Climate action in higher education: advancing sustainable development through an international research consortium

Purpose The main purpose of this research is, through an international research consortium, to identify how higher education institutions develop their strategies in three main areas: (i) implementing environmental management systems; (ii) promoting education for sustainability; and (iii) reducing the carbon footprint. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study adopted a participatory action research approach, combining literature review, document analysis and collaborative activities conducted with 14 higher education institutions over three years. It explored the implementation of environmental management systems, education for sustainable development and carbon footprint reduction, identifying challenges and best practices through collective engagement. Findings The results demonstrate that the effective implementation of environmental management systems, the promotion of education for sustainable development and the reduction of the carbon footprint contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, the findings indicate that the international research consortium project has strengthened these strategies through participatory approaches, fostering connections between higher education institutions and local social challenges, as well as encouraging the active engagement of students and communities. Originality/value This study presents a replicable model for integrating environmental management systems, education for sustainable development and carbon footprint reduction through participatory action research in higher education institutions. Its originality lies in the interinstitutional and context-sensitive approach, the alignment of results with the five pillars of the Sustainable Development Goals, and the demonstration of how collaborative strategies can drive transformative sustainability practices in academic environments.