Sustainability Strategic Plan

In October 2025, UNM released its first-ever comprehensive five-year Sustainability Strategic Plan. It organizes university sustainability goals around two core areas: Transform Campus Operations and Build Sustainability Engagement & Culture.

 

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Read the Sustainability Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan ProcessBaseline Data
Why Is a Strategic Plan Needed?

     

 

Sustainability Strategic Plan Process

The UNM Office of Sustainability launched a strategic planning effort in Fall 2024 that gathered feedback from the campus community through interviews, focus groups, a campus-wide survey, and town halls. The work was guided by an Executive Steering Committee and also included extensive research, identification of best practices, establishing baseline metrics, and input from experts. It culminated in the October 2025 release of the UNM Sustainability Strategic Plan.

 

Phases of UNM Sustainability Strategic Planning & Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder Engagement & Phases of UNM Sustainability Strategic Planning This is a timeline graphic depicting the five phases of UNM's Sustainability Strategic Planning process.Preparation Phase Phase 0: Preparation Phase (April 2024 - October 2024) includes quantitative data collection, hiring of a consultant and graduate research assistants, completing UNM's first Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) application, and completing a Greenhouse Gas Inventory. 0Phase 1Phase 1: (October 2024 - February 2025) involves qualitative data collection through interviews and focus groups, identifying 5-7 campus priority areas, and convening a Steering Committee.1Phase 2 Phase 2: (February 2025 - May 2025) distributes a community survey, reviews data with the Steering Committee, and drafts the Sustainability Strategic Plan. 2Phase 3 Phase 3: (May 2025 - August 2025) prioritizes key actions, refines the draft, and gathers public and Steering Committee feedback. 3Phase 4 Phase 4: (August 2025 - October 2025) focuses on editing, layout, vetting, and approval of the Sustainability Plan, culminating in its release. 4

 

Baseline Data

Participants in the strategic planning process referred to baseline data contained in UNM’s first-ever Sustainability, Assessment and Rating System Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS®) submission—a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. Another important reference document was the UNM Greenhouse Gas Inventory, which covers Scope 1 and 2 emissions from Fiscal Year 2006 through Fiscal Year 2024.


Why Is a Sustainability Strategic Plan Needed?

Universities play significant roles in their communities and serve as leaders on key issues. A focus on sustainability for a university is important not only for reducing the institution’s impact on the planet but also for reducing operating costs, supporting the local economy, providing a healthy environment for students, staff, and faculty, and educating and inspiring future leaders.

A university sustainability plan serves as a roadmap that outlines a university’s sustainability goals and how it will achieve them. The UNM Sustainability Strategic Plan identifies actions that will reduce the institution’s impact on the environment, are financially sustainable, and reflect best practices in key areas such as energy use, water use, and waste management.