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| ASU's Global Institute of Sustainability | |
|---|---|
| Name | Global Institute of Sustainability |
| Established | 2004 |
| Type | Research institute |
| Affiliation | Arizona State University |
| Location | Tempe, Arizona, United States |
ASU's Global Institute of Sustainability Arizona State University's Global Institute of Sustainability serves as a flagship research and policy hub linking Arizona State University with global networks in sustainability, connecting United Nations initiatives, regional governments like the State of Arizona, municipal actors such as the City of Phoenix, and international organizations including the World Bank, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the World Resources Institute to address complex environmental and social challenges through interdisciplinary scholarship and applied practice.
Founded in 2004 as part of an institutional expansion at Arizona State University, the institute evolved amid broader transformations in higher education exemplified by institutions like Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of California, Berkeley that integrated sustainability into research priorities, paralleling global policy milestones such as the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement, and the Millennium Development Goals. Early leadership drew on university partners and philanthropic entities including the Walmart Foundation, the Gates Foundation, and regional donors, while collaborating with scholars from Harvard University, Columbia University, Yale University, and University of Oxford to build capacity in areas reflected in reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, and the World Economic Forum.
The institute's mission aligns with global frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals and mobilizes expertise across units such as the School of Sustainability, the Decision Center for a Desert City, and the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation, aiming to advance resilience, equitable development, and climate mitigation through research, education, and engagement with partners like the United Nations Development Programme, the Environmental Protection Agency (United States), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Core goals emphasize translational research akin to efforts at Carnegie Mellon University, community-engaged work similar to projects with the City of Tempe, and capacity-building initiatives modeled on partnerships with organizations like Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy.
The institute houses and affiliates multiple centers and programs that cooperate with national laboratories like Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory, international research entities such as the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, and academic collaborators including Princeton University, University of Cambridge, ETH Zurich, and Peking University. Signature programs include climate adaptation projects tied to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, water resilience studies related to the Colorado River Compact, urban sustainability research comparable to work at the Urban Institute, and energy systems analysis paralleling activities at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The institute supports degree programs offered through partners like the School of Sustainability and cross-listed curricula with units such as the W. P. Carey School of Business, the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, engaging faculty who have affiliations with professional societies like the American Geophysical Union, the Ecological Society of America, and the American Meteorological Society. Graduate and undergraduate offerings include interdisciplinary tracks similar to programs at University of Michigan, dual degrees in collaboration with institutions such as Arizona State University Thunderbird School of Global Management, and internship pipelines with employers like Intel Corporation, Honeywell, and General Electric.
The institute's partnerships span multilateral entities—United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, World Health Organization—and private sector collaborators including Google, Microsoft, BP, and Siemens. It engages civic partners such as the Maricopa County, regional utilities like Salt River Project, and international partners including the European Commission and national governments such as Mexico and Canada, reflecting a networked approach similar to consortia involving C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy.
The institute operates within sustainable facilities exemplified by the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory and green buildings designed to certified standards like LEED and demonstrating technologies developed with firms such as SunPower Corporation and First Solar. Campus initiatives intersect with transportation projects including collaboration with Valley Metro, water conservation programs addressing the Central Arizona Project, and urban greening efforts drawing on expertise from The Trust for Public Land and Greenbuild-associated networks.
Faculty and programs have received recognition from entities such as the MacArthur Foundation, the Guggenheim Fellowship, the National Science Foundation, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Skoll Foundation, and have been cited in policy reports by the United Nations Environment Programme and rankings by publications like Times Higher Education and U.S. News & World Report. The institute's work has also informed advisory roles for leaders associated with World Economic Forum initiatives, presentations to bodies like the United States Congress, and consultative contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Category:Arizona State University Category:Sustainability organizations