Comparative Analysis of the Environmental Performance …
729
Taking into account the analysis of the indicators by stages and that of the communication category, the UA presents the best environmental performance, followed
by the UCh and UM and finally the UNGS.
The development of the indicators proposed is a first approach to evaluate the
environmental performance of an HEI applied to waste management and demonstrates the need to build comparable data among LAC institutions where knowledge
in this subject is scattered and without standardization.
The development of a common indicator that contemplates the success or efficiency of the program implemented at a university is highly desirable so as to be able
to evaluate and compare the processes of environmentalization, to allow the exchange
and comparison between them. A common indicator is also important to build the
perception of users of HEIs on the problems faced by institutions, since they are
quantifiable attributes of the environment and a basic tool to provide environmental
information (Gallopín 1997; Aguirre 2002).
Another aspect to be highlighted in this study is that the SWMPs at the university
campuses studied have emerged as an initiative from a specific area where stakeholders work in teaching or research in environmental issues, particularly, in waste
management.
As mentioned by Lozano (2006), these groups of people are defenders of sustainable development and should thus be identified, involved, supported and be provided with institutional and financial support because they are essential to successfully achieve the environmentalization of HEIs. According to Aleixo et al. (2018b),
advances to sustainability can only be made with the engagement of the academic
community (rectors, researchers, professors and students) and external entities. In
the cases analyzed, the only actors involved were cooperatives of urban waste collection. However, these premises are not always met, because the sole existence of
leaders committed to sustainable development does not guarantee the success of
the program without adequate financial and human resources support. Likewise, the
participation of HEIs in sustainable university networks does not seem to indicate a
strong commitment to the objectives of sustainable development. A similar premise
is defended by Aleixo et al. (2018a), who claim that there is no strong relationship
between sustainable development commitment, implementation of a SWMP and the
signing of declarations on sustainable development. In the case of the UNGS, the
lack of an institutional framework to sustain the SWMP activities is one of the greatest challenges, while, at the remaining cases analyzed, institutionalization provides
stakeholders with the budget and adequate human and financial resources.
9 Conclusions
Based on the results obtained in the present study, we conclude that:
The existence of a regulatory framework that encourages institutions to implement waste management programs is relevant for the incorporation of sustainable
development at universities, because it may allow the allocation of human and finan-
729
Taking into account the analysis of the indicators by stages and that of the communication category, the UA presents the best environmental performance, followed
by the UCh and UM and finally the UNGS.
The development of the indicators proposed is a first approach to evaluate the
environmental performance of an HEI applied to waste management and demonstrates the need to build comparable data among LAC institutions where knowledge
in this subject is scattered and without standardization.
The development of a common indicator that contemplates the success or efficiency of the program implemented at a university is highly desirable so as to be able
to evaluate and compare the processes of environmentalization, to allow the exchange
and comparison between them. A common indicator is also important to build the
perception of users of HEIs on the problems faced by institutions, since they are
quantifiable attributes of the environment and a basic tool to provide environmental
information (Gallopín 1997; Aguirre 2002).
Another aspect to be highlighted in this study is that the SWMPs at the university
campuses studied have emerged as an initiative from a specific area where stakeholders work in teaching or research in environmental issues, particularly, in waste
management.
As mentioned by Lozano (2006), these groups of people are defenders of sustainable development and should thus be identified, involved, supported and be provided with institutional and financial support because they are essential to successfully achieve the environmentalization of HEIs. According to Aleixo et al. (2018b),
advances to sustainability can only be made with the engagement of the academic
community (rectors, researchers, professors and students) and external entities. In
the cases analyzed, the only actors involved were cooperatives of urban waste collection. However, these premises are not always met, because the sole existence of
leaders committed to sustainable development does not guarantee the success of
the program without adequate financial and human resources support. Likewise, the
participation of HEIs in sustainable university networks does not seem to indicate a
strong commitment to the objectives of sustainable development. A similar premise
is defended by Aleixo et al. (2018a), who claim that there is no strong relationship
between sustainable development commitment, implementation of a SWMP and the
signing of declarations on sustainable development. In the case of the UNGS, the
lack of an institutional framework to sustain the SWMP activities is one of the greatest challenges, while, at the remaining cases analyzed, institutionalization provides
stakeholders with the budget and adequate human and financial resources.
9 Conclusions
Based on the results obtained in the present study, we conclude that:
The existence of a regulatory framework that encourages institutions to implement waste management programs is relevant for the incorporation of sustainable
development at universities, because it may allow the allocation of human and finan-