Sustainability should guide daily life, but the 2nd Edition of the Sustainability Report of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (Ciências ULisboa) also explicitly intends to focus much of its attention on the future. “The Report follows a methodology that focuses on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and takes into account adaptation to local realities,” recalls António Pato, lead editor of the 2nd edition of the Sustainability Report, who worked for the past year as a scholarship holder in the Safety, Health and Sustainability Office (G3S) at Ciências ULisboa.
Sustainability Report reveals how Ciências ULisboa is already preparing for the future
Hugo Séneca
Article, Sustainability•13 March, 2026
Antonio Pato points out that the Sustainability Report closely follows the Sustainable Development Goals.
With the 2nd Edition of the Sustainability Report, Ciências ULisboa takes on the mission of openly revealing to the community how issues related to well-being, education, economic matters, and ecology, among others, have been addressed. The analysis, carried out with the support of the Sustainability Commission of Ciências ULisboa, focuses on 115 indicators, encompassing 20 key indicators, for the period between 2022 and 2024. Of the two dozen most relevant indicators, Ciências ULisboa stands out in six that show positive evolution or compliance with the targets defined within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that the United Nations (UN) defined for 2030. Five of these indicators show a "neutral trend," while another five show negative evolution. Results were not available for four of the main indicators. The report also identified 38 good practices that are already part of the daily routine of the Ciências ULisboa community.
“This edition of the Sustainability Report confirms that Ciências ULisboa has conducted a self-analysis with indicators that are both frank and transparent. Of course, we are not ashamed to highlight the good things, but we also don't hide the things that are not going so well,” comments António Pato.
"Approximately half of the set of initiatives is linked to the Living Laboratory for Sustainability of Ciências ULisboa"
In addition to aligning with the SDGs defined by the UN, the 2nd Edition of the Sustainability Report also stands out for adopting a "conceptual framework" that had already been developed in Seville by the Pablo Olavide University. Besides these two references, the analysis included adaptations that take into account the specificities of Ciências ULisboa.
It was from this work that a total of 38 good practices in terms of sustainability were listed, which include some well-known initiatives such as HortaFCUL, Horta Solar, the Ciências ULisboa Composter, the Ciências em Harmonia program, and Sustainability Week. "About half of the set of initiatives is linked to the Living Laboratory for Sustainability at Ciências ULisboa," adds António Pato.
Ecosystem preservation is also mentioned in the Sustainability Report.
Among the 115 indicators analyzed are activities related to combating poverty and eradicating hunger, as well as promoting healthy environments, investing in research activities, practicing sports and gender equality, in addition to energy or water consumption and hazardous waste or food waste, among others. These indicators serve to classify different initiatives and activities that have been grouped taking into account the SDGs advocated by the United Nations.
According to the Report, 42 of the 115 indicators show a positive trend. The compiled data also allowed us to determine that 33 of the indicators reflect a neutral trend, while 27 show negative developments. There are 13 indicators that are "unavailable or non-existent". In total, 75 indicators show a positive or neutral trend. This means that the majority show a favorable evolution, the Report notes.
Ciências ULisbon was analyzed in light of 115 indicators.
Quality Health, Quality Education, Innovation and Industry, and Protecting Marine Life stand out for grouping indicators of “mainly positive progress.” Gender Equality, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Protecting Life on Land are on the list of SDGs “with the lowest proportion of indicators with a positive trend.” Finally, Eradicating Hunger, Water and Sanitation, and Partnerships for Sustainable Development are among the SDGs that have associated “50% or more of the indicators with a negative or non-existent trend,” the Report also states.
António Pato analyzes the evolution of the indicators taking into account the acronym PPP, which refers to People, Planet, and Prosperity. In the area of people, the main author of the Report cites “the enormous advances in the service provided by the Psychological Support Office (GAPsi)” and also the “educational mission, which presents several positive indicators in terms of academic success, youth training, or even the complaints channel that has filled an important gap.”
Among the sustainability indicators is the well-being of the Ciências ULisboa community.
Regarding indicators related to Prosperity, Antonio Pato highlights “the positive signs recorded in the launch of research projects” and also “the connection between academia and companies or the Jobshop job fair”. In the area of the Planet, research activities and marine conservation also contribute positively to sustainability, with the production of knowledge around the biodiversity existing on campus. António Pato also recalls one of the most successful campaigns in the academic community of Ciências ULisboa: “The composting circuit is exemplary”. Sustainability is everyone's responsibility.