To catalyze research that could accelerate the transition to renewable sources of energy, Harvard President Drew Faust Monday challenged the university’s alumni and friends to contribute toward a $20 million Climate Change Solutions Fund that will “seed and spur” new approaches to confronting climate change.

 

The Climate Change Solutions Fund will be part of the Harvard Campaign’s broader ongoing efforts to raise funds for energy and environment research, which have already generated nearly $120 million in support.

 

Faust said that she will make available $1 million at the start of the 2014-15 academic year to launch the fund.

 

The fund will invite grant proposals from faculty and students across Harvard who have innovative ideas for projects that could help enable the transition from carbon-based to renewable fuels.

 

In a letter to the Harvard community, Faust noted that universities have produced much of the research upon which the scientific consensus on the threat of climate change is based.

 

Faust’s letter highlighted progress made toward meeting environmental sustainability goals on campus and Harvard’s commitment to sustainable investing.

 

Faust’s letter followed an October 2013 message to the community in which she outlined ways in which the University could most effectively address climate change, with special focus on research, on-campus sustainability initiatives, and sustainable investment practices.

 

On Monday, she released a report showing that the university had made substantial progress toward its goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by the year 2016. She highlighted Harvard’s decision to sign on with the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investing.