Sustainability at the University of Milan

The University of Milan promotes actions and initiatives to support new growth models and sustainable, conscious lifestyles.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda are a framework for a development process based on an intergenerational social contract.

Water and plastic reduction, energy, waste recycling, sustainable mobility, green spaces, food and green procurement are topics central to the 'sustainability agenda' launched 30 years ago, which the university has sought to formalise in recent years through the development and active participation in university projects and national and international citizen networks, and the promotion of awareness campaigns to help create a true culture of sustainability.

Among the initiatives implemented, the university's Department of Environmental Science and Policy has developed a calculator for determining one's carbon footprint based on estimated individual annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions — a useful tool for raising awareness of the impact of our daily habits on the environment and the planet.

Another strategic intervention to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and increase the production of energy from renewable sources was the installation of a photovoltaic system at the Veterinary Medicine campus in Lodi. The system is divided into two sections, one serving the Department and one serving the Small Animal Unit of the Veterinary Hospital. The system has a total power of 256 kWp and is expected to produce approximately 250,000 kWh (250 MWh) of electricity per year — around 4% of the total electricity consumption of the Lodi campus. Assuming an electricity price of €0.35 per kWh, this should enable the University to save approximately €87,000 per year.