Laudato Si' Action Platform Priorities and Goals

Goals

The Goals for Priority 1 were adopted in March 2026 by Seattle University’s Laudato Si’ Executive Committee and are building on the original goals of 2023, many of which have been accomplished.

1. ACCOMPLISHED By June 2023, the Reimagine and Revise the Curriculum (RRC) Working Group for “Sustainability and Climate Change” will formulate a university-wide definition of sustainability.
   • The following sustainability definition has been adopted by Seattle University: “We define sustainability as meeting the needs of present and future generations through actions that support human and ecological health, social justice, and economic well-being.” (2023)
2. ACCOMPLISHED AY 2022-2023 and AY 2023-2024: The Reimagine and Revise the Curriculum (RRC) Working Group for “Sustainability and Climate Change” will collaborate with faculty to develop curricula with an undergraduate student learning outcome that focuses on sustainability and/or climate change in the holistic spirit of integral ecology. The aim is that every student graduates from Seattle University with an understanding of those concepts.
   • In just under two years, 75% of our undergraduate departments/programs strengthened existing or identified new ways to devote curricular focus to sustainability and climate change or identified new discipline-specific opportunities to expand this work in the coming years. 25% of all new or revised courses funded through the RRC initiative aligned with the Sustainability and Climate Change priority area.
3. NEW Starting AY 2025-2026, the university will support the development of curricula in the University Core (UCOR) to ensure that every Seattle University graduate has an opportunity to develop their interest in and deep understanding of sustainability and climate change. This will be done through:
   • The development and implementation by Summer 2027 of a new “Climate and Sustainability” Pathway in the University Core
   • The development and implementation by Summer 2027 of a new signature UCOR seminar including many sections that address questions of climate, environmental justice and sustainability
     
4. ACCOMPLISHED AY 2022-2023 and 2023-2024: the Reimagine and Revise the Curriculum (RRC) Working Group for “Sustainability and Climate Change” will collaborate with colleagues from across campus in our existing graduate programs to support education on sustainability and/or climate change in the holistic spirit of integral ecology.
   • In just under two years, 70% of our graduate departments/programs either strengthened existing or identified new ways to devote curricular focus to sustainability and climate change or identified professionally relevant opportunities to expand this work in the coming years.
5. NEW Over the next two years (AY 2026-2028), the university will advance the development of sustainability-focused graduate offerings, certificates and programs.
6. ACCOMPLISHED Rewrite the Sustainability Literacy Assessment sent to freshmen and seniors each year and seek to improve distribution and response rate.
7. NEW In AY 2026-2027, pilot the Sustainability Literacy Assessment in UCOR classes, update where needed and plan for broader implementation in AY 2027-2028.
8. ACCOMPLISHED AY 2023-2025: Identify needs and recommend activities and funding strategies with which the institution can further support faculty development of teaching, research and cocurricular activities. A specific short-term need within this goal is to identify or repurpose funding for faculty fellowships to support environmental justice and sustainability scholarship.
9. NEW In 2026, launch the Institute for Environmental Justice and Sustainability to advance solution-focused scholarship, facilitate instructional and curricular development and foster applied student learning projects that address climate change, environmental justice and support the sustainability needs of the university and our broader community.
10. IN PROGRESS The Institute for Environmental Justice & Sustainability (IEJS) and the Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture (ICTC) will inventory courses, faculty research and student local and global experiential learning opportunities in relation to their sustainability component; map them to the Laudato Si’ Action Platform Goals and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); track progress by conducting a biennial faculty research survey and course analysis; and publish an updated repository online every other year. Ideally, the university would formalize sustainability course listings for current and prospective students in the institution’s course catalog.

Goals

The Goals for Priority 2 were adopted in March 2026 by Seattle University’s Laudato Si’ Executive Committee and are building on the original goals of 2023, many of which have been accomplished.

