Climate Action Plan
Terra Education is committed to advancing climate responsibility across its global education programs and operations. Terra Education’s CEPA division has led the organization’s sustainability initiatives, including measuring program emissions, supporting ecosystem restoration and integrating environmental education into experiential learning programs.
CEPA currently serves as the lead pilot for Terra Education’s Climate Action Plan, implementing sustainability practices that guide the organization’s broader climate strategy. As this work evolves, Terra Education intends to expand these practices across additional divisions, programs and partnerships so that the approaches developed through CEPA can inform organization-wide standards.
Terra Education supports the global ambition to limit global warming to 1.5°C and is committed to reducing the environmental impact of international education. Our approach follows three guiding principles: Measure, Reduce and Compensate, while educating and engaging our global community.
Through CEPA’s sustainability initiatives, the organization already measures emissions associated with programming, works to reduce operational impacts where possible and offsets unavoidable emissions through ecosystem restoration and verified carbon credits.
Measure
CEPA measures greenhouse gas emissions using internationally recognized standards such as the GHG Protocol and establishes a baseline for monitoring emissions over time. These measurements create a transparent foundation for emissions reductions and help inform future sustainability practices across Terra Education divisions.
Reduce
The organization works to reduce operational emissions associated with energy use, office operations and travel. This includes increasing energy efficiency, encouraging remote meetings and collaboration where possible, improving procurement practices and reducing material use through digital documentation.
Compensate and Restore
Unavoidable emissions are offset through verified carbon credits or equivalent climate projects where applicable. Terra Education also supports ecosystem restoration initiatives in partnership with environmental organizations, including CEPA’s effort to plant native trees and support biodiversity conservation. Terra Education, through CEPA, has already planted nearly 10,000 trees and offset 4,978 tonnes of CO₂ to-date.
Climate Education and Impact
Terra Education integrates climate literacy and sustainability education into relevant experiential and environmental programs and provides sustainability guidance and resources to institutional partners and program participants.
Terra Education dedicates human, technical and financial resources to implement this Climate Action Plan through CEPA’s sustainability leadership. Resources include staff coordination of sustainability initiatives, emissions measurement and reporting tools, and financial support for carbon offsets, ecosystem restoration projects and operational sustainability improvements.
Terra Education collaborates with stakeholders across its network to advance climate action. These stakeholders include students and program participants, university partners, NGO and conservation partners, and staff and faculty leaders. Stakeholders are encouraged to participate in sustainability initiatives and responsible program practices.
This Climate Action Plan is approved by Terra Education’s executive leadership and is currently implemented through the CEPA division as the organization’s pilot initiative. Practices developed through CEPA will inform the gradual expansion of sustainability standards across other Terra Education divisions. Progress is reviewed regularly by organizational leadership.
Terra Education reviews and updates this Climate Action Plan at least every 36 months to ensure alignment with evolving climate science, organizational development and sustainability standards.
The organization’s commitment to sustainability and the climate is published on the CEPA division’s website and is accessible to all key stakeholders. As Terra Education expands implementation across its divisions, the Climate Action Plan will also be made available across additional Terra Education platforms and within our employee portal.