For several years now, Politecnico di Torino has been pursuing a path of integration of sustainability principles in its activities: teaching, research, third mission and campus management. The path undertaken is aimed at developing the principles of sustainability in a shared and systematic strategy, in acknowledgement of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted together with the 2030 Agenda by the United Nations in 2015
The principles of sustainability, the University’s impact on the environment and natural resources, and actions to promote sustainable development of the territory had already been introduced in the Statute of Politecnico di Torino in 2012. Since 2018, in University Strategic Plan specific sections are dedicated to the development of a sustainable campus and to the role of the University in the exchange of knowledge and technologies for sustainable development.
From 2019 to 2024, the Politecnico had the presidency of the Italian Network of Universities for Sustainable Development and coordinated its activities. Since 2023, it also leds the RUS Working Group dedicated to mobility issues.
In 2024, the Politecnico becomes co-Chair of SDSN Italy, the national chapter of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a global network that mobilizes scientific and technological expertise worldwide to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Climate Agreement (2015).
Through the Sustainable Campus section of this site, it is possible to get an overview of all the University’s actions concerning sustainability issues.
Politecnico di Torino’s path toward a Sustainable Campus is guided by the Green Team, a hub that brings together expertise and awareness related to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, adapted to the university context.
The Team’s goal is to foster the integration of sustainability-related themes within university research, teaching, communication, and all support activities — preparing students and staff to tackle the major challenges posed by the 2030 Agenda.
Activities are organized into specific Working Groups (WGs), coordinated by University Coordinators, following vertical lines of action, complemented by cross-cutting engagement initiatives that support the University’s “third mission” objectives.
The Green Team is supported by the SAIL Directorate, and in particular by the Sustainability Service, which coordinates the operational aspects of the various activities in collaboration with the University Project Development and Campus Services Monitoring Service.
The Politecnico di Torino focuses on developing a new sense of community based on a shared, participatory and sustainable vision and recognises the social role of the University to:
- Direct every action towards improving living conditions, reducing inequalities, building social responsibility towards future generations with reference to sustainable development
- Create and share polytechnic knowledge to support sustainable development at the local, national, and international levels
- Assess potential economic, social, political and environmental impacts
The inclusion of sustainability principles within the University’s Strategic Plan helps to define some concrete sustainability goals in the various areas of the University’s competence:
TEACHING AND RESEARCH
- Innovating the teaching offered to increase the critical sense, social responsibility, problem-solving and problem-solving skills, innovativeness and soft skills of our students
- Include knowledge of the global sustainable development goals of the 2030 Agenda in our curricula
- Recognise the importance of human and social sciences and interdisciplinarity as an educational value
- Direct interdisciplinary research to address the UN 2030 Agenda sustainable development goals
THIRD MISSION:
- Enhance responsiveness to the Sustainable Development Goals contained in the UN 2030 Agenda
Politecnico also intends to integrate and implement sustainability issues in the management of Campus activities (energy, food, waste, water, mobility, green procurement, etc.) and in actions towards its Community.
