Sustainability

UNC Charlotte receives city of Charlotte’s Bike-Friendly Business of the Year Award
UNC Charlotte received the Bike-Friendly Business of the Year award at the city of Charlotte’s 2025 Bike Charlotte Awards held last month. “UNC Charlotte is proud to be recognized as a bike-friendly business,” said Mike Lizotte, university sustainability officer. “We were nominated by a neighbor who cited our bicycle lanes, greenways and Niner Transit as […]

Wading into change: Passionate lecturer leads students on mission to clean Mecklenburg creeks
For eight years, Andrew Goff, a lecturer in biology, has invited Charlotte students to clean up local creeks as members of his Adopt-a-Spot crew, the Trash Taggers. Three to five times per semester, Goff and crew travel to creek beds around Mecklenburg County, where students wade into the murky water and retrieve trash. To date, […]

A successful Earth Month
Seventy-five University departments, student groups and external organizations came together during Earth Month to host and participate in numerous successful events. The campus community gained awareness about sustainability initiatives, were invited to assist in beautification efforts and celebrated the natural environment. Here are some of the highlights. Cleaning and Cultivating Campus Beauty UNC Charlotte’s primary […]

Celebrate Earth Month
Every year, UNC Charlotte celebrates Earth Month throughout April. The Office of Sustainability, along with environmentally focused organizations in the area, are sponsoring a variety of events to celebrate the planet. The Office of Sustainability is excited to offer a variety of events this Earth Month to allow Niner Nation to connect with their natural […]

Earth Club President Lydia Knier has promoted environmental sustainability since day one
As the president of Earth Club, Lydia Knier is gearing up for events that will engage the UNC Charlotte community and spread awareness of environmental initiatives. Since her freshman year, Knier has worked in the Office of Sustainability, first as an EcoRep and now as an analyst. Knier, a junior environmental science major and public […]

Student Garden Day buzz: Reconnecting to nature with Pollinator Club founding faculty Carrie Wells ’22
On Student Garden Day, Friday, April 18, Niners from all disciplines will plant four gardens around campus. Students who make their way to the pollinator gardens behind McEniry Building will cultivate alongside the Pollinator Club and Carrie Wells ’22, associate teaching professor of biological sciences. “It’s all about fellowship,” Wells said. “We’re teaching people why […]

Be the force of change on campus and beyond: Participate in the Student Sustainability Summit
Curious about how trees and landscapes affect UNC Charlotte and the Charlotte region? Attend this semester’s Student Sustainability Summit to learn from campus researchers, student leaders and Charlotte-based organizations about trees and landscapes on campus and in the Charlotte region. The summit, hosted by the Office of Sustainability and representatives from the Student Government Association […]

Inspired by the outdoors, Cai Fox supports sustainability reporting
Cai Fox joined UNC Charlotte in 2024 as the assessment coordinator in the Office of Sustainability. Fox coordinates data gathering, information management and reporting for the assessment of campus sustainability from initiatives to operations. Fox talks about discovering his passion for sustainability and what his reports reveal about the University’s efforts. What specifically brought you […]

UNC Charlotte featured in Princeton Review 2025 Guide to Green Colleges
UNC Charlotte has made the Princeton Review’s 2025 Guide to Green Colleges, an annual publication that recognizes academic institutions that foster a culture of environmental responsibility and demonstrate a commitment to sustainability. UNC Charlotte is one of 511 colleges and universities included in the 2025 edition. The guide is based on reporting from nearly 600 […]

Charlotte receives global recognition for sustainability impact
UNC Charlotte was recognized again by Times Higher Education for its commitment to sustainability. For THE’s 2024 International Impact Rankings, released June 12, Charlotte ranks in six categories including: “I am proud of the work faculty, staff and students are doing as we pursue our goal to be a national leader in sustainability,” said Michael […]