9 July 2021 127/21
On the road to climate neutrality: University of Oldenburg
Federal Ministry for the Environment supports the development of a climate protection concept
Oldenburg. An ambitious goal: the University of Oldenburg wants to become climate neutral - it is one of only a few universities in Germany to have decided to do so. As part of the project "KSI: Creation of an integrated climate protection concept for the University of Oldenburg", the university's carbon footprint is to be determined and climate protection measures developed by May 2023. Oldenburg economist Prof Dr Bernd Siebenhüner is leading the project, which is being funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment with around 130,000 euros as part of the National Climate Protection Initiative. The newly established position of Climate Protection Manager, based at the Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research (COAST), is held by sustainability economist Anna Krämer.
"We are very pleased to now be able to incorporate our long-standing commitment to sustainability into a holistic climate protection concept with clear goals and measures," says Jörg Stahlmann, Vice President for Administration and Finance. The project has been underway since spring 2020. "The climate protection manager Anna Krämer will now bundle the university's broad commitment and focus it on climate protection."
Sustainability has traditionally been one of the university's focal points in research, teaching and administration. The university's third sustainability report, which was written by students under the direction of Siebenhüner and his colleague Lina-Luise Hölter, was only recently completed.
The integrated climate protection concept that is now being planned aims to set specific targets and measures to reduce emissions. A comprehensive greenhouse gas balance and controlling concepts are planned in order to continuously analyse the consumption of resources. A strategy will also be developed to stabilise the measures. University stakeholders and status groups will be closely involved in the entire process. The first draft concept should be available in around twelve months.
Sustainability economist Krämer was already heavily involved in the initiative as a student. "I'm delighted to be able to drive the work forward and help the university make its contribution to climate protection," says Krämer.