Strategies and challenges for green campuses
The global environmental and ecological climate crisis necessitates urgent mitigation and adaptation measures, with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) playing a crucial role in driving the transition toward a sustainable future. This paper examines the dual approach HEIs can adopt to foster sustai...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Cities |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2025.1469274/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849726463999213568 |
|---|---|
| author | Zohar Barnett-Itzhaki Zohar Barnett-Itzhaki Sigal Tifferet Sigal Tifferet Daniel Berkowic Tamir Arviv Tamir Arviv Alon Daya Alon Daya Gal Hagit Carasso Romano Adi Levi Adi Levi |
| author_facet | Zohar Barnett-Itzhaki Zohar Barnett-Itzhaki Sigal Tifferet Sigal Tifferet Daniel Berkowic Tamir Arviv Tamir Arviv Alon Daya Alon Daya Gal Hagit Carasso Romano Adi Levi Adi Levi |
| author_sort | Zohar Barnett-Itzhaki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The global environmental and ecological climate crisis necessitates urgent mitigation and adaptation measures, with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) playing a crucial role in driving the transition toward a sustainable future. This paper examines the dual approach HEIs can adopt to foster sustainability: educating future generations and implementing green campus initiatives that can serve as models for the broader community. This review synthesizes existing research and case studies, identifies key areas for sustainability efforts within HEIs and analyzes the barriers and potential solutions for implementing sustainable practices on campuses. The broad range of areas include energy efficiency and renewable production, emissions mitigation, water and waste management, sustainable buildings and laboratories, and eco-friendly landscaping. The synthesis of findings revealed that HEIs can function as microcosms of sustainable urban environments, showcasing efficient resource management and infrastructure enhancement. Additionally, it highlighted the various actions HEIs should take to achieve campus sustainability. The major actions include establishing a dedicated Sustainability Office to coordinate efforts and set measurable goals; Implementing environmental initiatives (such as energy conservation and waste reduction); Engaging all campus stakeholders through education and participation in sustainability programs; Adopting standardized practices for resource management; Securing strong leadership support and funding; Fostering collaboration and innovation across disciplines and extending impact beyond campus to inspire environmental stewardship in the broader community. By implementing these actions HEIs can make significant strides toward campus sustainability, while significantly strengthening local and global mitigation efforts of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-585b3094af8145399063a0b5afbd2a5a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2624-9634 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Cities |
| spelling | doaj-art-585b3094af8145399063a0b5afbd2a5a2025-08-20T03:10:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Cities2624-96342025-05-01710.3389/frsc.2025.14692741469274Strategies and challenges for green campusesZohar Barnett-Itzhaki0Zohar Barnett-Itzhaki1Sigal Tifferet2Sigal Tifferet3Daniel Berkowic4Tamir Arviv5Tamir Arviv6Alon Daya7Alon Daya8Gal Hagit Carasso Romano9Adi Levi10Adi Levi11Ruppin Research Group in Environmental and Social Sustainability, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, IsraelFaculty of Engineering, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, IsraelRuppin Research Group in Environmental and Social Sustainability, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, IsraelDepartment of Business Administration, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, IsraelRuppin Research Group in Environmental and Social Sustainability, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, IsraelRuppin Research Group in Environmental and Social Sustainability, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, IsraelDepartment of Business Administration, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, IsraelRuppin Research Group in Environmental and Social Sustainability, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, IsraelFaculty of Marine Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Michmoret, IsraelFaculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Tel Hai Academic College, Upper Galilee, IsraelRuppin Research Group in Environmental and Social Sustainability, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, IsraelFaculty of Health Sciences and Sustainability, Achva Academic College, Yinon, IsraelThe global environmental and ecological climate crisis necessitates urgent mitigation and adaptation measures, with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) playing a crucial role in driving the transition toward a sustainable future. This paper examines the dual approach HEIs can adopt to foster sustainability: educating future generations and implementing green campus initiatives that can serve as models for the broader community. This review synthesizes existing research and case studies, identifies key areas for sustainability efforts within HEIs and analyzes the barriers and potential solutions for implementing sustainable practices on campuses. The broad range of areas include energy efficiency and renewable production, emissions mitigation, water and waste management, sustainable buildings and laboratories, and eco-friendly landscaping. The synthesis of findings revealed that HEIs can function as microcosms of sustainable urban environments, showcasing efficient resource management and infrastructure enhancement. Additionally, it highlighted the various actions HEIs should take to achieve campus sustainability. The major actions include establishing a dedicated Sustainability Office to coordinate efforts and set measurable goals; Implementing environmental initiatives (such as energy conservation and waste reduction); Engaging all campus stakeholders through education and participation in sustainability programs; Adopting standardized practices for resource management; Securing strong leadership support and funding; Fostering collaboration and innovation across disciplines and extending impact beyond campus to inspire environmental stewardship in the broader community. By implementing these actions HEIs can make significant strides toward campus sustainability, while significantly strengthening local and global mitigation efforts of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2025.1469274/fullgreen campushigher education institutionssustainabilitygreen policiessustainable campus initiativesclimate change |
| spellingShingle | Zohar Barnett-Itzhaki Zohar Barnett-Itzhaki Sigal Tifferet Sigal Tifferet Daniel Berkowic Tamir Arviv Tamir Arviv Alon Daya Alon Daya Gal Hagit Carasso Romano Adi Levi Adi Levi Strategies and challenges for green campuses Frontiers in Sustainable Cities green campus higher education institutions sustainability green policies sustainable campus initiatives climate change |
| title | Strategies and challenges for green campuses |
| title_full | Strategies and challenges for green campuses |
| title_fullStr | Strategies and challenges for green campuses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Strategies and challenges for green campuses |
| title_short | Strategies and challenges for green campuses |
| title_sort | strategies and challenges for green campuses |
| topic | green campus higher education institutions sustainability green policies sustainable campus initiatives climate change |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2025.1469274/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zoharbarnettitzhaki strategiesandchallengesforgreencampuses AT zoharbarnettitzhaki strategiesandchallengesforgreencampuses AT sigaltifferet strategiesandchallengesforgreencampuses AT sigaltifferet strategiesandchallengesforgreencampuses AT danielberkowic strategiesandchallengesforgreencampuses AT tamirarviv strategiesandchallengesforgreencampuses AT tamirarviv strategiesandchallengesforgreencampuses AT alondaya strategiesandchallengesforgreencampuses AT alondaya strategiesandchallengesforgreencampuses AT galhagitcarassoromano strategiesandchallengesforgreencampuses AT adilevi strategiesandchallengesforgreencampuses AT adilevi strategiesandchallengesforgreencampuses |