Aerial view of Picnic Point at the Lakeshore Nature Preserve.

Campus Sustainability Goals

Achieving UW–Madison's sustainability goals will drastically reduce our campus’s impact on the environment, deepen our culture of sustainability, build climate resilience, and inspire innovations that will benefit campus, the people of Wisconsin, and the planet.

Achieve Net-Zero Emissions

Procure 100% renewable electricity on campus by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2048 or sooner to drastically reduce UW–Madison’s carbon footprint, improve public health and address global climate change.

Students visiting the Madison College solar array

Create a Zero Waste Campus

Achieve a Zero Waste campus by 2040 by sustainably managing materials and related emissions from procurement and use to reuse or disposal.

A student in a black shirt interacting with an LCD screen sitting on top of a row of waste and recycling bins.

Support Cross-Campus Involvement

Maintain STARS Gold in 2028 to align UW–Madison performance with peer institutions and foster campus-wide participation in sustainability efforts.

Catalyze Innovative Research

Facilitate large, interdisciplinary grants and drive sustainability innovation through the Sustainability Research Hub.

Foster Educational Experiences

Meet prospective and current student demand by ensuring all interested students have access to sustainability educational experiences.