Colgate University continues to walk the talk on climate leadership. As a proud partner and friend of the Finger Lakes Climate Fund (FLCF), Colgate has once again demonstrated its commitment to community-based sustainability by making another $3,000 carbon offset donation.

This ongoing partnership shows Colgate’s role in the higher education sustainability movement. In 2008, the University joined the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), now part of the Climate Leadership Commitment, and pledged to achieve carbon neutrality. Just over a decade later, in 2019, Colgate became the first institution of higher education in New York State to reach that goal.

The journey began with accountability. A 2009 greenhouse gas inventory revealed a baseline footprint of 17,393 metric tons of CO₂. Over the years, Colgate reduced its campus carbon footprint by over 50 percent.

Yet Colgate knows carbon neutrality was only a milestone. As the University continues to push toward decarbonization and zero emissions, it maintains its carbon-neutral status by investing in high-quality carbon offsets that align with its values, just like the Finger Lakes Climate Fund.

Colgate’s donation will directly support local families in Madison County, including those in Hamilton, where the University is located. These funds help income-eligible homeowners access the resources they need to complete energy-efficient home upgrades, improving indoor comfort while reducing household carbon footprints.

Past donations have already made immediate differences by funding new insulation, weatherization, and heating improvements for residents across the region. Thanks to Colgate’s latest contribution, we’re excited to begin identifying the next round of Madison County households that could benefit from a cleaner, greener, and more energy-efficient home.

Thank you, Colgate University, for demonstrating that carbon neutrality doesn’t stop at the campus gates.