"The goal is to position the University of Hamburg in the best possible manner towards climate neutrality in future," said Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekere, President of the University of Hamburg. A good, database based on is required. This is where the climate protection report comes in, according to Prof. Dr. Laura Marie Edinger-Schons, Chief Sustainability Officer. The report contains measurement data on direct emissions (Scope 1), indirect emissions from electricity and district heating (Scope 2) as well as emissions that are often difficult to balance, such as mobility and purchases (Scope 3). Electricity, district heating and commuting were identified as the largest emitters of greenhouse gases. CO2 neutrality is to be achieved for Scope 1 and 2 by 2030. The climate neutrality of district heating in Hamburg plays a decisive role in this process. The University of Hamburg can develop appropriate measures based on the analysis of Scope 3 emissions.
The University of Hamburg emitted around 68,000 tons of CO2 in 2022 over 70,000 tons in 2019, according to data for the period 2019 to 2022. The climate report is prepared in accordance with the international Greenhouse Gas Protocol. A detailed report on sustainability in research, teaching, transfer and managed is expected in 2024, a press release said Monday (November 20, 2023).
Positioning university for climate neutrality
Transformation towards a more sustainable, digital university
The university is pursuing various environmental and social goals for sustainable development in accordance with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The concept includes the negative "carbon footprint", which is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual, organization, or community. The "handprint" refers to teaching sustainability while the "brainprint" focuses on research activities related to sustainability. A wide range of activities in sustainability were introduced in 2023, ranging from participation formats such as an open plenum to a biodiversity lab. The 2024 climate protection report will offer more details and will be made available to other universities and organizations as well. As part of its climate strategy, the University of Hamburg is focusing on measures to reduce emissions and automate data collection processes in the spirit of a "twin transformation" towards a more sustainable and digital university.
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