In Our Nature

The University of Washington was recognized among the national leaders in higher education sustainability by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

AASHE’s 2023 Sustainable Campus Index recognizes the UW’s Seattle campus as a top performer in Purchasing (No. 2 overall) and Transportation (No. 9). UW Bothell shared the top overall spot for Grounds with Cascadia College (the two schools share the Bothell campus), and was tied for No. 2 overall in the Water category....

At the recent UW Decarbonization Town Hall, one of the major questions posed from the audience was, "How can I get involved and help decarbonize our campuses?"

There are many different ways students, staff and faculty can get involved at the UW. We've put together just a few here. You can also email sustainability@uw.edu with questions or for information on other options.

Students

The most direct way to get involved with the UW's work is to join the...

Students interested in learning more about the UW's Energy Transformation strategy to decarbonize the Seattle campus energy system are invited to attend Student Energy Transformation Task Force meetings every other month.

David Woodson, the executive director of Campus Energy, Utilities and Operations, hosts these informational sessions and all current UW students are welcome. The next student task force meeting with Dave Woodson will be on November 27, 2023, 4-5 p.m. You can ...

Seattle Public Utilities is looking for ideas to reduce waste in our community. This contest is open to everyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Seattle, and prizes are available. The deadline to enter is November 14, 2023.

The Race to Zero Waste Competition is an opportunity to make a difference in Seattle for generations to come. The contest is NOT looking for business proposals or models - just great ideas about how to prevent waste! To enter, just answer a few...

The Faculty Council on Campus Planning and Stewardship hosted this panel discussion on the UW’s efforts to decarbonize our operations and address climate change. The event was recorded on October 25, 2023.

View the slides...

Join Front and Centered, Latino Community Fund, People’s Economy Lab, and other organizations across Washington State in the Just Hack: A Just Transition Challenge, on November 17-18 in Seattle or Yakima Valley to co-create solutions to address social, environmental, and climate justice issues.

All skills are welcome, from arts, crafts, and activism to science and tech; there are...

November 15 is America Recycles Day! To celebrate, UW Recycling wants to take a trip down memory lane to the early days of recycling at the University. Want to do more? Check out a list of recommended activities from our team below.

Our history

The University began recycling as a reaction to student environmental movements in 1970. Students laid out their personal waste outside of the student center in the University's first "trash-in." They wanted to send a message to manufacturers to manage waste responsibly. The students separated the material,...

The Faculty Council on Campus Planning and Stewardship is hosting a panel discussion on the UW’s efforts to decarbonize our operations and address climate change. The discussion will touch on existing plans, prospects for envisioning and funding decarbonization efforts, and the potential for the UW to be a leader in climate change response.

Boe Zhou is the Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) Grant and Project Coordinator, working with students who have received CSF grants and those in the application process. Boe is pursuing a double degree in Computer Science and Environmental Studies at UW. He is enthusiastic about utilizing AI and data to create impartial and accessible solutions for environmental and societal challenges. Boe perceives CSF as the central hub for student engagement in all things sustainability, serving as the catalyst for building a resilient UW community. As the Grant and Project Coordinator, Boe assists...

BB Denton (they/them) is a senior at UW in the Jackson School pursuing a degree in International Studies, as well as a minor in Arctic Studies. This year they will be working as the Outreach and Events Intern with UW Sustainability. BB is especially interested in the intersections of sustainability with social justice and equity, and the role of community in sustainable development. Through this internship they are excited to engage with student groups across campus, especially those that are traditionally not included in mainstream conversations of sustainability and environmental justice...