CBSN Bay AreaWatch Now
Filed Under:Carbon emissions, Carbon footprint, Climate change, Environment, Global warming, Kira Stoll, Melissa Culross, UC Berkeley, University of California
BERKELEY, CA - APRIL 23: UC Berkeley students walk through Sproul Plaza on the UC Berkeley campus April 23, 2012 in Berkeley, California. According to reports, half of all recent college graduates are finding themselves underemployed or jobless and the prospects for new graduates dim in a weak labor market. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Students walk through Sproul Plaza on the UC Berkeley campus. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

BERKELEY (KCBS) — UC Berkeley, leading the charge in reducing its carbon footprint, announced on Tuesday that it reached its emission reduction target—two years ahead of schedule.

UC Berkeley Sustainability Manager Kira Stoll said the school made a pledge in 2007 to reduce its carbon footprint to 1990 levels by 2014 and according to last year’s data, that goal already has been reached.

A new emissions reduction target will be announced in the spring.

“We’re planning that that target will reduce our emissions even further and will continue to be ambitious in the Berkeley style—but achievable,” Stoll said.

The campus reached its emissions reduction target in part with energy efficiency projects and by encouraging commuters to walk, bike or carpool to campus.

It all started, Stoll said, in 2007 with student-led initiative that built a coalition with the faculty and the staff.

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