At its May quarterly meeting, the Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees approved a resolution to achieve a net zero carbon impact goal by the year 2050. 

The resolution empowers staff to develop a climate action plan for the Institution that: (1) achieves net-zero carbon emissions for Institution operations by no later than 2050; (2) ensures compliance with all applicable federal and state climate laws and policies; (3) sets annual benchmarks that progressively reduce the Institution’s greenhouse gas emissions; (4) funds measures to achieve these benchmarks through sustainable annual budgets; (5) advances measures to improve the long-term climate resilience of the Chautauqua Lake and the Institution’s grounds; (6) creates pathways for engagement and participation by relevant external stakeholders; and (7) is used by the Institution as a model to inspire climate action by others. 
 
In a letter to the community on behalf of the Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees and Executive Team, President Michael E. Hill stated, “We are deeply concerned about the increasing intensity of climate change and the potential for unprecedented and irreversible detrimental impacts. We are beginning to experience the effects of climate change on Institution grounds, in our region, and in Chautauqua Lake, and we understand that these effects are projected to become more damaging.” 
 
The letter further clarifies Institution planning will center on a goal of 2044 to ensure compliance by 2050.   
 
Mark Wenzler, Peter Nosler Director of the Chautauqua Climate Initiative, will direct the plan development and monitoring.   
 
“I am proud to help lead this Institution-wide effort to bring greater definition and focus to Chautauqua’s long-standing commitment to caring for the environment,” Wenzler said. “This is a natural extension to the great work that Chautauqua has done in its development of the grounds and facilities, as well as in influencing the behavior and choices of our community members.” 

Board Resolution (Appendix D, page 11): https://www.chq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024.05.04-Draft-Minutes-Board-of-Trustees.pdf

Leadership Letter Below

ABOUT CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION 
Chautauqua Institution is a not-for-profit, 750-acre community on Chautauqua Lake in southwestern New York State where approximately 7,500 people are in residence on any day during a nine-week summer season. More than 100,000 attend scheduled public events each year and even more engage online via the streaming channel CHQ Assembly. Chautauqua is dedicated to the exploration of the best in human values and the enrichment of life through a program that explores the important religious, social and political issues of our times; stimulates provocative, thoughtful involvement of individuals and families in creative response to such issues; and promotes excellence and creativity in the appreciation, performance and teaching of the arts. The Institution celebrates its sesquicentennial in 2024. 

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Chautauqua Climate Action Plan Leadership Statement 

On behalf of the Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees and the Institution Executive Team, I offer the following expression of our commitment to develop a climate action plan that guides the Institution toward carbon neutrality within the next 20 years. We are deeply concerned about the increasing intensity of climate change and the potential for unprecedented and irreversible detrimental impacts. We are beginning to experience the effects of climate change on Institution grounds, in our region, and in Chautauqua Lake, and we understand that these effects are projected to become more damaging. 

We believe in the power and potential of Chautauqua to tackle these challenges and help shape a sustainable future. The Institution is well positioned to leverage our programs, partners, and talented staff to lead by example. Through our plan, we will increase the efficiency of our operations; reduce the costs of responding to climate disturbances; attract more people to engage with Chautauqua; and encourage positive actions both in our region and beyond through the many thousands of people we reach through our programs. 

For these reasons, and in alignment with a resolution by Chautauqua’s Board of Trustees, the Institution is committing to a climate action plan that meets these objectives: 

1. Achieve net-zero carbon emissions for Institution operations on or before 2044 

2. Meet or exceed applicable federal and state standards relating to climate change 

3. Progressively reduce our greenhouse gas emissions through annual targets 

4. Align capital plans and annual budgets to meet those targets 

5. Advance the long-term resilience of the Institution’s grounds and Chautauqua Lake  

6. Create pathways for participation by external partners, and 

7. Serve as a model to inspire climate action by others 

We further commit the Institution to the following timeline to develop our climate action plan: 

• Within six months: (1) Create an administrative framework to guide the development and implementation of the plan; and (2) Complete a greenhouse gas emissions inventory for Institution operations. 

• Within one year: (1) Create a task force to work toward alignment of our plan with state, regional and community goals and to facilitate joint action with our partners; and (2) Identify near-term opportunities for greenhouse gas reductions that will be incorporated into capital planning and annual budgets. 

• Within two years: (1) Complete an initial campus-lake climate vulnerability assessment; and (2) Produce a climate action plan framework that includes draft goals for greenhouse gas reductions and climate resilience actions. 

• Within three years: Finalize and adopt Chautauqua’s climate action plan with annual benchmarks putting the Institution on a path to achieving net-zero carbon on or before 2044. 

Finally, we will hold ourselves accountable to these objectives and timeline by providing annual assessments of progress, with the first report in June 2025. 

Signed, 
Michael E. Hill, Ed.D., President 
Chautauqua Institution 
June 21, 2024