About the Harvard Office for Sustainability (OFS)

The Harvard Office for Sustainability (OFS) collaborates with Schools and Units across the University, as well as governing bodies like the Presidential Committee on Sustainability and the Sustainability Management Council, to ensure we are working together and aligned in our mission and vision.

OFS Mission & Vision

Mission: Lead Harvard in setting and achieving University-wide holistic sustainability goals by translating research and innovation into action as we support pilots and scale solutions at the intersection of climate, health, and equity. 

Vision: Accelerate the adoption of equitable and scalable solutions that further climate action and promote healthier people and planet.

Working at the intersection of:

Climate, Equity, and Health

We strive to accomplish Harvard’s sustainability mission: to accelerate the adoption of systems and practices that protect the climate and environment, advance a more equitable society, and promote the wellbeing of people at Harvard and beyond.

View our Sustainability Action Plan

OFS Team

The Office for Sustainability is comprised of a team of professional sustainability staff dedicated to developing and implementing university-wide campaigns and initiatives that lead to real and lasting change.

Meet the teamOpens new window

History of the Office for Sustainability

OFS was first formalized by President Faust in 2008, when Harvard adopted a short-term goal to reduce University-wide emissions 30% by 2016. We met that goal, despite growth of our physical campus during that period, and we are now working toward bigger climate goals: to be fossil fuel-free by 2050, and fossil fuel-neutral by 2026. 

Sustainability at Harvard grew from a grassroots movement led by students and faculty. In 2000, faculty and staff helped launch the Harvard Green Campus Initiative, followed shortly after by the Green Building Services team and then the Undergraduate Resource Efficiency Program.  

In 2004, Harvard adopted a set of Sustainability Principles that defined the University’s vision for a healthier, more resilient future. The Principles provided a broad framework to guide the implementation of projects throughout campus supporting the University’s research and teaching mission by enhancing health and wellness, conserving resources, and improving the efficiency of campus operations. 

Office for Sustainability

Jobs and Opportunities

Our team is growing. Explore job and internship opportunities at the Office for Sustainability.

Jobs at the Harvard Office for Sustainability