Universities are assuming a key role in the face of the climate crisis by incorporating sustainability into their daily lives. Beyond educating professionals, these educational institutions are becoming active platforms for environmental transformation.
In collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Mexican institutions are working to integrate an ecological perspective into their curricula, administrative practices, and operational decisions.
The goal is for environmental impact to be an essential criterion in university operations. This ranges from curriculum design to resource consumption, aiming to raise awareness across the academic community.
The Tecnológico de Monterrey, Colegio de Jalisco, and the Universidad Veracruzana are participating in this international strategy, promoting higher education committed to biodiversity conservation.
Tecnológico de Monterrey joins green universities. Photo: Wikipedia.
Small Changes, Big Transformations
These universities are part of a network of over 700 institutions in more than 100 countries working to include nature in campus management, supply chains, and local communities.
The approach seeks to leverage the transition students experience when entering university. Changes in routine, environment, and even diet open the door to new, more sustainable practices.
Promoted actions include recycling, waste reduction, conscious resource use, and prioritizing low environmental impact food options.
These measures, though small, can have a multiplier effect. When adopted by the educational community, they extend to other areas of daily life, fostering a culture of sustainability beyond the classroom.
Colegio de Jalisco. Photo: Social media.
Green Universities: Educational Institutions with Environmental Commitment
Green universities are higher education institutions that integrate environmental sustainability into their management, teaching, research, and outreach. Their focus goes beyond recycling or energy efficiency: they aim to educate professionals aware of ecological impact and promote responsible practices inside and outside the campus.
These universities take measures such as reducing emissions, managing waste, implementing renewable energies, conserving biodiversity, and promoting sustainable mobility. They also redesign their curricula to include topics on climate change, conservation, and circular economy.
In addition to Mexico, where institutions like Universidad Veracruzana and Tecnológico de Monterrey stand out, green universities have expanded to countries such as Germany, Canada, Sweden, Australia, and Japan. In these places, academic sustainability is part of national environmental education policies.
International networks like the Green University Network or International Sustainable Campus Network promote the exchange of experiences and global standards. Thus, green universities are becoming key agents in the transition to more sustainable societies.
