Governance and Networking
Sustainability should be firmly integrated in the everyday culture of the university. Especially the linking of diverse regional and transregional actors and the creation of participation opportunities is very important.
Selected institutions, working groups and networks:
Commissions & Administration
Senate Commission for Climate Protection and Sustainability (KfKN)
The Senate Commission for Climate Protection and Sustainability initiates, accompanies and evaluates university measures for climate protection, discusses and evaluates strategic plans and developments according to their climate and environmental compatibility and advises the university in cooperation with non-university actors with regard to the goals of climate protection and ecological and sustainable management. more
Equal Opportunities and Diversity
The University of Göttingen has the objective of facilitating all its employees equal opportunities and protection against discrimination. Information about the equal opportunities and diversity policy of the University of Göttingen can be found on the website of the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Unit. more
Safety & Environmental Protection
Safety & Environmental Protection provides services for both the Faculty of Medicine/University Hospital and for the Presidential Board of the University. It deals with questions of employee safety, environmental protection, radiation safety, gene technology, dangerous substances, transportation of dangerous substances and their disposal as well as the running of the central warehouse. more
AStA Department for Climate, Environmental Protection and Sustainability
The Department for Climate, Environmental Protection and Sustainability is committed to a climate-neutral, feminist and non-discriminatory university. The department works on environmental and climate protection issues, brings student perspectives to university committees and organises events such as lectures, workshops and clothes swap parties. The department cooperates with university groups and creates spaces for exchange and joint learning, for example in the AStA garden or the bicycle workshop. more
Campus
Student groups and initiatives
Numerous student groups and initiatives are actively committed to greater sustainability - both at the university and beyond in society. more
SUB Sustainability Working Group
The SUB Göttingen is pursuing the goal of implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within its own sphere of influence. Since September 2023, it has been guided by its own sustainability guidelines. The in-house measures are developed by the SUB Sustainability Working Group, which cooperates closely with the Green Office and participates in the Senate Commission for Climate Protection and Sustainability as a guest. more
Seed Library Göttingen
The Göttingen Seed Library is a non-profit initiative to promote seed-resistant, regional crops and biodiversity. Under the motto ‘Borrow - Sow - Harvest - Pass on’, seeds can be borrowed free of charge and returned after the harvest. Supported by the SUB Göttingen and JANUN Göttingen e.V., the library accompanies participants through the season with events and newsletters and co-operates with schools in the region. more
Alumni Sustainability Initiative
The sustainability initiative of Alumni Göttingen aims to support the University's journey towards greater sustainability by colleting and sharing the diverse knowledge and experience of its alumni. more
Studierendenwerk Göttingen
Studierendenwerk Göttingen is committed to greater sustainability - from environmental protection to energy and mobility. It favours waste avoidance, reusable systems, saves water and energy through modern technology and only uses green electricity. In campus catering, reusable crockery and cups promote sustainable consumption. more
Zentrale Einrichtung für Sport und Gesundheit (ZESG)
The ZESG is committed to the topic of sustainability both in its operations and in public communication. The sustainability concept of the ZESG places the three dimensions of sustainability - economically efficient, socially just and ecologically viable - on an equal footing for the targeted and systematic further development of the sports facility. more
BLAB – Life science school laboratory
The BLAB awakens pupils' enthusiasm for issues in biodiversity research. Topics such as soil as the basis of human life, the evaluation of urban green spaces, the development of streams, climate change, or agroecological diversity can be used to vividly convey biodiversity. In line with Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), biological, economic, but also political and cultural connections are made comprehensible. As a teaching-learning laboratory, the BLAB is integrated into the university's teacher training programme. more
WISCh – Wöhler Research Institute for Sustainable Chemistry
The Friedrich Wöhler Research Institute for Sustainable Chemistry was founded in autumn 2019 and moved into its own premises in October 2019. In terms of space and content, the research institute enables cross-group research on current challenges of sustainable chemistry at the faculty and with cooperation partners worldwide, thus strengthening the faculty's research focus on ‘Sustainable Chemistry’. more
Networks
Climate Advisory Council
Representatives of the University of Göttingen are part of the Climate Advisory Council of the City of Göttingen. The council issues recommendations on climate protection activities and supports the realisation of the “Masterplan 100% Klimaschutz”. The council holds meetings that are open to the general public, multiple times per year. more
Nature positive Universities
The international network Nature Positive Universities was founded under the leadership of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the University of Oxford. Members, including the University of Göttingen, advocate for the promotion of local biodiversity and the implementation of resource-efficient measures. more
Sustainability Network of Universities in Lower Saxony (HochNiNa)
The HochNiNa network, which was established in 2018, promotes dialogue and cooperation between sustainability stakeholders at universities in Lower Saxony. The aim is to further develop sustainability in all areas - from operations, teaching, research and transfer to governance and communication. Challenges are identified, ideas shared and measures coordinated in thematic working groups. HochNiNa provides a platform for inspiration, coordination and a common voice for sustainable university development in Lower Saxony. more
ENLIGHT Network
The Green Office supports the implementation of climate-friendly mobility concepts within the framework of the European University ENLIGHT. In joint structures and through innovative teaching opportunities, the nine ENLIGHT universities will empower students with the right knowledge and skills to become engaged citizens and professionals and respond to the major, complex societal challenges of the 21st century. more
DG HochN - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltigkeit an Hochschulen e.V.
The DG HochN aims to support the implementation of the UNESCO program "Education for Sustainable Development for 2030" in the German higher education system. To this end, it offers hubs, primarily virtual contact and energy locations where people can meet in a self-organized way to advance individual sustainability issues. more
netzwerk n
Netzwerk n e. V. is committed to foster change at universities in accordance with sustainable development in all areas of university activity (operations, teaching, research, governance) and thus works on creating an overall institutional transformation of universities. To this end, they bring together students, but also doctoral students and other university players. more
RENN - Regionale Netzstellen Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien
RENN support actors from civil society, politics and admistration seeking to contribute to Sustainable Development in Germany. To this end, they strengthen and connect initiatives and competences on a local, regional and national scale. more
HOCH-N-Network
The project “Sustainability at Universities: develop – connect – report (HOCHN) researches the contribution that universities can make towards sustainable development. Furthermore, it built a programme-based countrywide university network. more
Contact - Green Office
Do you have questions or suggestions on the topic of sustainability in research? Would you like to find out more about sustainability in operations at Göttingen University? Do you have an idea concerning sustainability in your degree programme? Do you need information on international networking on sustainability? For these and general questions and suggestions, please contact us!Head of the Green Office
Marco Lange, Coordinator for SustainabilityPhone: 0551 39-21356
Email: marco.lange@zvw.uni-goettingen.de
Staff
Tabea Kothe, Student of GeographyE-Mail: tabea.kothe@zvw.uni-goettingen.de
Anna von Borcke, Student of Ethnology and Sociology
E-Mail: anna.borcke@zvw.uni-goettingen.de
Hannah Kalden, Student of Philosophy
E-Mail: hannah.kalden@zvw.uni-goettingen.de