1. ACCOMPLISHED In Fall 2022, in partnership with a consulting firm, develop a “Zero Carbon Over Time Infrastructure Plan” (ZoT). This involves establishing a baseline to develop a phased transition to electrification and use of on-campus renewable, clean sources of energy, guidance for capital planning and future construction and strategies for energy management and conservation.
   • Since completion of the report in 2023, SU Facilities uses the recommendations as a decarbonization reference and building by building baseline.
2. NEW In accordance with the 2015 Paris Agreement targets, the Science Based Target Initiative for Faith, Washington state legislation and the City of Seattle’s Building Emissions Performance Standards (BEPS), Seattle University is committed to cutting Scopes 1-2* greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 33% by 2035 from baseline year 2026, 66% by 2040 and reaching net zero GHG emissions across Scopes 1-2 by 2045. While Seattle University develops and implements decarbonization strategies to meet the2045 target, the university will (i) continue to purchase offsets to compensate for the remaining scope 1 and 2 emissions generated until the intermediate and end target dates are achieved (see Goal 3) and (ii) develop a set of recommendations to reduce Scope 3 emissions from commuting, air travel, and purchased goods and services (see Goal 6).
3. IN PROGRESS Each fiscal year, between November and March, the Institute for Environmental Justice and Sustainability (IEJS) and Priority 2 stakeholders will update the university’s carbon offset portfolio and select projects that meet the university’s offset purchasing criteria, supporting co-benefits and meeting third party verification standards.
4. ACCOMPLISHED During FY 2023, start development of a university-wide green fleet policy, including the expansion of EV stations.
   • In 2024, the University adopted a Policy on Sustainable Procurement including a Green Fleet Policy which outlines the requirements for new vehicle purchasing and leasing that will support the university’s shift to alternative fuel options.
5. NEW Beginning in FY 2026, start implementation of the Green Fleet Policy (adopted in 2024) across all university areas with a target date of 100% electric vehicle (EV) use for light vehicles (passenger vehicles, light trucks, vans for short distance trips, carts) by 2030, where electric models exist on the market to suit the operational needs of the university. Adopt an EV station policy to standardize EV infrastructure, including a comprehensive assessment of target sites and capacity for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) infrastructure.
6. IN PROGRESS During FY 2027, start development of a set of recommendations to reduce Scope 3 emissions from commuting, air travel and purchased goods and services.
7. ACCOMPLISHED By 2024, complete a baseline study of SU solid, non-hazardous waste.
   • A baseline study of the university’s solid, non-hazardous waste was completed in 2025.
8. NEW Using the results of the 2025 Zero Waste baseline study, create an action plan including cost estimate to reach the goal of 90% waste diversion from 66% in baseline year 2025 while minimizing waste generation year over year. Start the implementation of Seattle University’s zero waste action plan.
9. UPDATED Beginning in FY 2027, adopt and start implementation of full campus decarbonization that involves a phased, planned approach including different strategies and methodologies (centralized vs. decentralized, individual building vs. central plant, energy use reduction…), different sectors (private and public partners), and aligns with state and city regulations. This will also include identifying feasibility for energy storage, on-campus renewable energy production and a Green Revolving Fund to support and 
   sustain sustainability projects in operations. Establish a dedicated capital fund to support the university’s decarbonization in campus operations. Example of a near–term opportunity Seattle University is exploring a “Thermal Energy Networks” (TENs) project in partnership with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) that would position Seattle University to achieve a 60% reduction in carbon emissions.
10. UPDATED During FY 2026-2027, enhance the internal water dashboard to measure and support water conservation and efficiency opportunities and benchmarking. Use this data to evaluate and identify target sites for water reuse technologies in future retrofits and new construction. Explore the opportunity for a water study, including cost analysis.
11. NEW In collaboration with the Institute for Environmental Justice and Sustainability (IEJS) and other campus stakeholders, develop and grow academic partnerships that support on-campus operational needs and institutional sustainability goals while advancing student experiential learning, sustainability literacy and green skills by leveraging our campus grounds and building infrastructure as a living classroom and immersive learning environment.
12. UPDATED Advance sustainability in dining at Seattle University targeting the following goals:
    • Increase plant-based purchasing of food and beverages from 18% in FY 2025 by 2-3% year over year. The goal will be re-evaluated, based on student demand changes over time.
    • Increase verified sustainably or ethically produced food and beverage purchasing from 6% in FY 2025 by 1-2% year over year. The goal will be re-evaluated, based on student demand changes over time.
    • Increase Redhawk Dining’s social spend in alignment with Seattle University’s diverse supplier policy from 5% in FY 2025 by 1% each year up to 10%.
    • Reduce food waste 50% by 2030 from baseline year 2019.

*Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 are the three categories used worldwide—through the Greenhouse Gas Protocol—to classify where an organization’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from.
Scope 1 = Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (e.g. natural gas burned in furnaces to heat buildings, campus fleet, fertilizer for landscaping)
Scope 2 = Indirect emissions from purchased energy (e.g. electricity purchased from Seattle City Light)
Scope 3 = All other indirect emissions across the value chain (e.g. air travel, commuting, waste disposal, purchased goods and services)

Goals

The Goals for Priority 3 were adopted in March 2026 by Seattle University’s Laudato Si’ Executive Committee and are building on the original goals of 2023, many of which have been accomplished.

1. ACCOMPLISHED In FY 2023, the Procurement Office will continue to work with campus stakeholders to build upon accomplishments achieved regarding Seattle University’s institution-wide ethical, equitable and sustainable procurement policy. Benchmark and update existing policies and guidelines to ensure consistency with industry standards. Communicate and support implementation regarding any policy revisions. Additionally, include a focus on Seattle University’s Supplier Diversity initiative.
   • In 2024, the University adopted a Policy on Sustainable Procurement.
2. UPDATED Identify opportunities to advance ethical, equitable and sustainable purchasing for multiple categories and commodity areas that support the university’s goal to reduce scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services (LSAP Priority 2, Goal 6) and to make continued progress toward zero waste (LSAP Priority 2, Goal 8). Benchmark and update existing policies and guidelines, where applicable, to ensure alignment with industry standards. Communicate any policy revisions and support their implementation.
3. ACCOMPLISHED In FY 2023, create the LSAP Socially Responsible Investments Working Group with membership to satisfy the STARS “Committee on Investor Responsibility” (CIR) criteria.
4. ACCOMPLISHED By June 30, 2023, fully divest the marketable portion of the endowment from any investments in companies owning fossil fuel reserves in accordance with the resolution passed by Seattle University’s Board of Trustees in September 2018.
5. UPDATED Advance the implementation of SU’s sustainable investment efforts with the goal to include socially responsible investing to the extent practical and appropriate as the Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) evaluates all investments for the endowment by considering Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria. The LSAP Socially Responsible Investments Working Group will collaborate with the endowment’s OCIO on report content and cadence of ESG considerations in the selection of investment funds and managers. Reporting to be presented to the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees and to the LSAP Socially Responsible Investments Working Group.
6. UPDATED The LSAP Socially Responsible Investments Working Group will provide feedback to the Retirement Plan Investment Committee (RPIC) on the current socially responsible investment array available.

Goals

The Goals for Priority 4 were adopted in March 2026 by Seattle University’s Laudato Si’ Executive Committee and are building on the original goals of 2023, many of which have been accomplished.

1. IN PROGRESS Annual Celebration and Campus Engagement: Continue the annual Laudato Si’ University Celebration in collaboration with internal and community partners to deepen understanding of Laudato si’ principles, elevate efforts and actions across campus, and highlight the impact of community engagement and shared mission.
2. IN PROGRESS Co-Curricular Formation and Public Advocacy: In collaboration with institutional stakeholders, provide co-curricular integral ecology-focused trainings, formation, seminars and programming with and for faculty, staff and students designed to promote informed public advocacy and campus engagement. Center our work on the continued building and sustaining of authentic relationships with local, Native and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
3. IN PROGRESS Data-Informed Action and Campus Climate Assessment: Collaborate with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness to receive the data from existing structured assessments from Human Resources, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Institute for Environmental Justice and Sustainability (IEJS) that would inform our work, such as the Workforce Engagement Survey, Campus Climate Survey and STARS reporting. Together with the IEJS, we will deploy the Sustainability Campus Culture Survey every three years to gain insight into our campus community’s values and perspectives and to guide ongoing efforts to cultivate a more sustainable campus culture.
4. IN PROGRESS Student Leadership and Peer-to-Peer Sustainability Programs: Establish new and elevate existing peer-to-peer student sustainability outreach programs, creating regular opportunities for collaboration, shared learning and an experience of ecological spirituality. Identify and pursue funding opportunities to establish a small grants initiative for student peer-to-peer sustainability efforts.

Goals

1. NEW Enhance marketing and communications to amplify the university’s sustainability and environmental practices, educational programs, engagement opportunities, scholarly achievements and community contributions.
2. NEW Develop targeted efforts to bolster our recruitment, retention and reputation.
3. NEW Advance donor development and funding opportunities in support of Seattle University’s Laudato Si’ commitment and university-wide sustainability efforts.