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Sustainability

European universities advance sustainability in numerous ways, and have done so for many decades.

The European University Association’s vision for 2030 – Universities without walls – states that sustainable development “will be the main framework for driving impact through university missions, as universities proactively reflect upon, find and promote solutions in dialogue with society.”

In fact, a large majority of Europe's universities have either incorporated sustainability into their main institutional strategy or developed specific sustainability or greening strategies. Within universities, this commitment to sustainability has been driven both by students and university leadership and is now largely seen as a key part of the values that inform universities’ activities.

The adoption of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 was a pivotal milestone for European universities. Indeed, Agenda 2030’s ‘five Ps’ – serving People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership – are a very fitting, holistic approach to show the breadth of universities' engagement in favour of more sustainable societies.

In recent years, much of the focus of EUA’s sustainability work has been on climate and environmental action, with the greening of universities and the European Green Deal at the centre. For example, EUA has gathered data on sustainability from its members and formulated its own Green Deal roadmap for universities. Nonetheless, as sustainability goes much beyond climate and environmental questions, the Association has also worked on equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, as well as promoting global dialogue.

To coincide with the 2025 EUA Annual Conference – on the theme of ‘Connecting the dots on sustainability and resilience’ – the Association kicked off a series of activities to shine a 'Spotlight on Sustainability'. Through this campaign, EUA will foster the sharing of information and experiences between universities in Europe and beyond on how they approach sustainability, while highlighting the essential role that universities play in achieving the SDGs.

Take EUA's survey on sustainability and greening

University research and innovation play a critical role in sustainability, as universities work on scientific and policy solutions to address pressing challenges.

The scale and urgency of the environmental and climate challenge can only be met by drawing on the full knowledge cycle from research to innovation. As core university missions, research and innovation create evidence for sustainability as well as using new knowledge to provide both technical and societal solutions that lead towards sustainability. This requires working across disciplines and across sectors in order to co-create knowledge and applications.

Hence, universities are essential spaces for open-ended reflection about what is at stake in achieving sustainability. Their broad range of expertise and partnerships across the whole spectrum of research and innovation ensures that major initiatives and policies are more consistent, nuanced and scientifically informed.

Bridging knowledge and action for sustainability requires a holistic grasp of values, norms and processes that allow diverse communities to work towards planetary health and well-being. For universities, policies and funding programmes for research and innovation are central instruments, which ideally generate the necessary mix of fundamental science, applied research and new solutions. As important users of these programmes at national and EU level, universities can engage in a dialogue to calibrate various strands in the pursuit of sustainability, be they social, behavioural, technological or industrial.

EUA’s survey report on ‘Universities as key drivers of innovation ecosystems’ collects evidence about how universities concretely work to achieve this, demonstrating for example how universities promote sustainability both through technical innovations and foster awareness and sustainability skills among staff and students.

Universities as key drivers of innovation ecosystems

Education is central to sustainable development.

This is because universities equip learners with the skills and competencies needed to address societal challenges, including achieving of the SDGs. At EU level, the European Commission’s 2025 proposals for a ‘Union of Skills’ put a strong emphasis on universities’ key role in upskilling Europe’s workforce for the green transition.

Moreover, data gathered by EUA on greening in European higher education institutions shows that sustainability is of high interest to institutions, especially in the area of learning and teaching. Most universities address it in curricula reform, through thematically dedicated study programmes, elective modules and extracurricular activities.

Beyond greening, universities tend to frame their L&T activities as part of the broader concepts of sustainability and the SDGs. For instance, higher education institutions increasingly commit to enhancing equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, thereby fostering the goal of quality education for all (SDG 4), including e.g. those with an at-risk or refugee(-like) background.

Greening in European higher education institutions

Campus infrastructure is another key area, as universities strive to implement green energy solutions, construct more efficient buildings and manage resources responsibly.

As major employers, owners or users of campus infrastructure and consumers of goods and services, the decisions that universities take on processes, investment, procurement and campus operations can have a significant impact. In addition, embedding sustainability in strategy and operations requires clear targets, systematic monitoring and transparent reporting. Many universities are setting goals for carbon neutrality, energy and waste reduction or responsible investment.

Many universities are investing in energy-efficient buildings, renewable energy, and biodiversity initiatives while integrating low-carbon transport options and circular economy principles. Sustainable procurement and responsible resource management also play a key role in reducing environmental impact. And beyond their internal operations, universities integrate sustainability into strategic and operational management by incorporating it into human resources policies, travel and mobility frameworks, procurement processes and governance structures.

Achieving meaningful change requires engaging the entire university community through inclusive decision making and joint initiatives. As such, partnerships with other institutions, business and local communities further strengthen universities' capacity to implement innovative sustainability solutions.

Moreover, EUA’s work on greening in European higher education institutions highlights that effective university leadership plays a central role in developing sustainability strategies and successfully implementing them. Dedicated offices or committees coordinate efforts, but success depends commitment of leadership teams and the competences they hold to drive systemic transformation. As such, sustainability is among the ‘big transformations’ in higher education that is addressed by EUA’s pilot Leadership Development Programme, which started in 2025.

From a governance, funding and efficiency perspective, EUA’s work highlights that institutions need supporting funding models, incentives (e.g. through targeted funding, tax incentives, technical support) and an adequate legal framework. These elements are key to supporting long-term sustainability commitments, notably through granting greater financial autonomy to manage and invest in the green transition.

Greening: a governance, funding and efficiency perspective

Importantly, universities engage with society by working closely with local communities, businesses, and policy makers to drive sustainable transformation at all levels. EUA actively supports universities in these efforts through policy engagement, research and capacity-building initiatives.

Providing scientific advice and boosting scientific literacy among citizens and policy makers is an important element of achieving sustainability. Scientific advice empowers citizens and policy makers to make decisions based on sound evidence, understanding risks and opportunities, including contextual factors like culture and local specificities, governance structures and the configuration of various industries.

Universities are well-placed to provide such advice, as they straddle the boundary between the public and private sectors, and connect local and global communities. Engagement with civil society, business and policy makers at different levels allows knowledge circulation and promotes a healthy societal debate and contributes with new framings of societal challenges, reflecting scientific knowledge, citizens’ experiences and stimulating mobilisation.

In 2023, EUA published a Green Deal Roadmap, which outlines the state of play, overarching objectives and several recommendations across university activities, including public engagement and societal impact.

A Green Deal roadmap for universities

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