Sustainability at Leuphana
Sustainability is a principle that the university practises at all levels, is anchored in its mission statement and is specified in its Sustainability Strategy 2030. Leuphana sees itself as a sustainable university in all areas, from research and teaching to transfer activities and collaborations to campus development and infrastructure.
We understand sustainability as ‘a safe and just operating space for humanity’ – based on the conceptual framework of planetary boundaries (Rockström et al. 2009) and the socio-economic supplement provided by the doughnut approach (Raworth 2017). This combines ecological integrity, social justice, economic responsibility and cultural purpose and serves as the reference framework for our transformation.
Leuphana builds on a long tradition of institutional sustainability development:
| 2023 | Leuphana wins the German Sustainability Award (DNP) for its achievements as a pioneer of sustainability in educational institutions |
| 2018 | EMAS Environmental Management Award from the Federal Environment Ministry and the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) |
| 2015 | Joining the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) |
| 2014 | Calculated climate neutrality for Scope 1, Scope 2, and partly Scope 3 according to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol |
| 2014 | Signing of the “Diversity Charter” |
| 2014 | 15 projects awarded by UNESCO in the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, 2005 to 2014 |
| 2013 | Establishment of the Senate Commission on Sustainability |
| 2013 | Adoption of the ‘Guidelines for Protection against Discrimination, Violence and Sexual Harassment’ by the Senate |
| 2013 | Awarded as a family-friendly university – FaMi seal, renewed every three years |
| 2010 | School of Sustainability |
| 2007 | Publication of the first sustainability report, ‘Steps into the Future’, two-year period |
| 2006 | Mission statement: humanistic, sustainable and action-oriented university |
| 2005 | UNESCO Chair in ‘Higher Education for Sustainable Development’ |
| 2004 | Research project ‘Sustainable University ‘ (2004 - 2007) |
| 2004 | World's first MBA in Sustainability Management at the Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM) |
| 2003 | Health Management Working Group |
| 2000 | One of the first universities in Europe to be validated according to EMAS, annual external review |
| 2000 | Adoption of the ‘Guidelines on Sustainability at the University of Lüneburg’ by the Senate |
| 1999 | Research project: ‘Agenda 21 and university of Lüneburg ‘ (1999 - 2001) |
| 1998 | Commission on Higher Education and Agenda 21 and appointment of the Senate Commissioner for Agenda 21 |
| 1997 | Joining the University Network for Sustainability, COPERNIKUS Campus |
| 1996 | Establishment of the interdisciplinary School of Environmental Sciences |