An investigation of the most prevalent sustainability initiatives at universities

Higher education institutions play a critical role in advancing sustainable development and are actively striving to align themselves with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. Dissemination of SDGs through universities is important as current students will ultimately become future leaders and decision-makers. The study sheds light on successful initiatives implemented by universities worldwide, spanning six categories: transportation; waste management; curriculum; food and dining; water; and energy. Each category is clearly related to one or more of the 17 SDGs. Utilizing a quantitative assessment approach, this study identifies the most prevalent initiatives undertaken by leading universities in sustainability and offers a roadmap for other institutions seeking to undertake similar actions and contribute to more effective implementation of sustainability practices. The study underlines the importance of integrating sustainability principles into the curricula of higher education institutions as well as educating staff members on energy and water management. Many of the initiatives mentioned in the study do not just result in reducing ecological footprint but also provide economic savings as well. The findings of this study may help universities to take their first steps toward implementing initiatives that can effectively promote sustainable development. Differences among regions and countries were observed in the implementation of initiatives. Cultural and habitual factors should not be disregarded during the selection process of initiatives. Openly accessible quantitative data related to savings and gains of sustainability initiatives is needed to improve the accuracy of potential gains and recommendations.