Middlebury College is a signatory of the Talloires Declaration, a 10-point action plan for incorporating sustainability and environmental literacy in teaching, research, operations, and outreach at colleges and universities.

The Talloires Declaration was the first official commitment to environmental sustainability in higher education to be created and signed by university administrators.

It was crafted at an international conference in Talloires, France, in 1990, and has been signed by over 350 university presidents and chancellors in over 40 countries.