In November of 2007, Davidson President, Tom Ross, signed the American Colleges and Universities Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), committing Davidson to reaching climate neutrality over the next few decades. This commitment involves each institution completing a greenhouse gas emissions inventory as well as writing and implementing a Climate Action Plan (CAP).

Davidson's CAP is due May 15, 2010. The CAP will be a "living" document with both long-term and interim goals that are fluid and sensitive to changes in technology and in the environment. Davidson's Climate Action Plan aims to fit within both the college's Strategic Plan and overall mission.

Teams of faculty, staff, and students are currently researching projects that will reduce Davidson's greenhouse gas emissions. These teams will prioritize a series of projects and propose them to the coordinating team, which will then draft a plan based on suggestions from all groups. Teams are as follows:

• Operations & Infrastructure
  • building efficiency, renewable energy, electricity, etc
• Transportation
  • motor pool, purchasing vehicles, travel, commuting, etc
• Solid Waste
  • landfilled waste, recycling, compost, hazardous waste, food procurement, garden, etc
• Offsets
  • how Davidson can use carbon offsets
• Education
  • curriculum, student/faculty research, etc
• Outreach subgroup
  • student clubs, advocacy, peer education, etc
• Administrative Policies
  • LEED, recycled paper, Energy Star, purchasing, growth & development, ITS, vendors & contracts, etc