University of Bremen sets new standards for sustainable development!

University of Bremen sets new standards for sustainable development!

On March 9, 2025, the University of Bremen made a groundbreaking decision and adopted a comprehensive sustainability strategy for the first time. This strategy is intended to firmly anchor sustainable and climate-friendly action in all areas of the university: from research to studying and teaching to campus operations and university cooperation. The desired goal is to become climate neutral by 2038 in order to act in accordance with the goals of the state of Bremen. In this context, the Rector, Professor Jutta Günther, emphasizes the need for a fundamental transformation that encompasses not only the university itself, but also broader social responsibility. The strategy was developed through a broad participatory process and approved by the university's Academic Senate, underlining the importance of a collaborative approach.

A central element of the strategy is the equal treatment of ecological and social aspects, which should in future be given more weight than economic considerations. In order to achieve these goals, specific measures are being developed in the areas of research, studies and teaching. This includes, among other things, making research lower in emissions and more resource-efficient. Furthermore, students should be encouraged to think for the future and make responsible decisions.

Sustainability as a guiding principle

Rector Jutta Günther has made it clear that sustainability will be the guiding principle of the University of Bremen. The NKK Commission (Sustainability, Climate Justice and Climate Neutrality) was launched in November 2021 to develop the strategy. This initiative goes hand in hand with the update of the university's mission statement, which now places greater focus on social challenges such as gender equality, diversity and internationalization. The draft for the new mission statement will be submitted to the Academic Senate for discussion.

In addition to the mission statement, the new sustainability office, also known as the “Green Office,” supports students and employees on sustainability issues. They can actively participate and even earn credit points for their commitment to climate protection. An example of this is the collaborative project BreGoS (Bremen goes Sustainable), which involves Bremen's four state universities and focuses on sustainability initiatives in the areas of biodiversity, mobility and resource and energy use until the end of 2025. The university also uses its campus as a research facility to develop efficient energy use.

Energy consumption and research

In the area of ​​research, the University of Bremen is already successfully active in climate and marine research as well as in environmental physics and research into renewable energies. The university's entire energy supply comes from green electricity, and solar systems are installed on the university roofs. In doing so, the university underlines its commitment to sustainability and sets an example for future generations.

The university framework offers students the opportunity to actively participate in the sustainability strategy. There are numerous ways to contribute ideas to the departments and take part in meetings of the Academic Senate. A separate month on sustainability in the University of Bremen's online magazine up2date in May will shed light on current projects and challenges and initiate further discourse.

Universities like the University of Bremen play a key role in addressing global challenges as outlined in the 2030 Agenda. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) emphasizes the importance of high-performance university systems for sustainable development and supports the integration of sustainability beyond the education sector through partnerships and networks. The university is therefore committed to developing solutions and promoting cross-departmental cooperation in order to train responsible specialists who can meet the challenges of the future.