With two new factsheets, one focused on artificial intelligence and the other on the Great Lakes, the Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS) at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) has released the updated 2025 factsheet collection. 

In 34 factsheets, made up of over 1975 facts and 144 graphics from over 1270 sources, the collection provides access to accurate and up-to-date information about everything from the sustainability trade-offs of artificial intelligence to key details about the Great Lakes, the largest freshwater lake system on Earth. 

The CSS co-directors, Greg Keoleian and Shelie Miller, say they are excited about this year’s launch of the two new sustainability factsheets and the many updates supervised and curated by CSS Lead Research Specialist Geoff Lewis and completed by graduate student intern Christabel Akhigbe. 

"With this collection, you can explore sustainability problems and solutions from unique systems perspectives. The key strategies to improve transportation, the built environment, energy, water and food systems that we all rely on are well documented,” says Keoleian. “Given that many threats such as climate change are intensifying, our hope is that the collection will motivate students, households, communities, businesses, policymakers and others to take action."

Launched in 2001, and covering a breadth of sustainability topics such as climate change, energy, water, materials, transportation, environmental justice and many more, the factsheets are a frequently relied on source by news outlets, researchers, students, legislative aides in Congress and federal agencies, business and industry, educational institutions and anyone else looking for accurate and concise information about sustainability challenges and solutions.

The factsheets, which were viewed over 500,000 times in 2024, present data on patterns of use, life cycle impacts and sustainable solutions. Updated annually by SEAS graduate students, the collection is provided as a fee-free public service.

At a time when access to accurate facts matters more than ever, those interested in supporting efforts with future factsheets may consider donating to the Fund the Facts campaign. Contributions will help expand the factsheets by supporting graduate student interns who work to update them annually.