by Sarah Bender
On May 12, the Sustainability Initiative released the fifth Voluntary University Review detailing CMU’s progress in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s VUR showcases an evolving vision of sustainability rooted in student leadership, community input, and global dialogue.
Designed to create a more sustainable planet by 2030, the SDGS — also known as the Global Goals — are 17 objectives adopted in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly after input from millions of people around the world. With only five more years to meet this universal agenda, the 2024-2025 VUR takes stock of the scope, impact, and aspirations of the CMU community’s sustainability efforts, cataloging both successes and areas where more progress can be made.
Alex Hiniker, director of the Sustainability Initiative, began this reflection with a campus-wide survey to assess awareness, engagement, and community priorities around sustainability at CMU. This 2024 Sustainability Survey was led by Madison Speck, a postdoctoral fellow with the Office of the Vice Provost for Institutional Effectiveness and Planning, and provided a chance for the CMU community to share their impressions of various sustainability efforts.