The university has a responsibility towards contributing to a higher quality of life both in the present and future. In order to live up to this responsibility, it has adopted a Sustainability Strategy in June.
What has happened so far? What is still happening? And who can join in?
A photovoltaic system on the roof, sustainable coffee in reusable cups, green energy from your socket. What is becoming increasingly important in product development and lifestyle is also on our minds at the university – and not just recently. Because it is not only commercial enterprises that have a responsibility of going easy on using resources. With its almost 50,000 students and approximately 8,000 employees, the university is one of the largest employers in Cologne. This makes it a large consumer of energy and land and a contributor to traffic congestion in the city centre. The Sustainability Strategy adopted in June now underpins a more climate-friendly and socially acceptable future.
A lot has been happening during the past few years as well: For example, only recycled paper has been used since 2019. The university has also measured its carbon footprint and switched to green energy in 2022. The Studierendenwerk's catering offers many fair-trade products – our university has held the title of ‘Fairtrade University’ since 2018. Last but not least, the bike shed on Albertus-Magnus-Platz, which is free of charge for staff and students, has been helping to reduce traffic in the city since 2021. And these are just a few milestones on the university’s path towards becoming a sustainable university.
In the future, even more will happen in the areas of ecology, economy and social issues thanks to the adopted Sustainability Strategy. For example, new research areas and degree programmes related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals are being developed at the university. And of course, the university wants to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels in order to achieve the goal of a climate-neutral campus. A newly created governance with a Rectorate’s representative, a Sustainability Council and a Sustainability Office as a central contact point ensures that this issue is further anchored in all spheres of activity at the university.
By the way, it is not only the professionals and experts who are asked to develop ideas and implement them. Everyone at the university who is interested can learn more about sustainability, submit their own concerns and suggestions, and help to make the university more sustainable. In the second half of June, a pop-up office was set up on Albertus-Magnus-Platz for this purpose, and the second Sustainability Forum will take place in the winter semester. Beyond that, the team of the newly founded sustainability office is always open to anyone who has questions, suggestions or would like to partake.