Potential for implementation of Environmental Sustainability Management (ESM) in a Higher Education Institution in Brazil: A case study

Abstract

The positioning of leaders at the Leaders Summit on Climate held this year, makes Brazil rethink series of actions related to the environmental issue. For HEIs, as opinion makers and responsible for the qualification of professionals who work in different areas, it is indispensable this discussion to be made in their environments as well. However, there are few with effective environmental management system or able to present a parameter that clearly shows their concern about the sustainable issue. Some universities have already structured systems involving the dean office. This work aims to identify the main difficulties in the localization of the items that constitute each of these footprints internally in a Higher Education Institution (HEI), by determination of different environmental footprints (ecological, water and carbon) . A preliminary survey shows that in some cases, simple control would assist in the quantitatively follow-up of fuel expenses, among others.