2025 Annual Sustainability Progress Report
As we look back on the past year, I am reminded that our work is rooted in a legacy that predates many of our current facilities. Our institutional identity is inextricably linked to the motto Homo Minister et Interpres Naturae—man, the servant and interpreter of nature. This is not merely a historical footnote; it is a foundational directive that has guided us since our formation. As the "servant and interpreter of nature," our mission is to turn academic rigor into real-world resilience. Today, that commitment is formalized through the Sustainability Strategic Plan 2030, a comprehensive roadmap adopted in 2020 that ensures sustainability continues to be a core pillar of our institutional ethos.
A Year of Unprecedented Distinction
2025 has been a watershed moment for our university. Our elevation to Carnegie R1 research institution status reinforces our capacity to solve the world’s most complex problems through high-level inquiry. This academic rigor is mirrored by our growing global footprint; we are now one of only 20 universities worldwide to hold United Nations Economic and Social Council Non-Governmental Organization special consultative status. This prestigious designation has directly birthed the LU/UN Faculty Fellows Program, allowing our scholars to influence global policy at the highest levels. Our global influence is further exemplified through our unique partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, where we serve as the sole academic institution providing sustainability consultancy to United Nations Missions in New York City. This year, we reached a significant milestone with the certification of our 9th Mission. These collaborative efforts have yielded tangible environmental impact, collectively facilitating a reduction of over 14,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Closer to home, we continue to set the standard for excellence in higher education operations, maintaining our AASHE STARS Gold rating for the fourth consecutive year. However, our influence is not confined to our campus. Through the Small Cities Lab and the Center for Advancing Community Electrification Solutions (ACES), we are translating research into regional resilience, while our Bethlehem Farmers Market continues to serve as a vital community bridge, welcoming over 31,800 attendees during the 2025 season.
As you read through this report, I invite you to see these data points not just as metrics, but as a collective testament to the real progress of our community. This year’s milestones demonstrate that our commitment to being "future makers" is as real as it gets.
Kelley Versocki, Marketing & Engagement Manager, Office of Sustainability
Progress Across the 2030 Framework
The Sustainability Strategic Plan 2030 is organized into six focus areas, with each goal aligned with one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Our 2025 milestones demonstrate advancement across all six pillars of the 2030 Plan. This report details our pragmatic iterative progress toward near, intermediate, and long-term targets.
At Lehigh, progress isn’t a lofty, theoretical concept—it’s something we build, test, and prove every day. We have coupled infrastructure breakthroughs—including 8.68 GWh of clean energy produced to date by our Goodman Campus solar array (live since June 2024), a significant 18% reduction in water usage, and the designation of the Clayton University Center as our 7th LEED-certified building—with deep academic integration. Ninety-seven percent of Lehigh's active research departments engaged in sustainability studies. From contributing critical Greenhouse Gas inventory data to the City of Bethlehem to launching the "Making the Future" 30-year campus master plan, we are prioritizing long-term resilience. This impact is further bolstered by a culture of internal momentum, where 18% of our staff participated in sustainability professional development and 23% of employees were operating within offices certified through our Sustainable Office Program. Furthermore, the innovative ReusePass program demonstrated tangible waste diversion, successfully preventing over 27,000 to-go containers from entering our waste stream just in 2025.
As you read through this report, I invite you to see these data points not just as metrics, but as a collective testament to the real progress of our community. This year’s milestones demonstrate that our commitment to being "future makers" is as real as it gets.
Kelley Versocki,
Marketing & Engagement Manager, Office of Sustainability