Implementing Sustainability Programs in Universities –An Overview of Evolution, Challenges from a Global, Brazilian Perspective

Based on the principle that the academic environment should excel by setting the example of commitment, knowledge transmission and opinion and thought formation, making the University Campus more sustainable is mandatory but is also a challenge that many researchers have been reporting. This chapter aims to compile information (state of the art) on sustainable activities carried out in Universities in the different aspects of the theme, whether social, environmental or economic, through a systematic bibliographic review of articles on “Sustainable University (SU)” published in recent years. Among the 228 articles found, 33 published from 2017 to 2022 were selected, and 15 other papers considered relevant to the research were included. The different experiences and challenges encountered in national and international institutions are reported and discussed, showing how the knowledge acquired can assist in the understanding and application of actions for the implementation of practices that lead us to a more sustainable campus and in the path of the implementation process of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recognizing the importance of implementing methods that bring Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) closer to the SDGs is already a big step on the right path toward achieving a SU.