Aerial view of our green campus.

Sustainability

Wellesley College is committed to decreasing its carbon footprint and protecting the environment.


The College has made a commitment to be carbon neutral by 2040.

Thanks to investments in energy-efficient buildings and an upgraded power plant, we are well on our way. We reduced greenhouse gasses by 50% as of 2022—far ahead of our original goal of a 44% reduction by 2036.

At Wellesley, we cooperate to create a culture of sustainability.

The environment is an essential part of students’ experience, in and out of the classroom.

  • An electric vehicle with a green Wellesley logo and clip art of a sun with the word "energy" and a truck with the word "waste."

    Office of Sustainability

    We run green-living certification programs, organize campuswide recycling drives, work with students to increase composting, and come up with other energy-saving strategies.

  • Seven students standing in a greenhouse smile. They are holding pots with dirt.

    Student organizations

    Student groups are fighting climate change, advocating for food justice, reducing waste, and supporting local and organic farms.

  • Two professors and three students stand in tall grass.

    Paulson Ecology of Place Initiative

    We encourage students to engage with the natural world, develop a sense of place on our iconic campus, and feel empowered to cultivate sustainable landscapes and communities wherever they are.

  • Lilia Bickson ’25 trellises tomato plants to a fence in a garden.

    Environmental Studies Department

    Students can take courses that address issues such as the biodiversity crisis, global climate change, green building design, and the inequities and causes of environmental degradation.

  • Spring blooms in the Alexandra botanic gardens.

    Wellesley College Botanic Gardens

    We offer outstanding botanical resources for hands-on learning and exploring human connections to plants.

  • A class sits outside under the trees while listening to the professor.

    Frost Center for the Environment

    We invite students, faculty, and staff into a collaborative learning community working toward a more just environmental future.