The Harmonization Working Group coordinates the activities of all the working groups, to facilitate an integrated vision of the actions envisaged by the Environmental Sustainability Plan.

Main objectives

• promote the interaction and effective exchange of information between the different working groups
• serve as a liaison between the working groups and the central organization of the Green Office
• support the development of cross-cutting initiatives involving multiple areas of environmental sustainability

Strategic activities
The group has a coordination role within the Green Office, ensuring consistency among the various actions, monitoring their implementation and providing oversight of actions across the different areas of intervention.

Members
The Harmonization working group is made up of:

• the coordinators of all the working groups
• the heads of Directorates involved
• the representatives of students and student organizations
• the rector's Delegate for Environmental Sustainability
• the RUS representative of the working group on Climate Change

Coordinator - Lorenzo Giovannini

The Energy Working Group supports the implementation of decarbonisation and energy efficiency strategies of the University, contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the Environmental Sustainability Plan.

Main objectives

• promote the energy efficiency of buildings and infrastructure
• facilitate the transition towards lower-impact energy systems
• contribute to the progressive decarbonisation of the University's services and activities
• lead the University towards the "net zero" goal

Strategic activities

The group is the main point of contact for Area 2 (Energy) and is also involved with:
Area 1: Carbon footprint
Area 6: Monitoring systems

Through continuous monitoring of consumption, the search for financing instruments and the identification of operational synergies, the group works to consolidate an increasingly sustainable University model that complies with European emission reduction objectives.

Members
The group is made up of:

• technical contact persons
• the heads of Directorates involved
• student representatives
• the rector's Delegate for Environmental Sustainability

Coordinator - Gianluca Signore  

The Resources and Waste Working Group is focused on waste and drinking water consumption, promoting a more efficient and sustainable management of resources.

Main objectives

• reduce the volume of non-recyclable waste
• reduce the use of plastic packaging
• improve the efficiency of separate waste collection
• limit water consumption
• raise awareness and involve the university community

Strategic activities
The group develops concrete actions to reduce waste, improve waste management and promote responsible behaviour within the University.

Members
The working group is made up of:

• the RUS representative of the working group on Resources and Waste/Head of Waste Management at the University of Trento
• the representatives of students and student organizations
• the rector's Delegate for Environmental Sustainability

Coordinator - Mirella Ponte

The Mobility Working Group coordinates the University's policies in the field of sustainable mobility, with the aim of making travels and commutes of the university community more efficient and sustainable.

Main objectives

• analyse the mobility habits of students and employees
• rationalise home-study and home-work travel
• promote the use of sustainable means of transport
• promote communication and awareness-raising initiatives
• monitor the effectiveness of the actions taken

Strategic activities
The group's work is focused on daily commutes, business travel, internal logistics and transport services, contributing to improve the home-work and home-study travel plan.

Members
The working group is made up of:

• the RUS representative of the working group on Mobility/Head of Mobility of the University of Trento
• the representatives of students and student organizations
• the rector's Delegate for Environmental Sustainability

Coordinator - Mirella Ponte 
 

The Food Working Group promotes a more sustainable, healthier and conscious food system within the University, in line with the Environmental Sustainability Plan and the RUS guidelines.

Main objectives

• reduce the environmental impact of food choices
• promote the wellbeing of the university community
• promote greater food awareness
• integrate sustainability, health and responsibility into daily practices

Strategic activities
The group works to:

• scientifically assess the environmental footprint of the food served in canteens and university restaurants
• promote a more sustainable food supply oriented towards plant-based alternatives
• introduce sustainability criteria in vending machines
• promote the recovery of food surpluses and the reduction of waste
• enhance the relationship with local producers and businesses
• monitor the application of the Guidelines for sustainable events

Members
The group is made up of:

• students
• administrative and technical staff
• other university members who are committed to promoting a more responsible food culture

Coordinator - Natalia Magnani

The Education Working Group promotes training and awareness-raising on environmental sustainability within the university community.

Main objectives

• increase students' awareness of environmental issues
• enhance and disseminate the training initiatives organised by the University
• make sustainability-related learning opportunities more accessible

Strategic activities
The group analyses, proposes and promotes training activities, educational courses and awareness-raising initiatives aimed at the university community.

Members
The group is made up of:

• a coordinator appointed by the rector's Delegate for Environmental Sustainability
• the rector's Delegate for Environmental Sustainability
• the president of the Library Committee
• faculty members who are competent and interested in the subject
• student representatives selected by the associations interested in the subject

Coordinator - Emanuele Curzel

The University of Trento is part of the Rete delle Università per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (Network of Universities for Sustainable Development, RUS), formally established in July 2015 by the Conference of the Rectors of Italian Universities (CRUI). 
The purpose of the network is to disseminate the culture of environmental sustainability and to apply its principles within Italian universities, through actions and policies that can make universities more environmentally sustainable.

In particular, the main objectives of the network, identified by its Initiative committee, can be summarised as follows:

• training and professional updating of faculty and staff in all Italian universities and, as appropriate, of school teachers;
• creation and sharing of initiatives on campus sustainability and new planning approaches in the fields of research and technology transfer and in the area of university organization and management;
• dissemination of best practices and input from international networks among the members;
  creation of an inter-university community, to adequately represent Italian universities at international level;
• support for projects that have already been successfully implemented both within and outside universities and in other settings (see for instance the living labs1 for cities - 1: A living lab is a real life laboratory where innovative instruments applied to different aspects of everyday life are tested. Within this new research approach, different actors collaborate with each other: researchers, citizens, public and private organizations, with the purpose of testing modern and innovative products and services in territorial contexts, like cities);
• implementation of a common and shared system to monitor the environmental and social performance of universities;
• development of the educational dimension of university programmes to encourage students to adopt sustainable lifestyles.

The University of Trento joined this ambitious project, which now includes a growing number of members, in its early stages.

The RUS network is still growing and the number of member universities is continuously increasing. Many important events took place in the first months of work of the network, to which delegates from member universities participated.

RUS members have written the organization’s charter, which was adopted in agreement with CRUI. At the moment, the Politecnico University of Torino is working as a liaison office between the RUS members, the network and CRUI.

For further information, visit the website.