Updates
The Office of Sustainability will have variable in-person hours for the indefinite future, but is open virtually during normal business hours. Please subscribe to our newsletter for monthly updates or email sustainability@ohio.edu with questions.
What is Sustainability
Ohio University defines sustainability as the capacity to simultaneously benefit people, the planet and prosperity now and in the future. Life-cycle analysis, life-cycle costing, social financial proxies, and multi-criteria decision analyses are tools that are used to evaluate sustainability. Also used at Ohio University is a popular but less actionable definition, adapted from the Bruntland definition of sustainable development: sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Mission
Ohio University’s Office of Sustainability facilitatesthe implementation of the Ohio University Sustainability and Climate Action Plan by providing services and support to the campus community and ensuresfulfillment of institutional commitments to environmental, social and economic well-being.
News and Announcements
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Sunrise Athens offers space to discuss cli...
February 7, 2025
President Donald Trump was inaugurated Jan. 20 as the 47th president of the United States. For many Americans, this was a day of shared loss and national frustration. On Inauguration Day, climate change mitigation group Sunrise Movement Athens hosted a meeting to offer a healing space, organized by co-Presidents Maeve Fellerhoff and Celia Hawk.
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OU ranked Ohio’s top ‘Green Campus’ for 20...
January 17, 2025
Ohio University was recognized as Ohio’s top Green School by The Princeton Review for 2025. The University is ranked among the Top 50 Green Schools nationally. Recognized for its healthy quality of life and outstanding academic programs, the school is also dedicated to sustainability practices.
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Ohio University recognized as state’s top ...
November 13, 2024
Ohio University has been recognized as the top “Green School” in the state of Ohio, and among the “Top 50 Green Schools” nationally, within the Princeton Review’s 2025 Guide to Green Colleges.(opens in a new window)
As part of this list, OHIO is being recognized for its “superb sustainability practices, a strong foundation in sustainability education and a healthy quality of life for students on campus.”
Upcoming Events
Sustainable Administration Hub Seminar
Monday, February 24
5:00 PM — 6:00 PM
The Front Room Coffeehouse
Mental Health: Awareness, Interaction and Direction (A.I.D.) Training
Thursday, March 20
1:00 PM — 2:00 PM
Office of Sustainability Featured Programs
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Climate & Sustainability Ambassadors
The Climate and Sustainability Ambassadors program is an initiative of the Sustainable Administration Hub . The Ambassadors are an energetic and enthusiastic group of students who assist in the implementation of the Ohio University Sustainability and Climate Action Plan. You can find them leading the Earth Day Sustainability Parade; instructing Bobcats fans on proper disposal of game day waste; teaching in the local middle schools; labeling our storm drains with "drains to river" markers; and more!
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Sustainability Tracking and Evaluation Program (STEP)
The Sustainability Tracking and Evaluation Program (STEP) is a sustainability certification program which aims to recognize departments or offices across campus for their sustainable efforts, whether they be existing practices or new changes.
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Sustainability Project Laboratory
Students, do you need an idea for a course project or thesis? Faculty, are you looking for project ideas for a project-based course? Our Sustainability Project Laboratory may have the projects you are looking for! These projects are designed to advance goals in the Ohio University Sustainability & Climate Action Plan while providing experiential and/or community-engaged learning opportunties for students.
Sustainability Hubs
We welcome participants to our Sustainability Hubs! The dates and topics for the Hub Seminar Series can be found on the Calendar of University events . For more information, please sign up for our newsletter or visit our Hub webpages . For other sustainability events, please visit the Calendar of University events , and search using the keyword "sustainability."