Embedding sustainability in higher education institutions: A review of practices and challenges

IF 6.1 Q2 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Cleaner Environmental Systems Pub Date : 2025-05-02 DOI:10.1016/j.cesys.2025.100279

Samhita Ankareddy , Gregor Dorfleitner , Lin Zhang , Yong Sik Ok

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Abstract

Higher education institutions (HEIs) contribute to society and the planet by producing future implementers of sustainability, addressing the climate crisis, and promoting nature-positive actions through research. Despite their positive contributions, given the total number of HEIs globally, and the scale at which they operate, their environmental footprint negatively impacts the environment. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) alone were insufficient to integrate sustainability in HEIs without initiatives by universities and non-profits. An analysis of the past and current state of sustainability integration in HEIs reveals a disparity in sustainability reporting and rankings between the Global North and Global South. Furthermore, the number of universities participating in sustainability reporting and rankings is significantly low. Sustainability in HEIs must extend beyond curriculum and research, requiring standardized reporting frameworks, adequate budgets for enforcing sustainability, better impact assessment metrics, and support for the Global South.

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在高等教育机构中嵌入可持续性：对实践和挑战的回顾

高等教育机构通过培养可持续发展的未来实施者，解决气候危机，并通过研究促进自然积极行动，为社会和地球做出贡献。尽管它们做出了积极贡献，但考虑到全球高等教育机构的总数及其运营规模，它们的环境足迹对环境产生了负面影响。如果没有大学和非营利组织的倡议，仅靠千年发展目标（MDGs）和可持续发展目标（SDGs）不足以将可持续性纳入高等教育。对高等教育机构可持续发展整合的过去和现状的分析表明，全球北方和全球南方在可持续发展报告和排名方面存在差异。此外，参与可持续发展报告和排名的大学数量也非常少。高等教育的可持续性必须超越课程和研究，需要标准化的报告框架、执行可持续性的充足预算、更好的影响评估指标以及对南半球的支持。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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