Sustentabilidade ambiental em universidades: Um estudo comparativo entre duas universidades dos EUA e do Brasil

Abstract

This work described the reality studied, thru an illustrative scheme, encompassing innovation, strategy, and best practices to promote environmental sustainability on campus of two reference universities in the United States and Brazil. The work was theoretical support by studies on environmental sustainability on campus, and also studies that encompass innovations and strategies that consider environmental sustainability in their processes. As methodological characteristics, the work was qualitative, exploratory and multicases. Twenty-four issues were prepared and formed the basis and semi-structured script for the development of the research in the HEIs in the United States and Brazil. As a result, it was observed that there is a time lapse between the presented experiences related to actions to promote environmental sustainability on campus of the two HEIs. While the CU Boulder presented a set of sustainable actions and goals for reduction of energy, water and fuel consumption, GHG neutralization and disposal of waste reduction, only in 2012 the USP established their Office of Environmental Management, that still seeks to standardize and create goals for the environmental sustainable actions have effectiveness on campus. There was also observed, that even with all the initiatives and sustainable innovations presented, both HEIs do not have integrated management and innovations related to environmental sustainability come most of the time, if required by the students or by any employee, teacher or researcher who just had some kind of initiative. Finally, it was observed that both HEIs are engaged in making sustainability becomes a matter of day-day on campus, for students, faculty and staff in general, so that sustainability is taken into account continuous and strategically.