Sustainable Infrastructure | Harvard University

Sustainable infrastructure (SI) has been recognized as the central pillar of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Sustainable infrastructure strives to enhance access to basic services, promote environmental sustainability, and support inclusive growth through its endeavor to meet the sustainable development goals (SDGs), while looking for pathways to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, as reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This course introduces students to the current landscape of sustainability assessment tools and explores the benefits that sustainable projects bring to public and private entities, to local communities, and to the planet in general. We ask the following key questions: what is sustainable infrastructure? What are the main features of a sustainable project? How do these features overlap or differ from the SDGs? How can infrastructure and urban development projects align with both SI practices and the SDGs? To answer these questions, we use real-world case studies. Considering the mandate of the 2030 agenda, "leave no one behind," specific attention is given to how different stakeholders participate in the process.