Fully Sustainable University goals

What is a Fully Sustainable University?

Since launching the nation's first school of sustainability in 2006, Arizona State University has become a global sustainability leader in higher education. ASU continues to rank No. 1 in the United States for both sustainable practices by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and for sustainable impact toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals by Times Higher Education. While a true, fully sustainable university is nearly impossible, ASU continues to redefine what is possible for a public research university as it aspires to a new North Star: The Fully Sustainable University.  

The Fully Sustainable University is an ambitious, universitywide initiative that updates ASU’s sustainability goals, strengthens resilience in a changing world and integrates sustainability into all decision-making and operations throughout the university system. University Sustainability Practices organized a steering committee of partners from across ASU to develop the initiative under the direction of ASU President Michael Crow. Partners from across the university are developing plans to achieve the sustainability goals in five impact areas.  

Climate action

ASU is working toward a net positive climate impact by addressing emissions from university operations and transportation.

• Achieve 100% carbon-neutral operational energy use for campus facilities by 2040 while deploying carbon capture technologies on university campuses to reach carbon negativity by 2050.
• Ensure that all of ASU’s purchased electricity is carbon-neutral, in alignment with evolving recognized standards, by 2035.
• Partner in the development of community-based climate projects with an annual volume equal to ASU's Scope 1 emissions by 2035. Achieve net zero commuting and air travel emissions by 2035 and other targeted Scope 3 emissions by 2050.
• Convert the light-duty fleet to non-emitting or carbon-neutral-fueled vehicles by 2030. Convert the medium-duty fleet to non-emitting or carbon-neutral-fueled vehicles by 2032 and advance campus infrastructure and resources to support 100% sustainable commuting options for students, faculty and staff by 2035.

Materials and services

Reduce, reuse, recycle or rethink anything consumed by the university, from supply chain operations to waste removal. 

• Provide 100% of campus users with the knowledge, tools and programs to successfully recover all locally recyclable, compostable and reusable materials by 2035.
• Evaluate all competitive sourcing activities and strategic suppliers against relevant ASU sustainability goals by 2027 and engage 80% of key suppliers to establish science-based targets or plans by 2032.

Stewardship of place

Care for the environments where ASU operates by managing resources sustainably and creating a resilient built environment. 

• Develop an index of water use for open spaces and buildings by 2027 and establish an annual water-use intensity budget based on regional and higher-education best practices by 2028. Then exceed it by 2030.
• Develop a comprehensive biodiversity survey in partnership with university subject-matter experts by 2028, and update it every three years. Establish universitywide arboreal standards by 2030. Maintain our current pollinator and tree health certifications, e.g., Tree Campus USA, Bee Campus USA.
• Pursue a minimum of LEED Gold certification for all new buildings and major renovations exceeding 10,000 square feet by 2026. By 2028, ASU will pilot and evaluate Green Globes for Sustainable Interiors for small-scale interior renovations and tenant improvement projects between 2,000 and 10,000 square feet. By 2030, ASU will pilot and certify at least one project under the Living Building Challenge.
• Conduct a climate risk assessment for all ASU campuses by 2027 and integrate it into the Enterprise Risk Management process. Establish a climate resilience plan to mitigate the catastrophic effects of extreme weather across the enterprise by 2028, and update it every three years. Develop a heat-and-shade master plan for Arizona campuses by 2028 and implement priority recommendations by 2030.

Campus culture

Engage Sun Devils and make it easier for everyone to live, learn, visit and work sustainably at ASU.

• Achieve 100% awareness by campus-based students, faculty and staff of sustainability programs and offerings as measured by ASU’s biennial sustainability survey by 2027.
• Require foundational sustainability training for all new employees within the first 90 days of employment. Emphasize the importance of sustainability by including it in the ASU Statement in all job listings, new-employee and student orientation presentations and performance management discussions by 2026. 
• Establish a President’s Executive Subcommittee on Sustainability by 2026 to ensure annual progress toward ASU’s sustainability goals and direct goal updates by 2030.

Excellence at scale

Continue to innovate in sustainability, pioneer practical solutions and strengthen ASU's position as a leader among peer institutions. 

• Establish investment objectives to transition ASU's long-term investment pool in alignment with the ASU Charter by 2027 and fully transition the investment pool by 2035.
• Increase the Global Futures Scientists and Scholars network by 50% through ongoing, active participation. Increase ASU’s campus and community sustainability impact as measured by the Collaboratory by 30% by 2030.
• By 2030, increase by 50% the number of innovative, sustainability-oriented demonstration projects launched annually that use university facilities as testbeds.

Sustainability reporting 

The ASU Sustainability Impact Review is a collaborative effort across academics, operations and research. It provides a comprehensive look at the university’s sustainability progress every two years. Read volume one here. 

Volume two is coming in October 2026.

The Campus Sustainability Data Hub serves as ASU's central platform for operational sustainability performance reporting. It brings together key metrics to provide a transparent, data-driven view of the university's sustainability efforts. The hub supports exploration, transparency and informed decision-making. Explore the Campus Sustainability Data Hub here.