Sustainability Leadership Council

SLC Steering Committee: The SLC is led by a steering committee of faculty, student, and staff members, including chairs and representatives of the contributing SLC Committees.

The Co-Chairs of the SLC are:

• Bob McLean, Vice President, Facilities and Real Estate 
• Peter Winch, Professor, BSPH Department of International Health

The Research & Academics Committee convenes representatives from key departments and academic programs offering degrees and courses related to environmental sustainability as well as major sustainability research centers, institutes, and initiatives. The committee seeks to build bridges and identify synergies between current and evolving academic offerings, facilitate collaboration between programs, and strengthen JHU’s role in preparing graduates for leadership and careers in environmental sustainability. 

Working Groups: 

• Campus as Living Laboratory: convenes stakeholders to establish a new program focusing on empowering students and faculty to use JHU’s physical campuses as testbeds for innovation that advance on-campus sustainability solutions.
• Initiatives & Convenings: identifies and convenes JHU research & academic initiatives and advises cross-disciplinary initiatives at JHU, such as institutes, the JHU Sustainability Symposium, campus sustainability teaching and research grants, and academic programs.  
• K-12 Education:  spearheads coordination across new and existing JHU efforts to advance K-12 sustainability education curriculum locally, nationally and globally.
• Sustainability Healthcare: facilitates advocacy and action sustainable healthcare research, curriculum, and clinical practices as in coordination with the Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health Clinical Program.

The Environmental Justice & Community Partnerships Committee works to develop a new Baltimore-focused Environmental Justice Initiative, as part of the JHU Climate Action and Sustainability Plan while seeking to strengthen relationship-building and visibility for the breadth of academic and administrative efforts focused on environmental justice and sustainability-focused community partnerships taking place across the university.

Working Groups: 

• Community Engagement: liaisons with communities neighboring Johns Hopkins campus to identify and support their priorities and issues.
• Campus Operations & Planning: promotes environmental justice and inclusivity principles in campus governance, decision making, and operations.

The Operations Committee seeks to address opportunities for improving the daily operational and business practices of Johns Hopkins across all areas of its environmental footprint, including energy, waste, food, water, transportation, wellness, procurement, and more.  

Working Groups: 

• Green Labs: supports the expansion of JHU’s Green Labs program focusing on engaging lab users to conserve and reduce energy, water, waste, and other resources through a mix of strategies.
• Green Fleet: addresses sustainable transportation initiatives at JHU, focusing on university vehicles and student and employee behaviors, addressing topics ranging from vehicle electrification, employee commuting, procurement incentives, student transportation choices, and much more.
• Food & Dining:  addresses sustainability in JHU’s food and dining locations, including topics ranging from local and sustainable food procurement, food security, climate-friendly diets and reducing GHG emissions in food programs, food growing opportunities, nutrition and menu design, and more.
• Zero Waste Planning: identifies waste related opportunities and challenges, research zero waste best practices, and works collaboratively to implement programs to set JHU on a path to a zero waste future.