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Sustainability is inherently intersectional. Due to this intersectionality, many resources and articles throughout this guide are relevant to multiple areas.
Cal Poly Humboldt sees sustainability as the recognition that humanity is a part of the natural world, not separate from it, and that healthy social and economic systems depend on the resilience of ecological systems. Cal Poly Humboldt Sustainability Office
Sustainability Focused Topics - natural resource conflict, dynamics/causes/impacts of power and privilege linked to resources, access, and profit, social/economic/environmental causes and impacts of neoliberalism and consumerism, pollution causes and impacts.
Humboldt is focused on preparing its students to pursue social justice, promote environmental responsibility, and improve economic conditions in their workplaces and communities. As such, check out these resources that explain how Humboldt is integrating sustainability into the classroom.
Sustainability Minor - The Sustainability Minor is designed to engage students from every college, transcending disciplines while complementing any major. It further provides a coherent pathway to fulfill General Education and Diversity and Common Ground requirements (if the student chooses). The minor can be of particular value to students seeking careers in the growing field of sustainability, public policymaking or community development, or in applying sustainability concepts and practices to their chosen career pathway.
Sustainable Food Systems Minor - The Sustainable Food Systems Minor is an interdisciplinary course of study from all three colleges. It provides students with a holistic food systems perspective and an increased ability to access careers and graduate programs related to food systems. The minor is purposefully designed to prepare students to receive training needed to fill jobs related to food and agriculture. The minor examines topics related to production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food, and equity and inclusion issues of food sovereignty, indigenous perspectives, and equitable access to all dimensions of the food system. In addition to completion of core courses, an additional 6 units of coursework are selected. Students select the 6 additional units of coursework from the following professionally-related categories: food for all, food business, food and health, food justice, food production, food-related science and engineering, and food stories and literature.
"Sustainability is the recognition that humanity is a part of the natural world, not separate from it, and that healthy social and economic systems depend on the resilience of ecological systems." Definition established by the Humboldt Advisory Committee on Sustainability (HACS), 2018. At Cal Poly Humboldt, sustainability means upholding tenets of justice and liberation as well as stewarding the land and caring for ecological systems. Issues like Indigenous sovereignty, meeting basic needs, inclusive and participatory governance, and fostering restorative cultural connections can often be understood through a sustainability lens. Per Cal Poly Humboldt Guide to Student Sustainability 23-24
At Cal Poly Humboldt, we use a triple Venn diagram to examine the world's most pressing sustainability challenges arising from the intersection between social, environmental, and economic systems. Check out Humboldt's sustainability data dashboard managed by the Humboldt Advisory Committee on Sustainability to learn about campus sustainability goals, status, projects, and next steps.
Supporting Sustainability Work
All students, staff, and faculty have a role to play in making our University a more socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable place. Among others, here are a few ways you can play a role: seek courses and research projects that examine real world sustainability problems at campus and in the community, do your part to recover resources and practice zero waste behaviors, take an active role in educating yourself and others about how social justice is an integral part of sustainability work and environmental activism, and take the HSU Pledge here Living on campus? Check out Residence Life's Sustainable Living page for tips and resources.
Cal Poly Humboldt Sustainability Stories from Humboldt NOW
Given our location in one of the world's most beautiful places, it's only natural that Cal Poly Humboldt has a long-standing commitment to understanding and preserving our environment. Cal Poly Humboldt has undertaken the task of proving we are serious about sustainability. During Academic Year 2022-2023, Humboldt will re-evaluate sustainability across campus, assessing performance for the third time with a self-reporting framework called Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance.This system was developed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. Check out the "resources" page. Because CPH is a member of AASHE, you can access member-only resources by creating an AASHE account with your @humboldt.edu email address.
Campus Committees, Representatives
Campus Resources for Sustainability Work, Projects, Volunteering and More
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.
Sustainable Development Goals (17) - No Poverty. Zero Hunger, Good health and Well-Being, Quality Education, Gender Equality. Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry/Innovation and Infrastructure, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life on Land, Place/Justice and Strong Institutions, Partnerships for the Goals.
