About
The Office for Sustainability (OFS) collaborates with Schools and Units across Harvard, 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 vision and mission. Meet the Office for Sustainability team.
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.
Our Team, Governance, Schools & Units
About Sustainability at Harvard
The Office for Sustainability
The Office for Sustainability is comprised of a team of professional sustainability staff dedicated to…
Presidential Committee on Sustainability
The Presidential Committee on Sustainability (PCS), co-chaired by two faculty members and Harvard’s Executive Vice…
Sustainability Management Council
The SMC’s mission is to facilitate best practice sharing amongst facilities and operations leaders across…
Schools and Units
Harvard is engaging its faculty, students, and staff across its Schools, Institutes and Business Units—more…
Salata Institute for Climate & Sustainability
The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability serves as a fulcrum for collaboration across Harvard’s…
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 grassroot 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 Effiency 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.
