Sustainable practices to reduce carbon footprint and nurture biodiversity of academic campuses

Published data indicate that higher education institutions (HEIs) are substantial contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss, primarily due to their infrastructure, landscape alteration, high energy consumption, and campus transportation. Additionally, at the same time, they also serve as one of the best models to promote sustainability and climate resilience through education, research, and developing operational policies. According to the International Association of Universities (IAU), there are 21,266 higher education institutions (HEIs) recorded globally as of the 2023 report, occupying a substantial portion of the landscape, out of which approximately 15–20% landscape is mismanaged. This study highlights that the appropriate management of unused landscape on HEIs' campuses can foster biodiversity conservation and support the sustainability agenda, while promoting net-zero initiatives. The article also incorporates cutting-edge on-campus sustainability initiatives proposed to mitigate the carbon footprint. The study aims to address and incorporate effective operational practices and unique institutional strategies for biodiversity conservation and carbon neutrality by analysing sustainability initiatives among the top ten global and Indian universities ranked in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Sustainability Rankings 2025. Along with floral and faunal diversity, we have also highlighted the often-overlooked role of microbial diversity in ecosystem functions and achieving carbon–neutral goals. The study emphasises that campus sustainability initiatives involving both biodiversity and emissions reduction strategies are not an option but an imperative for improving planetary health. Sustainable and carbon–neutral academic campuses require a strong commitment from institutional mechanisms, governance, stakeholder participation, education and awareness and interdisciplinary research as well as a continuous evaluation of sustainability indicators.