VCN’s letter to the President

This letter was prepared and delivered to President Schlissel at the May 20th Regents meeting. 420+ signatures highlighted that the President’s Commission on Carbon Neutrality (PCCN) recommendations were delivered to him, and now is time for action. More information can be read in the full letter below.


Dear President Schlissel,

The world has only nine years to make dramatic reductions in our greenhouse gas emissions as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Given the University’s social mission and its commitment to be “Leaders and Best,” there is a strong case for U-M to be well ahead of this timeline. We therefore urge you to embrace the leadership role for the University as recommended by the PCCN in its recently released report. Specifically, we urge you to demonstrate the University’s commitment by acting immediately to implement the following recommendations which VCN has adapted from its first steps document:

  1. Establish the executive-level leadership position called for in the PCCN final report and immediately begin a national search to find the most qualified person. U-M needs someone now in the climate action driver’s seat who can both steer and put the pedal to the metal on a full-time basis. 

  2. Meet with the University’s executive team, deans and unit managers to charge these leaders to identify PCCN recommendations that can be acted on immediately without waiting for the hiring of the new executive leader. It may also be possible to initiate longer term actions among those recommended that do not require further study.  Ideally, these actions should be across all colleges and units to widely engage the U-M community. These actions would signal the University’s pivot from planning to initiating movement toward carbon neutrality. 

  3. Launch the three committees recommended in the PCCN Report to begin to strategize specific just and equitable action items in pursuit of carbon neutrality and prepare to advise the executive leader upon their selection. Identify the leader, composition, charter, deliverables, and timeline for each committee consistent with PCCN’s recommendations.

    • Institutional Advisory Committee of senior leaders across the University 

    • Community Advisory Committee representing students, civic communities, frontline communities, faculty, and nonprofits 

    • Standing Committee on Offsets 

  4. Commit staff and funds (at least $30M) to launch the Revolving Energy Fund (REF) proposed in the PCCN report, applicable to all three U-M campuses. This PCCN recommendation calls for both financial seed funding and staff resources for the identification and implementation of Energy Conservation Measures and Energy Consumption Policies. 

If U-M moves forward with these recommendations, it will send a strong message to stakeholders within the University community as well as to future students, external partners, and potential collaborators that the University of Michigan understands the Climate Crisis and the need for bold and equitable actions. Moreover, it will advance the preparation of our students for leadership in a climate changing future.

Respectfully,