At UCSF, our mission to advance health worldwide compels us to address climate change as one of the defining issues of our time. The way we power facilities, move people and goods, and manage resources directly affects the health of our patients, our communities, and the planet.
UCSF has a strong history leading climate action. From its first plan in 2009, UCSF has championed strategies to build green buildings, increase energy efficiency in existing facilities, procure clean electricity, support sustainable landfill waste reduction programs, electrify transit, and reduce commutes by single occupancy vehicles.
In 2026, UCSF is launching its next phase in this important work, with two complementary plans that establish a long-term institutional approach to climate action and decarbonization.
The Climate Action Plan (CAP) establishes UCSF's strategy for transforming a rapidly growing academic health system into a low-carbon enterprise over the next two-decades. It combines greenhouse gas forecasting, projected campus growth, infrastructure planning, and three decarbonization scenarios to define measurable targets, implementation strategies, and coordinated actions to achieve a 90% emissions reduction from operations by 2045.
The companion Climate Resilience Plan (CRP) focuses on preparing UCSF for the impacts of climate change by strengthening the resilience of its people, assets, and services to climate hazards including extreme heat, drought, wildfire, wildfire smoke, rainstorms and flooding, and coastal flooding. Learn more about the Climate Resilience Plan. Learn more about the Climate Resilience Plan.
UCSF Climate Action Plan (2026)
A roadmap for a lower-carbon, more resilient UCSF.
The UCSF Climate Action Plan (CAP) establishes the University's strategy for achieve a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 while supporting the continued growth of its academic health system.
The CAP combines greenhouse gas forecasting, projected campus growth, infrastructure planning, and multiple decarbonization scenarios to evaluate implementation pathways, establish measurable targets, and coordinate actions. Together, these create the institutional framework that guides capital investments and operational decision-making across buildings, infrastructure, transportation, waste, and operations over the next two decades.
What the Climate Action Plan Does
The CAP establishes coordinated actions that guide implementation across the UCSF campus and health system.
Buildings and Infrastructure
Electrify Buildings and Campus Energy Systems
Replace natural gas infrastructure with electric heating and cooling systems, modernize and electrify central utility plants, expand electrical infrastructure, and improve energy efficiency.
Align Capital Renewal with Decarbonization
Coordinate planned renewal of utilities, buildings, and energy systems so required infrastructure investments also reduce emissions, strengthen reliability and resilience, and support a lower-carbon future.
Transportation
Electrify the UCSF Fleet
Transition University-owned vehicles to zero-emission transportation and expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Expand Low-Carbon Commute Transportation
Strengthen transit partnerships, enhance commute programs, and reduce single-occupancy vehicle travel while leveraging California's transition to clean vehicles and zero-emission public transit.
Reduce Business Air Travel Emissions
Advance sustainable travel communications and policies, expand virtual engagement where appropriate, and support the aviation industry's transition to sustainable aviation fuels and other emerging low-carbon flight technologies.
Waste
Reduce Waste and Strengthen Circular Operations
Increase waste diversion, reduce waste generation, strengthen sustainable procurement, and incorporate circular economy principles into construction and campus operations.
Implementation
The Climate Action Plan is a living framework.
Achieving deep emissions reductions will require major changes to UCSF’s buildings, infrastructure, transportation, and operations over the next two decades. Many of the largest reductions will come from long-term investments, particularly the transition away from natural gas and toward electrified building and energy systems.
Near-term implementation will focus on making those larger transitions possible while advancing actions that can reduce emissions now. Priorities through 2030 include moving identified decarbonization projects into design, preparing buildings and infrastructure for electrification, continuing efficiency improvements, accelerating the transition to an electric fleet with charging infrastructure, expanding low-carbon commute options, and advancing waste reduction and diversion.
The CAP provides a framework to better integrate climate considerations into UCSF’s planning and operational decisions. Over time, this means identifying opportunities to align decarbonization with building renovations, infrastructure renewal, transportation planning, purchasing, and other investments—helping UCSF advance climate goals while considering cost, timing, and operational needs.
Measuring Progress
UCSF will continue to track greenhouse gas emissions while expanding how progress on CAP implementation is measured.
Measures include:
- Buildings — energy use, electrification, and refrigerant emissions
- Infrastructure — clean electricity, energy storage, and system reliability
- Transportation — fleet electrification, EV charging, commute patterns, and business travel
- Waste and circularity — waste generation, diversion, and contamination
- Engagement — participation in sustainability programs and training
As implementation advances, these measures can help identify where progress is occurring, where additional action is needed, and how UCSF is tracking toward its 2045 climate goals. Progress updates will be shared on this site.
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