Sustainability Institute

The COVID-19 pandemic and recent uprisings for racial justice have exposed the deep connections between the environment, the economy, and human well-being. There is growing recognition that environmental degradation (which facilitate pandemics) and racial inequality have common roots in an economic system built on exploitation and extraction. We can no longer ignore the fact that higher rates of pollution in minority communities leads to poorer health outcomes and more deaths from COVID-19 for people of color. We are seeing firsthand that we humans are not above nature, but a part of it, and that what we do to the world around us has serious repercussions for us all. We are understanding that broad systemic change is necessary to address these interlocking environmental and human crises. In short, we are living in a time when sustainability- the call to create a world where all people can lead healthy, fulfilling lives, within ecological limits- is more critical than ever.

SIRT is dedicated to helping our community understand and act on these sustainability connections. Here you will find a range of resources to help you do this. Please feel free to get in touch with us at sirt@uwosh.edu with any questions, concerns, or additional ideas. Stay well!