Seattle University’s commitment to the Earth and its people is grounded in Jesuit values—focusing on environmental justice and recognized within the university’s apostolic mission.
Since establishing the Climate Action Plan in 2010, Seattle U continues its work toward achieving its goals of demonstrating leadership in sustainable practices and environmental justice across campus through academics, co-curricular programs and university operations as a whole through collective efforts.
Seattle University is one of the Top 10 most-sustainable colleges or universities in the nation according to the latest Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) report, achieving a “Gold” rating. STARS is a program of AASHE, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
Gold Rating
SU earns highest score in its history in latest Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System.
Seattle University scrubbed its endowment portfolio of fossil fuel investments as of June 30, 2023.
100% Divested
SU is the first university in Washington state and first Jesuit Catholic university in the country to fulfill this commitment of divestment.
Seattle U ranked first among medium-sized colleges & universities & second among all institutions in waste diversion as part of the 2024 Campus Waste to Zero Waste—a friendly competition & benchmarking tool for campus recycling programs.
There are five LEED Gold buildings on campus. All new buildings at Seattle University are designed to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards—the most widely used green building rating system.
Seattle University has committed to work toward carbon neutrality or zero Greenhouse Gas emissions. From the baseline year 2009, Seattle U’s initial Climate Action Plan was to reduce emissions by at least 12% by 2020 & by at least 51% by 2035.
Ultimately, the goal of sustainability is to “develop a community within the carrying capacity of the Earth, to balance the social, environmental and economic needs of our society,” says Yolanda Cieters, sustainability manager of Seattle University’s Center for Environmental Justice & Sustainability.
“Only a socially just society is able to safeguard natural resources and cope with the various consequences of climate change” –Yolanda Cieters
Being mindful of global climate change, “I also believe that all professions, even (and perhaps especially) those that don’t directly relate to environmental problems, need to develop new approaches that facilitate sustainable change,” says Dr. Wes Lauer, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, director of Environmental Science and co-chair of the President’s Committee for Sustainability.
“This is why what we do inside the university to address sustainability can be so impactful—the campus can be a laboratory for implementing policies that are broadly relevant for society at large.”
Inspiring care for our communities through the research and practice of social, economic and environmental sustainability.
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