PUC-Rio Socio-environmental Agenda:
New Steps Towards Sustainability
in the University
Maria F. C. Lemos, Lilian Saback, Luiz F. G. Rego, Melissa C. Antunes
and Renata A. Lopes
Abstract The way towards sustainability for the collective environment of university activities has a crucial role in achieving broader institutional sustainability goals
in education, research and projects, both inside and outside university walls, particularly concerning its impact on society. This chapter discusses obstacles and opportunities for the sustainable transformation of the university environment, considering
the ongoing process and investments of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio
de Janeiro in the sustainability of its Campus, especially concerning the application
of its brand-new Socio-environmental Agenda (an institutional planning instrument
built in participatory process over two years). The chapter analyzes the obstacles
to implementing the Agenda, regarding (1) governance, (2) teaching and curriculum, (3) research, and (4) projects in all eleven new agenda items, defined as basic
topics (water; biodiversity; energy; waste; constructed and living spaces; mobility)
M. F. C. Lemos (B) · R. A. Lopes
Department of Architecture and Urbanism and Interdisciplinary Center for the Environment
(NIMA), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rua Marques de São
Vicente 225, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro CEP 22451-900, Brazil
e-mail: mariafernandalemos@puc-rio.br
R. A. Lopes
e-mail: renata.alencar@aluno.puc-rio.br
L. Saback
Department of Communication and Interdisciplinary Center for the Environment (NIMA),
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rua Marques de São Vicente 225,
Gávea, Rio de Janeiro CEP 22451-900, Brazil
e-mail: liliansaback@puc-rio.br
L. F. G. Rego
Department of Geography and Interdisciplinary Center for the Environment (NIMA), Pontifical
Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rua Marques de São Vicente 225, Gávea, Rio
de Janeiro CEP 22451-900, Brazil
e-mail: regoluiz@puc-rio.br
M. C. Antunes
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Interdisciplinary Center for the
Environment (NIMA), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rua Marques
de São Vicente 225, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro CEP 22451-900, Brazil
e-mail: melissa-nima@puc-rio.br
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities as Living Labs for Sustainable Development,
World Sustainability Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15604-6_44
733
New Steps Towards Sustainability
in the University
Maria F. C. Lemos, Lilian Saback, Luiz F. G. Rego, Melissa C. Antunes
and Renata A. Lopes
Abstract The way towards sustainability for the collective environment of university activities has a crucial role in achieving broader institutional sustainability goals
in education, research and projects, both inside and outside university walls, particularly concerning its impact on society. This chapter discusses obstacles and opportunities for the sustainable transformation of the university environment, considering
the ongoing process and investments of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio
de Janeiro in the sustainability of its Campus, especially concerning the application
of its brand-new Socio-environmental Agenda (an institutional planning instrument
built in participatory process over two years). The chapter analyzes the obstacles
to implementing the Agenda, regarding (1) governance, (2) teaching and curriculum, (3) research, and (4) projects in all eleven new agenda items, defined as basic
topics (water; biodiversity; energy; waste; constructed and living spaces; mobility)
M. F. C. Lemos (B) · R. A. Lopes
Department of Architecture and Urbanism and Interdisciplinary Center for the Environment
(NIMA), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rua Marques de São
Vicente 225, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro CEP 22451-900, Brazil
e-mail: mariafernandalemos@puc-rio.br
R. A. Lopes
e-mail: renata.alencar@aluno.puc-rio.br
L. Saback
Department of Communication and Interdisciplinary Center for the Environment (NIMA),
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rua Marques de São Vicente 225,
Gávea, Rio de Janeiro CEP 22451-900, Brazil
e-mail: liliansaback@puc-rio.br
L. F. G. Rego
Department of Geography and Interdisciplinary Center for the Environment (NIMA), Pontifical
Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rua Marques de São Vicente 225, Gávea, Rio
de Janeiro CEP 22451-900, Brazil
e-mail: regoluiz@puc-rio.br
M. C. Antunes
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Interdisciplinary Center for the
Environment (NIMA), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rua Marques
de São Vicente 225, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro CEP 22451-900, Brazil
e-mail: melissa-nima@puc-rio.br
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities as Living Labs for Sustainable Development,
World Sustainability Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15604-6_44
733