Office of Sustainability launching ‘Together for a Healthy Planet’ strategy

Office of Sustainability launching ‘Together for a Healthy Planet’ strategy 

The UMass Chan Medical School Office of Sustainability is introducing a new motto to reflect the goals and strategy for collaboration, impact and long-term stewardship of the Medical School’s sustainability efforts campuswide for the next five years.  

The new motto, “Together for a Healthy Planet,” was developed as the result of feedback and input from across all corners of the UMass Chan campus during a sustainability roundtable in December that encouraged students, faculty and staff to share their ideas, priorities and hopes for the future of sustainability. 

“We thought that it would be helpful to refresh the branding for our office and reconnect with the campus to better understand the priorities and concerns related to sustainability and climate change. ‘Together for a Healthy Planet’ will reflect the feedback and input we received from campus and give us a fresh, new look and perspective as we move into the next phase of our office's work,” said Kortni Wroten, sustainability and energy manager. 

The Office of Sustainability is wrapping up its Sustainability and Climate Action Plan for 2021-2026 and will be moving forward with a new strategy for 2026 to 2030. The “Together for a Healthy Planet” motto is its first step toward the new strategy. The new motto is replacing the previously used “Growing Green,” which was the sustainability program established in 2009. 

“’Together for a Healthy Planet’ captures the collaborative vision behind our next Sustainability and Climate Action Plan, which introduces a new pillar focused on environmental justice and reinforces our commitments to decarbonization, resource stewardship, integrated planning, and fiscal responsibility.,” said Suzanne Wood, director of sustainability and campus services. 

During December’s roundtable, participants reflected on what sustainability means at UMass Chan. Common themes quickly emerged, including a deep connection between environmental stewardship and human health, ; the importance of equity and environmental justice, ; and the need for practical, meaningful action. Participants also emphasized that sustainability is not the work of one office alone, but rather a shared responsibility that touches every department, role and discipline. 

“The UMass Chan community is deeply committed to the improvement of individual, public and planetary health,” said David Flanagan, deputy executive vice chancellor of facilities management.  “In support of our mission, we are launching our unified commitment to environmental sustainability, ‘Together for a Healthy Planet.’  It is our firm belief that a healthy environment is an essential element in improving the health and well-being of those we are so privileged to serve.” 

As the Office of Sustainability continues to roll out its new strategy, it will introduce some new programs this spring, including green lab and green office certification programs aimed to educate and guide UMass Chan community members on saving energy and water resources, and managing waste appropriately. 

Additionally, the Office of Sustainability is planning to launch a green events guide for offices and individuals holding events on campus, including gatherings, meetings and conferences. The guide will provide information on booking a meeting site and actions that can be taken to lessen the environmental footprint of these events.