North American and European Perspectives on Sustainability in Higher Education

The scientific, cultural and diplomatic relations between Europe and its partners in North America are very strong. From a scientific point of view, this long-standing cooperation has taken place across a wide range of areas. They include the field of sustainability, where North America and Europe are working hand in hand, seeking solutions to the many regional and global problems currently faced. Against this backdrop and in order to facilitate a broad discussion on the contribution of higher education institutions from both sides of the Atlantic towards a more sustainable future, this book is being produced.The book gathers inputs from universities and research organizations on the one hand, but also from companies and enterprises on the other, from Europe and North America, working on matters related to sustainable development in a higher education context. It also provides a platform for the dissemination of information on the latest initiatives, paving the way for technology transfer and networking. Furthermore, the book intends to provide a fertile basis upon which European and North American organizations may cooperate more closely in this key area. Last but not least, a further aim of the book is to present methodological approaches and experiences deriving from case studies and projects, which aim to show how sustainability in North America and in Europe may be enhanced in practice.

Walter Leal Filho is a Senior Professor and Head of the Research and Transfer Centre "Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management" at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany, and Chair of Environment and Technology at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. He is the initiator of the Word Sustainable Development Symposia (WSSD-U) series, and chairs the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme. Professor Leal Filho has written, co-written, edited or co-edited more than 700 publications, including books, book chapters and papers in refereed journals. Julie Newman is a distinguished sustainability professional, currently serving as the Director of Sustainability at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She has played a significant role in advancing sustainability initiatives at the university, integrating sustainable practices into campus operations, and influencing academic research.Before her role at MIT, Dr. Newman was the founding director of the Office of Sustainability at Yale University, where she helped establish one of the first campus sustainability programs in the U.S. She also served at the University of New Hampshire, where she contributed to sustainability efforts. Dr. Newman is known for her work on sustainability in higher education and has been involved in national and international conversations on the topic. Her academic background includes a Ph.D. in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, focusing on how universities can model sustainability practices and policy. Throughout her career, Dr. Newman has worked to bridge the gap between research and practical application in sustainability, helping institutions lead by example in addressing global environmental challenges. Amanda Lange Salvia is a Project Manager and Researcher the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany. She is a Deputy Editor of the Encyclopedia of the Sustainable Development Goals and of the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. Her background is in Environmental Engineering and her work focuses on the role of universities towards sustainability, the impacts of climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals. Laís Viera Trevisan is a Project Manager and Research Associate at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany. Her research interests are sustainability, technology and innovation for sustainable development, smart campuses, and education for sustainability. She leads two research groups in the sustainability field: the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP) and the European-North American Sustainability Research Consortium (ENASRC). She has more than 50 papers published in recognised scientific journals. Laura Corazza (Ph.D.) is an Associate Professor and teaches Sustainability Accounting and Accountability at the Department of Management, University of Turin. Over the last eight years, she has overseen the sustainability reportin