Agnes Scott College Featured in Global Heritage and Climate Initiative
Decatur, Ga. – Agnes Scott College has been recognized as a featured case study in the Heritage Now! Campaign and as a member of the Decarbonizing the Built Environment Through Heritage (DBTH) Advisory Group, a global coalition of heritage and climate leaders across industries working to advance heritage-informed decarbonization.
Launched at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the Heritage Now! Campaign and the accompanying DBTH Toolkit encourage a transformative approach to built environment decarbonization that recognizes heritage as a climate strategy and prioritizes genuine inclusion of cultural and Indigenous voices. By embracing this approach, policymakers can unlock new pathways for environmental sustainability and social equity, ensuring that climate strategies not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but are also deeply rooted in the cultures and histories of those they serve.
Agnes Scott’s participation reflects the college’s long-standing commitment to sustainability and its mission to “educate women to think deeply, live honorably and engage the intellectual and social challenges of their times.” Climate change represents one of the defining challenges of this generation, and Agnes Scott has pursued ambitious sustainability goals for nearly two decades. Since adopting a commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2037, the college has reduced its carbon emissions by over 52 percent.
A significant portion of that progress has come through the thoughtful renovation of existing campus buildings and the avoidance of new construction. Since 2009, the college has conducted five, full-building renovations that preserved the historic character of campus while significantly improving energy performance. These renovations have earned multiple LEED certifications, including the first LEED-certified building in Decatur, a LEED Gold certification and LEED Platinum certifications for two of the college’s oldest buildings.
“As institutions across the world seek meaningful ways to address climate change, preserving and improving existing buildings must be part of the solution,” said Agnes Scott President Leocadia I. Zak. “Our campus demonstrates that historic preservation and environmental stewardship can work hand in hand, creating spaces that honor our past while supporting a more sustainable future.”
With the college’s recent announcement of approving a major in Environmental & Sustainability Studies, students will continue to have the opportunity to use the college’s built and natural environments as a living laboratory. Participation in the Heritage Now! Campaign further strengthens the college’s role in preparing students to lead at the intersection of sustainability, policy and social justice.
To learn more about the Heritage Now! Campaign, watch the video recording of Agnes Scott’s Executive Director of the Center for Sustainability, Kimberly Reeves, from Thursday, July 16 at 12:00pm EST – a panel discussion – Heritage Now!: Heritage-Informed Decarbonization Around the Globe. Past webinar recordings can be found here.
Read the Decarbonizing the Built Environment through Heritage Toolkit here.
