UVA's Decarbonization Academy Earns National Recognition

Climate nonprofit Second Nature honors university's climate leadership and advocacy efforts.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The University of Virginia's Decarbonization Academy, a paid summer program for students to work on sustainability projects, has been awarded 'Climate Luminary Honors' by the climate action nonprofit Second Nature. The academy, led by engineering professor Lisa Colosi, was recognized for its efforts to leverage the university as a 'test bed for additional climate action'.

Why it matters

The Decarbonization Academy's recognition highlights UVA's commitment to addressing climate change through innovative student-led initiatives. As universities play a crucial role in developing climate solutions, this award showcases UVA's leadership in the higher education sector's sustainability efforts.

The details

The Decarbonization Academy is a university-led program that provides paid summer opportunities for UVA students to work on projects aimed at decarbonizing the campus. The academy is supervised by the university's Office of Sustainability and brings together students, faculty, and staff to collaborate on initiatives that can drive the institution towards its sustainability goals.

  • On Tuesday, Decarbonization Academy Director Ethan Heil accepted the award at the Second Nature Summit in Chicago.

The players

Ethan Heil

The director of the University of Virginia's Decarbonization Academy.

Lisa Colosi

An engineering professor at the University of Virginia who founded the Decarbonization Academy.

Tim Carter

The president of the climate action nonprofit Second Nature, which awarded the 'Climate Luminary Honors' to the University of Virginia.

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What they’re saying

“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...”

— Lisa Colosi, Engineering professor, University of Virginia (cvillerightnow.com)

“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...”

— Tim Carter, President, Second Nature (cvillerightnow.com)

What’s next

The University of Virginia plans to continue expanding the Decarbonization Academy and leveraging it as a platform for driving campus-wide sustainability initiatives.

The takeaway

The Decarbonization Academy's national recognition underscores the University of Virginia's commitment to addressing climate change through innovative student-led programs that bring together the university community to develop and implement real-world sustainability solutions.