Introducing the Climate Justice and Sustainability Hub at Northeastern University

Exciting changes are coming to Northeastern, as the Office of Sustainability will become the Climate Justice and Sustainability Hub to reflect our intention to engage, implement, and put research into action on climate justice, sustainability, and resilience at Northeastern.

The Climate Justice and Sustainability Hub will work to elevate Northeastern’s ability to leverage the talent from our students, faculty, and staff, and global partnerships to expand our leadership role and implement just solutions to address the climate crisis. The Climate Justice and Sustainability Hub will help further the university’s work on climate justice and sustainability by focusing on enhancing the connections among student projects, faculty teaching and research, neighborhood stakeholders, campus operations, and capital investments. One of the first tasks for the Hub will be to complete the Climate Justice Action Plan in partnership with the Northeastern community and our neighborhood stakeholders that develops a blueprint for Northeastern to expand its leadership on climate justice and carbon reduction.

Leah Bamberger is joining Northeastern as Executive Director of the Northeastern University Climate Justice and Sustainability Hub. Leah comes to Northeastern from the City of Providence, Rhode Island, where she served as the Director of Sustainability for the past seven years. Under her leadership and in partnership with frontline community members, the office transformed its work to focus on environmental justice and center racial equity. She was also a co-creator of Providence’s 2019 Climate Justice Plan that was recognized nationally, and continues to serve as a model for communities all over the United States. Prior to her role in Providence, Leah managed the City of Boston’s citywide sustainability initiative, Greenovate Boston, and led the development of Boston’s 2014 Climate Action Plan.

Northeastern University’s Planning, Real Estate, and Facilities oversees the physical footprint of over 8 million square feet in six states as well as Canada and the United Kingdom. The Department ensures that our planning, design, and construction projects, and the daily operations of our thirteen campuses are incorporating green building, carbon reduction, climate justice, energy conservation, climate resiliency, and waste reduction measures while they are meeting the current and future needs of Northeastern University.