Sustainability management at UKM commenced in 2007 with the initiation of the Physical Campus Development Master Plan 2007-2020 by the Development Unit of UKM. This strategic plan aimed to oversee sustainable development in various aspects, including infrastructure, space requirements, environmental conservation, energy and solid waste management, landscape, campus facilities, and the promotion of a sustainable lifestyle. The plan was initially drafted in November 2008 by the Institute of Environment and Development (LESTARI) at UKM, under the leadership of Datin Paduka Dr. Halimaton Saadiah, who served as the Head of UKM Sustainable Campus Group and was a Senior Fellow at LESTARI.

In line with that development, the UKM Sustainability Committee was set up in 2014 under the auspices of the Risk, Safety and Health Management Centre (ROSH-UKM). In 2020, the committee underwent a transition, becoming the UKM Sustainability Secretariat under the UKM Strategy Centre. This move aimed to enhance strategic ranking affairs, planning, and the promotion of a sustainability culture throughout UKM, aligning with the objectives of the Physical Campus Development Master Plan 2007-2020.

Following the completion of the Physical Campus Development Master Plan in 2020, UKM proceeded to initiate the development of the UKM 2030 Strategic Plan for Sustainability. Focused on the theme of ‘Cultivating Sustainability for the Future,’ this strategic roadmap spans the period from 2021 to 2030 and revolves around five key pillars: governance and management, teaching and learning, research and innovation, and a sustainable and wellness campus. It is imperative for members of UKM to comprehensively grasp the Sustainability Charter as they work towards the goal of transforming into a sustainable university. This charter aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, encompassing 17 main indicators as listed below:

SDG 1: ZERO POVERTY
SDG 2: ZERO HUNGER
SDG 3: GOOD HEALTH AND WELL BEING
SDG 4: QUALITY EDUCATION
SDG 5: GENDER EQUALITY
SDG 6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION
SDG 7: AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY
SDG 8: DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
SDG 9: INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
SDG 10: REDUCED INEQUALITIES
SDG 11: SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
SDG 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
SDG 13: CLIMATE ACTION
SDG 14: LIFE BELOW WATER
SDG 15: LIFE ON LAND
SDG 16: PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS
SDG 17: PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS

UKM’s Sustainability Charter is as in Appendix 1 (www.ukm.my/kelestarian/charter)