability is not an add‑on to Boldly Butler—it is a catalyst for achieving its fullest potential. 

How We Measure Success and Plan Future Strategies

Butler uses the Sustainability Tracking and Rating System (STARS), administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), and the SIMAP greenhouse gas reporting tool to track progress on its sustainability strategies and milestones. These tools support cross-campus accountability, establish evidence-based benchmarks, measure success, and inform the development of future strategies.