Sustainability on University of São Paulo’s Campi: The Case of the Environmental Law Clinic and Its Contributions

Abstract

This paper shows the importance of university extension projects for the effectiveness of sustainable campi to generate benefits for institutions and students from the social and environmental perspective. Having that in mind, the case study used is the role played by Clínica de Direito Ambiental Paulo Nogueira Neto (CPaNN), an environmental law clinic placed at University of São Paulo Law School. Initially, it is presented a historical and organizational overview of CPaNN, followed by the demonstration of CPaNN’s most concrete achievements, such as the installation of a bicycle rack in FDUSP’s building and the realization of educational campaigns concerning healthy habits and respect to work environment. Besides that, it concludes by demonstrating the relation between CPaNN’s activities as an example of the importance of activities of Education and Public Outreach and the concretization of more sustainable university spaces. It is perceived that the positivity of these actions accumulate experiences both for their receptors (university itself and individual campaigns targets) and for their actors as well (the students involved). This is an important paper because it illustrates successful cases of sustainability projects within the university; it hopes to offer a model for other institutions, whilst being open to discussion and yearning for improvement. The method used is descriptive-inductive with exploratory goals, using the authors’ own experience as the source of most of the information presented.