ABQ Times

The University of New Mexico's Office of Sustainability is organizing two town hall meetings on the main campus to gather input for its Sustainability Strategic Plan. These events aim to provide a platform for attendees to interact with the Office of Sustainability staff, discuss priority areas for the plan, and propose ideas related to environmental sustainability.

The first town hall will be held on April 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Student Union Building, Lobo A&B. The second event is scheduled for April 9 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at North Campus, Domenici Center, Room 3710.

UNM's commitment to sustainability was outlined as one of five goals in its 2040 plan, finalized in 2022. These town halls are part of an ongoing process initiated by the UNM Office of Sustainability last fall, aiming to identify five to seven priority areas for the university's sustainability efforts by the end of 2025. This five-year roadmap will focus on reducing environmental impact while ensuring financial sustainability and adhering to best practices in energy use, water use, and waste management.

In addition to these events, a campus-wide survey will be launched this spring by the UNM Office of Sustainability to collect input from students, faculty, and staff.

"Sustainability is a shared responsibility, and we want to ensure that all voices across our university community are heard in this process," said Anne Jakle, director of Sustainability. "Through this collaborative effort, we can develop a Sustainability Strategic Plan that reflects our collective vision for a more sustainable UNM."

This strategic planning initiative builds upon extensive data collection activities conducted by the Office of Sustainability with campus partners over the past year. This includes achieving a STARS Silver designation and releasing the first institutional Greenhouse Gas Inventory in ten years.

These town hall meetings are part of Earth Month activities planned at UNM. Earth Month provides an opportunity to celebrate UNM's sustainability achievements and engage in actions aimed at protecting the planet.

For further details about participating in this process or getting involved with other initiatives, visit the Sustainability Strategic Plan page or contact the Office of Sustainability.