Skip to main content

Sustainability Standards

The Office for Sustainability is committed to raising the standard of sustainability at Harvard. From the chemicals we use to clean our buildings, to the materials we use to construct state-of-the-art buildings, we are ensuring our operational choices are informed and intentional to contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future on our campus and beyond.


Upcoming Sustainability Events

September

30

Wednesday
2:00 pm-3:00 pm GMT+0000

EcoOpportunity Green Team Meeting on Longwood Campus

Join us to connect and build a sustainability-minded community. We’ll be gathering to paint garden rocks while we discuss sustainability topics. HUID required for building entrance.

Please RSVP to susan_bottino@harvard.edu

September

18

Multi-day Event

Global to Local to Global Geodesign for Climate Change Mitigation | (GLG) Workshop

Friday 9/18 12pm-1pm – Introductory Presentation
Saturday 9/19 9am-5:30pm – GLG Workshop & Reception

The Global to Local to Global (GLG) Climate Mitigation Project, in collaboration with Esri, has initiated an innovative workflow to address climate change mitigation through a structured framework designed to implement global-to-local-to-global projects. The GLG strategy creates a scalable geodesign workflow compatible across global, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and diverse jurisdictions and geographic scales directed to projected environmental changes by 2050. It utilizes climate science and optimization designs to inform national to local designs– which, in turn, informs national and global policy, as local implementation is vital for building climate resilience.

Geodesign – design at geographic scale – provides a collaborative approach that integrates multiple disciplines and uses geographical information systems (GIS)-based analytic and design tools to help explore alternative future scenarios in response to stated problems. In this workshop, participants will work in groups to simulate commitments to climate mitigation projects at the regional or local scale, in consultation with national NDCs, climate, land use, land cover, and bio-regional data and their projections to 2050. Their selections will be used to quickly generate a global geospatial model of climate-driven scenarios resulting from combined mitigation actions, to which groups will be asked to respond to how global and national outcomes may inform future design conditions.

This in-person workshop is open to all from Harvard/MIT and participants from the broader academic community. No prior knowledge of GIS is required.

September

17

Thursday
3:30 pm-4:30 pm GMT+0000

OEB Seminar Series: Randi Rotjan

Randi Rotjan , Associate Professor of Biology , Tufts University | Protecting Global Oceans in the Anthropocene

Abstract: The oceans are 71% of our planet, and yet are still largely unexplored, especially in the deep and open oceans. New species are discovered on almost every deep-sea dive, and even with increased exploration efforts, we are still discovering massive underwater mountains, canyons, and other features. Yet, even with so much unknown, decisions cannot wait for discovery. In an era of global change, biological communities in even the most remote parts of our planet are feeling the impact of human societies and are vulnerable to depletion or extinction. To combat this, global targets for protection have set a goal of protecting 30% of oceans by 2030. This seminar will unpack the science behind large scale marine conservation, and discuss how to explore the unexplored, and how to protect the unprotected.

October

08

Thursday
5:00 pm-6:30 pm GMT+0000

Charles Bullard Lectures | Megafires in the Far North: From Global Impacts to Local Solutions (Cambridge)

Climate warming is causing wildfire activity to increase in boreal forests and arctic tundra of the Far North. Fires are burning more deeply into thick organic soils and destabilizing permafrost, releasing carbon to the atmosphere that has been stored for centuries to millennia. At a global scale, these wildfires are impacting people through production of smoke and the release of greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate warming. At a local scale, increasing wildfire activity is creating new risks and vulnerabilities for local people that depend upon these ecosystems for their wellbeing. In this talk, Dr. Mack will discuss the ecological mechanisms that drive this positive feedback between wildfire and climate warming. She will explore how ecosystems and local human communities in Alaska are responding to increasing wildfire, and how we can employ emerging ideas in forest and fire management to reduce fire activity and promote human wellbeing.

Dr. Mack will present two public lectures as part of Harvard’s annual Charles Bullard Lecture Series— in Cambridge on the evening of October 8, and in Petersham (and on Zoom) on the morning of October 9.

September

22

Tuesday
1:00 pm-5:30 pm GMT+0000

Harvard @ Climate Week NY

As temperatures soar and geopolitics roil, leaders and experts will head to Climate Week NYC with pressing questions about pathways to climate action and resilience. Join Harvard’s Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability on Tuesday, September 22, for an afternoon of sessions focused on two core climate challenges: decarbonizing economies and confronting extreme heat. Stay and connect with Harvard alumni, researchers, practitioners, and leaders at an evening reception co-sponsored by Harvard Alumni for Climate and the Environment.

Registration is required.

September

29

Tuesday
11:00 am-2:00 pm GMT+0000

Graduate School of Education Fall Freecycle

Bring your office and school supplies, books, small household items, & clothes, if you have extra to share. Pick up something new-to-you for FREE, plus make friends, and help build a sustainability-minded community!

Note: We do not accept large items such as furniture. All items must be clean and in good, reusable/working condition. Bring a box or bags to take home your goodies. Leftover items will be donated. HUID required for building entry.

Questions? Contact susan_bottino@harvard.edu

December

09

Wednesday
10:00 am-2:00 pm GMT+0000

Community Freecycle

Join us at our community Freecycle in the Smith Campus Center! We will have plenty of goods and decorations to help you get into the holiday spirit!

Drop off reusable goods you no longer need, and browse an excellent selection of items brought by others. Popular items include books, clothes, and household goods. Only donate items in clean and working condition.

Everyone is welcome, and no donation is necessary to shop!

November

10

Tuesday
11:00 am-2:00 pm GMT+0000

Community Freecycle

Join us at our community Freecycle at the Science and Engineering Complex!

Drop off reusable goods you no longer need, and browse an excellent selection of items brought by others. Popular items include books, clothes, and household goods. Only donate items in clean and working condition.

Everyone is welcome, and no donation is necessary to shop!

October

14

Wednesday
11:00 am-2:00 pm GMT+0000

Community Freecycle

Join us at our community Freecycle in the Smith Campus Center!

Drop off reusable goods you no longer need, and browse an excellent selection of items brought by others. Popular items include books, clothes, and household goods. Only donate items in clean and working condition.

Everyone is welcome, and no donation is necessary to shop!

November

20

Friday
1:00 pm-4:30 pm GMT+0000

Salata Institute Climate and Sustainability Career Expo

Are you a Harvard or MIT student or alumni interested in a career in climate and sustainability? Or an employer interested in reaching Harvard University and MIT students with career opportunities? The Salata Institute Climate and Sustainability Career Expo is a collaborative effort across Harvard schools and MIT to connect organizations focused on climate, sustainability, and the environment with Harvard undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni. Join us for the next expo on Friday, November 20, 2026 from 1:00 – 4:30pm.