The UNAM Sisal campus, situated in a remote and ecologically sensitive coastal region of Yucatán, faces significant challenges regarding sustainability and self-sufficiency. Its dependency on unreliable external infrastructure for energy and water, coupled with inadequate wastewater treatment and unstructured waste management, makes the campus vulnerable to environmental challenges and hinders its potential as a model for sustainable development. This multidisciplinary project aimed to address these issues by developing an integrated roadmap toward a self-sufficient and sustainable campus by 2035.

Using a methodological framework combining backcasting and design science principles, the study integrated stakeholder input (staff interviews, student surveys), technical data analysis, literature reviews, and expert consultations. Potential solutions across the domains of energy, water, and waste were systematically evaluated using Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) weighted by stakeholder preferences.

The findings indicate a clear pathway forward. For energy, prioritizing solar photovoltaic (PV) installations is recommended due to high local potential and scalability, contingent on initial detailed energy consumption monitoring. For water, the focus should be on implementing robust wastewater treatment to meet regulatory standards, followed by longer-term integration of small-scale desalination and supplementary rainwater/AC condensate harvesting. For waste, the primary step involves quantifying waste streams, followed by implementing an organizational strategy, such as a Zero Waste Grassroots Programme with source separation, composting, and partnerships for recycling.

The research ends with a phased roadmap outlining concrete short-, medium-, and long-term actions across all three domains. Successful implementation can transform the UNAM Sisal campus into a resilient, self-sufficient facility and a valuable example for sustainable practices in other coastal communities, though success depends on institutional commitment, securing funding, and establishing continuous monitoring.

Future research should focus on collecting reliable on-site data, testing pilot projects, and strengthening institutional frameworks to ensure long-term implementation, funding, and monitoring.