Plans & Progress
The 2030 UVA Sustainability Plan, with ten bold goals and accompanying strategic actions, including to be carbon neutral by 2030 and fossil fuel-free by 2050 guides the University’s comprehensive approach to sustainability.
Achieving our sustainability goals calls for collaboration across the University. Our approach is to ENGAGE our community in building sustainability awareness, STEWARD resources on Grounds and beyond, and DISCOVER solutions to global challenges through research, curriculum and Grounds-engaged learning.
These sustainability goals align with UVA’s 2030 Great and Good Strategic Plan and build upon the success of the Board of Visitors’ 2011 and 2013 sustainability resolutions, the first UVA Sustainability Plan (2016-2020), and the work of thousands of engaged individuals over many years.
This work is not possible without the dedication and passion of our students, staff, faculty, administration, and alumni. UVA is working hard on these goals and we hope that you will join us!
Click on the 2025-2026 UVA Sustainability Annual Report below and visit the Take Action page to get involved.
2025-2026 UVA Sustainability Annual Report
Click each topic below to learn about the progress we’re making toward our 2030 goals.
- Climate Action
GOAL: Be carbon neutral by 2030 and fossil fuel-free by 2050
A range of strategies drive our emissions reductions:
• Existing Buildings: Building Efficiency Program, including Sustainable Labs and Sustainable Clinics
• New Buildings: UVA Green Building Standards, including energy targets and fossil fuel-free requirements and in many cases exceed LEED requirements
• District Energy Upgrades: Fuel switching in the Main Heat Plant, as well as chilled water, hot water and steam optimization
• Renewable Energy: 32 megawatts of off-site utility-scale solar and rooftop solar. Check out our renewable energy production in real time at our Renewable Energy Tracker.
• Fleet: Electric vehicles and charging infrastructureUVA’s carbon neutrality goal includes Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2010 – 2025 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to the operation of the University — commonly referred to as Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. In calendar year 2010, the baseline year for emissions analysis, UVA’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions footprint was 291,117 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e). In 2025, Scope 1 and 2 emissions decreased to 161,637 MTCO2e, a 44.5% reduction in emissions over 15 years, even as the University has continued to grow, both in terms of square footage — over 3 million square feet added since 2010 — and population
- Water
GOAL: Reduce water consumption by 30% below 2010 levels by 2030.
Through a variety of means that encompass both the built and natural environment, UVA is reducing water use and improving water quality. Facilities Management initiates projects to reclaim water from various processes, including the University’s chiller plants, as well as to preserve water usage in landscaping applications.
UVA has reduced total potable water usage by 27.1% since 2010, despite growth. In 2025, UVA consumed 418.74 million gallons of potable water, compared to 574.17 million gallons in 2010.
- Materials & Waste
GOAL: Reduce waste footprint 70% below 2010 levels by 2030. Divert at least 70% of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) from landfills by 2030.
Reducing the waste generated and reducing waste-to-landfill across over 15 million square feet of facilities is not an easy task. UVA tackles this through a rigorous and multi-faceted approach that focuses on sustainable purchasing, reuse, recycling, composting and eliminating many single-use plastics.
As of 2025, UVA has reduced the total of all waste generated (including regulated waste streams) by 32% compared to the 2010 baseline. Of the MSW that UVA generated, 2,739 out of 11,607 tons were diverted through reuse, recycling or composting, a 23.6% diversion rate. These numbers generally include waste from UVA-owned and operated Academic Division and Medical Center facilities.
- Nitrogen
GOAL: Reduce nitrogen losses to the environment 30% below 2010 levels by 2030.
In 2013, UVA became the first university in the U.S. to set an official nitrogen reduction goal, and the first university in the world to release an action plan to reduce nitrogen.
Why? Reactive nitrogen contributes to algae blooms, ozone depletion, forest dieback, and respiratory illness. It is a common byproduct of three necessary processes: combustion from energy production, food production and wastewater treatment.
UVA has achieved a 23.0% reduction in reactive nitrogen losses to the environment as of 2024 compared to 2010, which exceeds the 2030 goal. Reductions are due to efforts to decrease energy use and procure more sustainable energy sources, as well as a move toward plant-based offerings in dining halls. Despite increases in UVA’s student population and associated food services, reductions have still been achieved.
- Food
GOAL: Increase sustainable food purchases to 30% by 2030.
In 2025, 29% of the University’s food and beverage spending at UVA Dine, the Darden School of Business, and the University Medical Center combined was sustainable, per the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) STARS criteria.