Our Sustainable Future
You care about the environment. We do too. At Duquesne, we work each day to find new ways to reduce our consumption of natural
resources and promote sustainable practices on campus.
Through the University Sustainability Committee’s work, construction projects, research endeavors, academic coursework, and community engagement initiatives, Duquesne University is working toward a sustainable future aligned with Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ (“On Care for Our Common Home”) and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Our commitment to sustainable ecologies, and local and global communities has earned us a spot on the Princeton Review’s 2025 List of Green Colleges.
University Sustainability Committee
Building a Sustainable Campus
The USC supports, promotes, and grows Duquesne University's efforts to build a sustainable campus. The USC fosters opportunities for multidisciplinary engagement across academic units, facilities, and University leadership. This work is informed by Duquesne University’s Catholic mission, which conveys the University’s commitment to serving God through ethical and ecumenical service to the community, the nation, and the world. The USC works to develop and promote a culture of sustainability that resonates across campus and the Pittsburgh community by being an advocate, resource, and a catalyst for social, environmental, and economic responsibility.
A Community-led Effort
Duquesne University faculty, students, and staff propose working groups to undertake and organize sustainability-related activities, including managing campus gardens, coordinating curricular work related to sustainability, developing partnerships with local organizations, and more. All members of the Duquesne community are welcome to join the USC and get involved with our working groups.
Promoting Healthy Human & Environmental Systems
The University Sustainability Committee has diligently worked to promote sustainable
commuting and health. EV charging stations were installed on Seitz Street, and the
USC has partnered with BikePGH to launch Duquesne’s annual Campus Bike Week. For information on biking in the City of Pittsburgh, please refer to the Pittsburgh Bike Map provided by BikePGH.
Conserving and Managing Our Urban Forest
Since 2021, Duquesne University has received the annual Tree Campus Higher Education recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation. This designation celebrates the over 550 trees planted on campus, which lower energy costs by providing shade cover, and improve the mental and cognitive health of students, faculty, and staff by providing beautiful green spaces for gathering or quiet introspection. Duquesne University is also listed on Tree Pittsburgh's Pittsburgh Arboretum HUB.
It Takes a Village
The University Sustainability Committee’s work touches academic and administrative units across campus. Some of our allies include Environmental and Energy Engineering, Spiritan Campus Ministry, and Integrity of Creation Committee. Together, we work to develop programming and initiatives that reflect Duquesne’s commitment to sustainable economic, environmental, and social justice initiatives.
Campus Gardens
Making Campus Greener
Duquesne University proudly hosts two gardens: a produce garden located between Canevin and Laval House, and a pollinator garden adjacent to A-walk near College Hall. The gardens provide green spaces for employees and residents of the Bluff (both human and non-human) to build community and grow awareness of our local ecosystems. They receive ongoing support from the University Sustainability Committee and the Grounds team. Donations from the produce garden are made to community partners including 412 Food Rescue, Jubilee Kitchen, and the McAnulty College Food Pantry.
Community Engaged Learning
These gardens serve as hubs for research, teaching, volunteering, experiential learning, and service learning. Additionally, they strive to enhance access to nutritious and fresh produce while actively contributing to Duquesne University's sustainability initiatives and endeavors to combat food insecurity among students and the surrounding community. To get involved, follow the link below and indicate "Gardens and Green Spaces" as your top-ranked Working Group.
Campus Sustainability Reports
Duquesne is the first university in western Pennsylvania and one of only a few in the state to conduct regular Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories on the University’s carbon footprint. The university has played a leading role in moving other schools in the region to undertake similar studies and to direct the region as a whole toward environmental stewardship.
Latest Greenhouse Gas ReportEach year the University Sustainability Committee reports on student, faculty, and staff achievements, featuring some of the Duquesne community’s greatest successes in sustainability. The Annual Report is one way of celebrating the amazing things that we can (and do) accomplish by working together in service to the greater good.
Latest USC Annual Report
The annual Integrity of Creation Conference celebrates the Spiritan mission of Duquesne
University, focusing on planetary sustainability regarding the climate crisis. The
conference has three goals: (1) to provide a scholarly opportunity to engage research,
(2) to foster interdisciplinary discourse, and (3) to enlighten public awareness and
discussion.Integrity of Creation Conference
Contact the University Sustainability Committee
