Strategy
The University of Notre Dame has adopted a comprehensive Sustainability Strategy which sets ambitious goals for the next 20 years. The pursuit of sustainability is directly related to the Catholic Mission of the University. As Pope Benedict XVI observed in Caritas in Veritate, “The environment is God’s gift to everyone and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole.”
The University of Notre Dame recognizes its responsibility to conserve the natural environment while promoting long-term economic and social justice for all members of society. Accordingly, it has developed a sustainability strategy that maintains a balance between environmental, social and economic impacts.
Mission
The University of Notre Dame is a leader in sustainable operations, education and research and is a role model for responsible citizenship. As a force for good in the world, Notre Dame fosters a pervasive focus on the connection between environmental stewardship and the Common Good.
Strategic Goals
- Reduce Emissions: Reduce the University’s carbon and other energy related emissions through conservation, efficiency, technology and optimization of fuel utilization and energy sources.
- Conserve Resources: Optimize resource utilization on campus with a focus on overall waste reduction and increasing reuse and recycling.
- Increase Awareness: Expand sustainability knowledge and understanding at Notre Dame through communication and outreach, with a particular focus on the connection between sustainability, Catholic Social Teaching and the Common Good.
