Today we are feeling the effects of climate change caused by the vast amount of greenhouse gas emissions over the past few decades. With the Paris Climate Treaty 2015, countries worldwide agreed to take measures to limit a rise in global temperature to below 2 degrees, or preferably 1.5 degrees. This means that we need to further intensify our global commitment to achieve climate neutrality and that we have to join forces and focus all our strength on tackling the climate crisis. The next decade will be decisive. It will determine whether we are able to achieve this goal. Leibniz Universität Hannover wants to set a good example and will therefore take on a role model function by, in addition to teaching and research, integrating active climate protection measures into everyday university life.
Climate Protection at Leibniz University
In March 2015, the Executive Board of Leibniz Universität Hannover decided to develop an Integrated Climate Protection Concept (ICPC) which is to serve as a basis for action. After an intensive one-year process, the ICPC was drawn up in 2016 by the Centre for Continuing Education as project sponsor under the direction of Dr Martin Beiersdorf in cooperation with the climate protection consultancy Target GmbH. The project comprised establishing an energy and CO2 balance, developing scenarios, designing strategies for the long-term viability of the project, effective communication and success monitoring and introducing a catalogue of measures.
The project was supported by members from all faculties, research fellows and the university's construction management. The development of the concept was financially supported by the National Climate Protection Initiative of the Federal Ministry for the Environment.
In 2022, a decision was taken to update and expand the Integrated Climate Protection Strategy, which was implemented by the team at the Green Office and members of the Senate Working Group on Sustainability. The update was prompted by the University’s decision to achieve carbon neutrality by 2031 as part of the Guidelines for Climate and Environmental Protection. The revised version was adopted by the University Senate at the end of 2022 and was published in early 2023.
