CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW)- Climate action nonprofit Second Nature has awarded the University of Virginia with “Climate Luminary Honors” for their excellence in climate leadership and advocacy. 

UVA’s Decarbonization Academy, a university effort begun by engineering professor Lisa Colosi, is a paid summer program for UVA students supervised by the Office of Sustainability to help in advancing solutions to decarbonize Grounds.   

Second Nature highlights the Decarbonization Academy’s willingness to leverage the “…UVA as a test bed for additional climate action.” 

“We’ve found that the Decarbonization Academy is a great way to bring students, faculty, and staff together to collaborate on projects that can meaningfully drive us toward our institutional sustainability goals…” Colosi said in a statement. “This year’s recipients reflect the diversity of the higher education sector and demonstrate that impactful climate leadership can take many forms, across institution types, geographies, and focus areas…” said Second Nature President, Tim Carter in a statement. 

Decarbonization Academy Director Ethan Heil accepted the award at the Second Nature Summitt in Chicago on Tuesday.