About Sustainability at Clemson University
According to the World Commission on Environment and Development, formed in 1987, sustainability refers to the physical development and institutional operating practices that “meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
In September 2009, President James Barker approved the charter forming the President’s Commission on Sustainability (PCS). In December 2010, the PCS released a draft of the University’s first comprehensive Sustainability Plan. The draft plan was filed in accordance with the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, to which Clemson is a signatory.
The PCS at Clemson University is the coordinating body for our efforts to become a model of affordable, fiscally responsible, environmental sustainability for public institutions of higher education. To creatively address sustainability, the PCS facilitates collaboration among students, faculty, staff and the community by integrating education, research, and public service with supporting social, economic and environmental infrastructure.
The PCS addresses all properties owned by Clemson University whether they are on campus or off campus.