CollegeBuys at C3CONVERGE: Driving Climate Action and Strategic Procurement
The C3CONVERGE summit– hosted by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office in collaboration with the Foundation for California Community Colleges’ (FoundationCCC) Center for Climate Futures– marked a pivotal moment in advancing climate action within the Chancellor’s Office system. Bringing together diverse voices from education, industry, and government, the event highlighted the unique strengths of community colleges in addressing climate challenges, driving sustainability, and developing climate-ready careers.
CollegeBuys played a valuable role in the summit, reflecting its ongoing commitment to helping institutions achieve their sustainability and procurement goals.
A Milestone in Climate Leadership
The two-day summit explored innovative strategies for climate action. Day one set the tone with a plenary session, “What Can Community Colleges Accomplish?”, and a College Presidents’ Panel, showcasing leadership commitment to sustainability. On day two, Chancellor Sonya Christian presented Vision 2030, reaffirming system-wide dedication to climate action and announcing the launch of the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Climate Fellows Program. These five fellows will work alongside the Chancellor’s Office to lead climate initiatives across the state.
Sustainability Practitioners Workgroup at the Forefront
Members of the CollegeBuys Sustainability Practitioners Workgroup were featured prominently as panelists in two key sustainability-focused breakout sessions. The first session, “Creating Campus Climate Action Plans,” offered a deep-dive into actionable strategies for colleges to reduce carbon footprints and implement comprehensive climate plans. The second session, “Sustainability on Campus,” highlighted best practices and successful sustainability initiatives across California Community Colleges campuses, offering insights into the impact of sustainability measures already underway.
Anser Advisory; Austin Eden, Manager, Energy Credits & Incentives
National Tax Office; Michael Day, Advanced Energy Program Development Lead
Trane US, Inc.; and Jennifer Keiper, Senior Director, Procurement Services
Foundation for California Community Colleges discusses the importance of industry partnerships
Leveraging Industry Partnerships to Advance District Sustainability
Additionally, CollegeBuys showcased the power of collaboration with industry in driving district sustainability goals. In a breakout session moderated by CollegeBuys Senior Director, Jennifer Keiper, the conversation focused on how industry partnerships can accelerate campus sustainability efforts, offering practical solutions that align economic and environmental objectives. Anser Advisory focused on why sustainability and climate action initiatives are important; Trane focused on the electrification of heat and how to stay well-informed of changing technology and regulations; and Eide Bailly shared information on how to fund sustainability projects on campus, such as various tax incentives. This session underscored the importance of leveraging partnerships to bring innovative, sustainable products and services to colleges.
Partnering for a Greener Future
CollegeBuys continues to provide sustainable, cost-effective procurement solutions, ensuring that community colleges have the resources they need to meet climate goals. By collaborating with industry leaders and facilitating discussions on sustainability, CollegeBuys is helping campuses across the state build resilience and climatize their campus operations and facilities.
As C3CONVERGE demonstrated, California Community Colleges are not only essential to fostering sustainable development but also to shaping the state’s climate action leadership. CollegeBuys is honored to be a part of this movement, driving the conversation on how procurement and sustainability intersect for the betterment of the entire system.
Learn more about the role CollegeBuys is playing in the sustainability space here: Initiatives – CollegeBuys.
