The Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS) was formed in 2008 at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) conference in Raleigh, North Carolina with the support of the Environmental Science Institute at the University of Texas at Austin and the Texas State Energy Conservation Office. Since 2008, TRACS has facilitated events and collaborations to forward campus greenhouse gas emissions reductions and sustainability initiatives, including the Annual TRACS Summit hosted by a different participating college or university each year.
The early years of TRACS saw a great deal of progress in advancing sustainability on many campuses as new full-time sustainability staff were hired and successful student green fee campaigns on six public universities brought new energy and funding for sustainability projects. The National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology program helped advance some of the first institutional level actions on climate change and sustainability through the TRACS network.
As the sustainability movement in Texas grows, there is greater desire to not just learn from each others’ experiences but also to engage in collaborative statewide efforts. Current members of the TRACS network enjoy connecting in-person at the Annual TRACS Summits, and serving as resources for one another year-round as we work together to advance sustainability in higher education in Texas.
texascampussustainability.com 