At the University of Palermo, the first Center for Sustainability and Ecological Transition, directed by Prof. Maurizio Cellura and consisting of a Scientific Council composed of faculty members from the University who are experts in the areas of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SGD) set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda implements the new culture of sustainability, based on an interdisciplinary and cross-cutting approach, capable of crossing issues such as equal opportunities, access to education, and the establishment of democratic institutions.

The center's activities are geared toward:

Interdisciplinarity

The interdisciplinary approach is a distinguishing factor in the Center's innovation, allowing it to develop a multi-perspective and creative approach and ensure the principle of equal footprint among the SDGs.

Internationalization

The Center will have the Mediterranean basin as its priority collaboration reference, with the aim of promoting sustainability and ecological transition consistent with the contents of the 17 UN Agena 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Cooperation

The Center brings together a combination of academic excellence and practical expertise and will apply the concepts of sustainability through the implementation of community-scale projects and "living labs"

Horizontality

The Center acts in the areas of research, teaching and third mission in accordance with the idea of horizontal integration of the principle of sustainability, both in the internal governance of the University and in relations with the territory.

Sustainability

The Center pursues sustainability strategies and supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals to create a better society and invest in the future of our next generations.

Complexity

Vision and strategies for governing complex interconnections with a systems approach.

The Center for Sustainability and Ecological Transition has as its Goals:

- The implementation of participatory and shared solutions and strategies aimed at environmental, economic and social sustainability;
- the activation of pathways for ecological transition;
- the identification of actions that contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda;
- the creation of an integrated, equitable and sustainable approach to teaching, research and the third mission;
- Limiting organization-related negative spill-over ( through GPP and sustainable production and consumption practices).
- Promote and incentivize with a flexible and multidisciplinary structure the University's research activities in the field of sustainability and ecological transition and encourage the strengthening and development of educational pathways capable of responding to new needs (master's degree on climate change, cross-skills course on the nexus Water Energy Food Ecosystem Cities an Health (WEFECH);
- Interact with the University's Departments and individual scholars engaged in research and innovation activities in the fields of sustainability and ecological transition to implement effective solutions applicable in the management of the University's facilities and the relevant territory (mapping "green" PhDs and "green" RTDs and green research network);
- Horizontally integrate sustainability principles and green transition pathways into the University's educational and information and third mission activities;
- Activate a structured dialogue between the various technical and administrative bodies of the University aimed at the incorporation of a culture of environmental sustainability;
- Dialog and collaborate with the Rector's Council;
- Support at the local scale initiatives aimed at the concrete achievement of the "New Green Deal".
- Contribute to the creation of a Regional Forum on Sustainability and Ecological Transition, to strengthen the dialogue between the University and stakeholders working in various capacities in the field of sustainability (collaborative platforms for the governance of complex problems);
- Promote and strengthen the University's participation in local, regional, national and international sustainability networks (RUS, SDSN, ASVIS, environmental associations, etc.);
- Promote educational outreach activities, in the order of knowledge of sustainability, also aimed at schools of all levels (lesson zero RUS);
- Participate in the various cultural and scientific initiatives undertaken by the University pertaining to sustainability and ecological transition (doctorate in ecological transition);
- Support research activities inherent to the themes of the SDGs;
- Promote and curate the production of both scientific and popular publications (doctoral study series on ecological transition).