Earthfest, U-M’s annual fall event celebrating sustainability initiatives across the university, returns to the Diag on Sept. 23.
The event will feature 42 student organizations, university units and local nonprofits convening to offer resources and opportunities to get involved in sustainability operations, environmental advocacy, research and environmental justice.
Highlights include:
- A culinary demonstration, hosted by MDining, with Chef Ben Beaudrie, who will use produce grown on the Campus Farm to prepare healthy food and educate attendees about the value of local and sustainable partnerships.
- A farm stand — a partnership between U-M’s Sustainable Food Program and the Campus Farm — offering attendees locally sourced produce grown by students. The stand will operate on South Ingalls Mall during Earthfest, and typically runs from noon to 3 p.m. each Thursday outside the U-M Museum of Art.
- A series of “Earthfest+” events prioritizing hands-on activities and opportunities for deeper involvement after more than a year of virtual programming. These include a “Bicycle Fix-It Workshop,” a “Huron River Clean-Up,” and trainings for Planet Blue Ambassador and Zero Waste Events, among others.
“This year’s Earthfest will be extra special after missing the in-person element last year,” said Ashlee Rothfuss, Office of Campus Sustainability representative. “It’s exciting to watch people discover just how much is going on in sustainability at U-M, and the Earthfest+ activities are a great way to get more involved.”
Earthfest is jointly organized by OCS, Student Life, the School for Environment and Sustainability, the Graham Sustainability Institute, Student Sustainability Coalition and others.
This year’s edition comes amid a momentous year in which U-M took leading actions toward carbon neutrality and sustainable investing.
In May, U-M committed to achieve carbon neutrality universitywide, with efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Scope 1 (generated from on-campus sources), Scope 2 (resulting from purchased electricity) and Scope 3 (resulting from indirect sources such as food procurement, commuting, and university-sponsored travel) categories.
In March, U-M announced revised investment strategies that focus more on renewable energy, cease investing in funds primarily focused on certain fossil fuels, discontinue direct investments in publicly traded companies that are the largest contributors to greenhouse gases, and pursue a net-zero endowment.
President Mark Schlissel outlined these efforts and others earlier this month in a note on his website titled “Global Climate Change and the University of Michigan’s Path Forward.”
