Sustainability

Global Engagement Sustainability Master Plan

 

The 2025 Sustainability Master Plan for the Department of Global Engagement outlines a comprehensive, mission‑driven approach to embedding sustainability into every facet of the department’s operations, programs, partnerships, and global impact. Drawing inspiration from the Texas A&M Office of Sustainability & Campus Enrichment’s 2018 Sustainability Master Plan (SMP), the department commits to its definition of sustainability as:

“The efficient, deliberate, and responsible preservation of environmental, social, and economic resources to protect our earth for future generations of Texas Aggies, the Texas A&M University community, and beyond.”- Texas A&M University Office of Sustainability and Campus Enrichment

Why It Matters 

Sustainability is not just an environmental priority—it is central to the mission of global engagement. International education connects people, ideas, and resources across borders, and with that comes a responsibility to ensure that our work supports long-term positive outcomes for communities worldwide.

At the same time, sustainability begins with our actions here at home. The way we design programs, manage resources, and engage our own campus community directly shapes the impact we have globally. Our local practices set the standard for our global partnerships and reflect our institutional values.

As we expand global partnerships and mobility, we must do so in ways that are ethical, resilient, and mindful of our impact—both locally and internationally. For Global Engagement at Texas A&M, this means aligning our activities with practices that strengthen communities, reduce environmental impact, and create meaningful opportunities for all participants. Sustainability ensures that the benefits of international education endure for future generations.

The Foundation 

The plan is also anchored in the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - a set of 17 global goals adopted to guide collective action toward a better and more sustainable future for all. The SDGs are often framed around three core dimensions.

• Planet: Protecting the Earth's natural systems by addressing climate change, conserving biodiversity, ensuring clean water and promoting suitable use of lands and oceans.
• People: Ensuring human well-being by ending poverty and hunger, improving health and education and protecting human rights.
• Prosperity: Promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, decent work, innovation and reduced inequalities so that people can thrive without damaging the planet.

How we will achieve it

The table below provides an overview of the four focus areas that guide the Global Engagement Sustainability Master Plan. Within these areas, the plan defines 19 established targets reinforced by more than 50 actionable milestones and over 60 supporting actions.

Physical Environment

Management of natural resources, energy use, and emissions, and their impact on local and global ecosystems

Waste Minimization

Strategies to reduce, reuse, and divert waste, minimizing the department’s ecological footprint

Social Sustainability

Promotion of wellbeing, health, involvement, and fairness within the campus and broader communities

Institutional Efforts

Integration of sustainability into policies, programs, partnerships, and educational initiatives across the university

Current Priorities

For the current year, Global Engagement has identified a select set of priorities to guide its sustainability efforts. These targets are as follows:

Physical Environment

• Target 3: Reduce Office Energy Use Through Facility Upgrades and Behavioral Changes
• Summary: Reduce departmental energy consumption by collaborating with OSCE and Utilities & Energy Services to establish best practices, promoting energy-saving workplace habits, and investigating infrastructure upgrades. Key actions include applying for grants such as the Aggie Green Fund and conducting annual joint energy audits with assigned action items.

Social Sustainability

• Target 12: Provide High-Quality Support to Meet Staff Needs
• Summary: Create a healthy and supportive work environment that boosts morale, retention, and workplace satisfaction. Plans include establishing a staff wellness committee, launching an employee recognition program, expanding collaboration with the Living Well program, and developing transparent career pathways with defined competencies and advancement criteria.

Institutional Efforts

• Target 17: Encourage Education Abroad Program Designs that Incorporate Sustainable Practices
• Summary: Promote education abroad programs that reflect sustainable practices and engage students with global sustainability themes. Key actions include developing guidelines for sustainability integration in program planning, establishing a recognition or badging mechanism aligned with the UN SDGs, and expanding partnerships with third-party providers who prioritize responsible travel.