AWS eBook Explores Cloud Technology’s Role in Higher Education Sustainability
Universities and colleges worldwide are increasingly making sustainability a central part of their mission. This reflects an understanding of higher education’s critical role in tackling global challenges, including climate action, responsible consumption, quality education, and social equality. Through research, teaching, and community involvement, institutions of higher learning are in a unique position to shape future leaders and innovators ready to address sustainability issues.
Today’s higher education institutions face numerous challenges in areas like financial sustainability, operational efficiency, providing modern skilling programs for students, and providing cutting-edge research infrastructure. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is assisting these institutions in enhancing campus operations, research capabilities, and curriculum through digital skills content.
To explore how AWS is driving a sustainability transformation across higher education, AWS has announced the release of a new ebook: Driving sustainability transformation in universities and higher education. This guide provides insights and case studies on using cloud technology to accelerate sustainability initiatives in the higher education sector. It highlights how AWS works with institutions to help them reach their sustainability goals in the following areas:
- Campus operations – Building smart, sustainable campuses
- Research – Addressing challenges in food scarcity, energy transition, and other global issues
- Skills development – Equipping learners with cloud, emerging technologies and job-ready skills
AWS collaborates with education leaders, such as Arizona State University (ASU), to further their path to becoming leading knowledge enterprises. ASU has ranked number one in the US for Innovation for the last 10 years and holds leading sustainability rankings, including number one in the US and number nine globally in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings for work supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“At Arizona State University, sustainability is not just a goal—it is a cornerstone of our charter. It drives our commitment to the integration of environmental, social, and economic responsibility across all aspects of campus life. From innovative research to sustainable campus operations and community partnerships, collaboration is at the heart of our efforts,” said Marc Campbell, assistant vice president, sustainability, at ASU. “By working together—across disciplines, sectors, and borders—we can create solutions that not only address the challenges of today but also lay the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable future for generations to come.”
AWS employs a data-driven approach to sustainability that includes enhancing energy efficiency, transitioning to carbon-free energy, reducing embodied carbon, using water responsibly, embracing circular economy principles, and enabling sustainability for customers. AWS is up to 4.1 times more energy-efficient than on-premises solutions and can reduce the associated carbon footprint by up to 99 percent when optimized.
Furthermore, AWS is committed to being water positive by 2030, making more water available to the communities where it operates. For a more comprehensive look at Amazon’s sustainability efforts, including those in education, AWS encourages anyone interested to review the latest Amazon Sustainability Report. AWS invites everyone to download the ebook and explore how AWS is helping higher education institutions create more sustainable campuses, accelerate critical research, and prepare students for the jobs of the future.
