Embedding sustainability in higher education institutions: A review of practices and challenges

Higher education institutions (HEIs) contribute to society and the planet by producing future implementers of sustainability, addressing the climate crisis, and promoting nature-positive actions through research. Despite their positive contributions, given the total number of HEIs globally, and the scale at which they operate, their environmental footprint negatively impacts the environment. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) alone were insufficient to integrate sustainability in HEIs without initiatives by universities and non-profits since the 1970s. An analysis of the past and current state of sustainability integration in HEIs reveals a disparity in sustainability reporting and rankings between the Global North and Global South. Furthermore, the number of universities participating in sustainability reporting and rankings is significantly low. Sustainability in HEIs must extend beyond curriculum and research, requiring standardized reporting frameworks, adequate budgets for enforcing sustainability, better impact assessment metrics, and support for the Global South. • HEIs impact the environment significantly due to their large-scale operations. • Advancing sustainability in HEIs requires interventions beyond the UNSDGs. • The Global South lags in sustainability reporting, transparency, and accounting. • Sustainability in HEIs must extend beyond curriculum and research. • Harmonized frameworks, better assessment and accounting metrics are essential for enabling sustainability.