Environmental, Social, and Governance Implementation in Higher Education: A Focus on Sustainability Management in Brazilian and Italian Universities

This study investigates the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles implementation in Brazilian and Italian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), aiming to compare their sustainability practices within Environmental Management Systems, frameworks, and reporting standards. The study analyzes HEI’s approaches to ESG management, identifying effective practices and trends for improving ESG management in HEIs. In doing so, the originality of the study lies in its cross-national examination of ESG strategies in higher education, contributing valuable insights for HEIs worldwide to enhance their sustainability efforts. The findings reveal distinct ESG management approaches in Brazil and Italy’s HEIs, with Brazil improving in global impact rankings and environmental initiatives. At the same time, Italy is showing more substantial adoption of ISO 14001 and sustainable networks participation. This analysis will benefit academics, policymakers, and sustainability practitioners interested in the global implementation of sustainable development in higher education.