Commitment to Sustainability Lands Pratt on List of 10 Most Environmentally Friendly Colleges

Interior view of Myrtle Hall, the first higher-education green building in Brooklyn, and a physical manifestation of Pratt's commitment to sustainable design education.

Pratt Institute was one of only 10 colleges and universities nationally to be recognized with a Climate Leadership Award by Second Nature and the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), an agreement between nearly 700 colleges and universities to promote sustainability through teaching and action.   

"These institutions are leading the way for the academic community by demonstrating how sustainable practices can be put into place on campus that have a long-term impact on creating a sustainable society for the benefit of all," said Dr. Anthony D. Cortese, president of Second Nature, the lead supporting organization of the ACUPCC.  "They have all shown tremendous creativity and an unrelenting commitment to integrate sustainable practices into their campuses and society as a whole."

Pratt was recognized for its leadership role in creating the Partnership for Academic Leadership in Sustainability (PALS), which has brought together 30 independent colleges of art and design and three state universities from across North America to integrate sustainability into academic programs. PALS was founded by Debera Johnson, executive director, Center for Sustainable Design Studies, academic director of sustainability, and visiting associate professor in the Graduate School of Planning.

The 10 recipients represent the diversity of institutions of higher education and are located throughout the United States. The winners were recognized in an award ceremony with their peer institutions at the ACUPCC Climate Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., on June 21 and 22.  

Text: Amy Aronoff
Photo: Alexander Severin/RAZUMMEDIA