APPLICABILITY OF GLOBAL REPORTING INITIATIVE TO ASSESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is a methodology developed to help organizations reporting on their environmental, social and economic performance. In this study, the viability of applying GRI methodology to assess the environmental performance of Higher Education Institutions (HEI) is analyzed and discussed. GRI Guidelines to assess environmental aspect as materials, energy, water, biodiversity, emissions, effluents and waste, products and services, compliance, transport, environmental assessment of suppliers, environmental grievance mechanisms and overall environmental issues. Each environmental aspect guideline is deeply studied. As a result, a proposal of a HEI environmental GRI is presented. A guideline to report environmental performance with fully application to higher education based on GRI.