In October 2006, planning sessions were held at Arizona State University with the twelve founding signatory Presidents, Second Nature, ecoAmerica, and AASHE.
[1] Part of ACUPCC's goals were to encourage higher education institutions to give their students tools to think with a sustainable perspective for the future.
[2] Today, Second Nature is the primary organization responsible for managing what is now known as the "Presidents' Climate Leadership Commitments".
Second Nature is a nonprofit organization that "has worked with over 4,000 faculty and administrators at hundreds of colleges and universities to help make the principles of sustainability fundamental to every aspect of higher education.".
The ACUPCC sought (and the Presidents' Climate Leadership Commitments continue to seek)sought to create connections with higher educational institutions in order to carry out two goals: The Climate Commitments provide a framework and support for America's colleges and universities pursuing carbon neutrality and resilience.