Sustainability
Respecting the future is who we are.
Snapshots of sustainability around USC.
At USC, we understand that the future is shaped by our actions today. That’s why sustainability isn’t just a concept to us; it’s a commitment. Our dedication to fostering an eco-friendly and socially responsible campus is woven into every facet of our institution — from energy-efficient buildings and cutting-edge research to community outreach and individual responsibility.
Sustainability, the Trojan Way
Across our campuses, sustainability is ingrained as a fundamental value that fosters a united vision throughout the entire Trojan community. Students, faculty, staff, campus leaders, community partners and more work together to innovate sustainable solutions for shaping our planet’s future — a collective future that affects all of us.
The USC Sustainability Moonshot
USC is dedicated to creating a better world by addressing the pressing challenge of sustainability. Learn about USC’s Sustainability Moonshot, guided by Assignment: Earth – USC’s sustainability framework. Find out why USC is at the forefront of efforts to create a brighter, cleaner and healthier future.
USC’s Sustainability Hub
The 1,500-square-foot hub, situated in USC’s Gwynn Wilson Student Union building, is a dynamic and welcoming space for USC students, researchers, and staff to collaborate and innovate in sustainability initiatives. It is also home to Assignment: Earth, USC’s framework for sustainability operations, research and education.
Leading the Way in Sustainability
USC’s Assignment: Earth is a university-wide effort to champion sustainability through innovative research, green initiatives, education and collaboration. Together, the Trojan community is taking bold steps to protect our planet for generations to come.
Tracking USC’s Sustainability Progress
Annual Sustainability Survey
USC Sustainability Progress Report
Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS)
Voices Across USC
Trojan leaders share their perspectives on why sustainability matters not just for the university but also for broader societal and environmental well-being.
“Sustainability is all about our collective passage through this world. At USC, sustainability is our Assignment: Earth. It’s a centerpiece of our research and teaching, and of our policies and mindsets.”
President Folt is also an environmental scientist.
“USC is making meaningful sustainability progress across numerous categories — energy conservation, water efficiency, diverting waste from landfills and integrating sustainability into more classes, for example.
Achieving zero waste at a university like USC is a complex equation. … Success will hinge on behavioral change. All Trojans have a part to play: We have to commit to rethinking waste as a resource — first reduce and reuse, and then recycle and compost.”
“We’ve reached a point where we really need to do something before things get unsolvable. I think everyone by now agrees that climate change is happening. It’s not a matter of stopping it. It’s just a matter of dealing with it at this point in a way that least impacts society.”
“This is the perfect time to help your network explore and dive into climate [issues].
All it takes is one moment, one conversation, one event to turn apathy into audacity and to believe that a better alternative is possible.”
Presidential Working Group (PWG) on Sustainability in Education, Research and Operations
USC President Carol Folt established the PWG on Sustainability in 2019 to guide the university toward sustainability leadership in education, research and campus operations. Comprising schools, offices and student organizations with six subcommittees focusing on critical areas, the group engages over 100 students, faculty and staff to drive sustainable practices and initiatives across the university.
USC Sustainability in the News
The latest in USC’s mission toward a sustainable future.
USC values in action
Trojan researchers, students, staff, community partners and more are going above and beyond to uncover new solutions for a sustainable future, addressing climate change and related issues to protect our environment.
How a climate science believer could become a skeptic
In a recent study, USC and Australian researchers found that the strength of people’s convictions in climate science can weaken when they are exposed repeatedly to statements or claims that contradict their beliefs.
USC hosts Los Angeles Business Council’s Sustainability Summit
GREEN WEEK: The council’s 18th annual Sustainability Summit was held at Town and Gown during the university’s Green Week observation.
Helping students gain practical sustainability experience: Q&A with Elisabeth Arnold Weiss
GREEN WEEK: Weiss, associate professor of technical communication practice at USC Viterbi, breaks down how students at USC are addressing sustainability issues.
USC Sustainability Hub celebrates its first anniversary
GREEN WEEK: The multiuse space on the University Park Campus marks a milestone. Watch the video.
Finding practical solutions to plastic problems: Q&A with Megan Fieser
GREEN WEEK: Fieser, the Gabilan Assistant Professor of Chemistry at USC Dornsife, explores ways in which degradable plastics could be used as a replacement for commercial nondegradable plastics.
Turning marine debris into laundry detergent and sustainable dyes for the fashion industry
GREEN WEEK: USC Sea Grant receives nearly $2 million to develop a method for upcycling ocean-bound plastic waste and investigate the psychology behind eco-conscious choices.
