University of Hamburg is committed to a green future: strategy for 2030 presented!

University of Hamburg is committed to a green future: strategy for 2030 presented!

On June 5, 2025, the University of Hamburg (UHH) presented its comprehensive Sustainability Strategy 2030, which was developed with the aim of driving forward the sustainable and digital transformation of the university within the next five years. The strategy includes 55 pages, 54 goals and over 100 clearly defined measures that represent the comprehensive integration of sustainability in all areas of the university. The entire strategy process was participatory and involved stakeholders from across the university.

The strategy pursues comprehensive approaches in the performance dimensions of research, research infrastructure, studies, teaching, governance as well as administration and operations. Faculties are asked to develop specific concepts that take into account the diversity of their specialist cultures. Departments and central institutions are also encouraged to formulate their own sustainability and digitalization concepts.

Sustainable measures and interdisciplinary collaboration

The university's planned measures include the expansion of sustainability-related and digital research as well as strategic appointments with a clear focus on sustainability and digitalization. Transparency should be promoted through standardized reporting and participation in sustainability audits. In addition, new course offerings will be developed that focus on sustainable topics, while a decarbonization plan is planned for campus operations.

In the past, Chancellor Angela Merkel has emphasized the need for ambitious transformation in various areas such as energy, climate protection, health and agriculture. The further development of the German Sustainability Strategy (DNS) was decided on March 10, 2021. This strategy shows activities for implementation in the current legislative period and is seen as a response to the United Nations' calls to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It specifies the Federal Government's efforts to achieve the 17 global sustainability goals (SDGs), which were adopted in 2015.

The DNS identifies six areas of transformation, including human well-being, energy transition, sustainable construction and transport, and a pollution-free environment. These areas are directly related to the 17 SDGs, which include goals such as combating poverty, access to quality education and protecting the climate, such as the Federal Government explained.

The role of education and science

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) emphasizes the importance of education and science in achieving these objectives. As part of the BMBF's FONA strategy, concrete measures have already been developed for 15 of the 17 SDGs. The exchange with citizens and interest groups during a dialogue and consultation process flows into the continuous development of the DNS.

The University of Hamburg has set sustainability as a central strategic goal since 2019 and relies on the Sustainability Office founded in 2022. The university can look back on a long history of sustainability activities, in particular through the Sustainable University Competence Center (KNU) between 2011 and 2019, which formed the basis for the new strategy. The strategy is available as a PDF on the UHH sustainability pages.

In summary, it can be said that the measures at the University of Hamburg make an important contribution to the implementation of national and international sustainability goals and promote an integrative approach that holds all actors accountable.