Environmental sustainability of universities: Critical review of best initiatives and operational practices

Abstract

Nowadays, there have been various environmental sustainability initiatives implemented by the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) through research, education, community involvement and campus operations. By embedding an effective initiative as well as best practices, environmental sustainability performance of universities can be improved. Realising the benefits of these factors, this book chapter aims at constructively reviewing the university's environmental sustainability initiatives (ESI) by highlighting underlying issues and necessary improvements. To accomplish this, the ESI of three research universities in Malaysia were reviewed in accordance with UI GreenMetric World University Ranking. Around 36 major initiatives as well as several environmental sustainability courses that have been conducted by all three research universities was categorised using the descriptions and rationales of the six (6) main environmental category in UI GreenMetric which are Setting and Infrastructure, Energy and Climate Change, Waste, Water, Transportation and Education and Research. It can be concluded that the key factors that should be included in the ESI plan are awareness and environmental knowledge, green space and land use management, energy efficiency and water conservation, natural resource limitation, climate change mitigation, waste minimisation, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, environmental education programme and research collaboration as well as environmental sustainability guidelines and policies. These factors can help and guide universities to produce a good and strategic plan in practicing and conducting ESI towards a better future.