How does climate change affect the university – and how does the university influence climate change?

What makes this approach unique is that: It examines the issue from two perspectives – firstly, the extent to which the university could be affected by climate change and its consequences (e.g. through extreme weather, legislative changes or societal expectations), and secondly, the impact its own activities have on the climate and the environment. The survey reflected this dual perspective.

A total of 52 people took part in the survey. The feedback came from three groups within the university: students, teaching and research staff, and university management. Around half of those surveyed have been part of HSMW for more than three years.

A key element of the survey was the question of the extent to which university members currently feel influenced by HSMW’s sustainability-related activities. Only around 15 % stated that they were already significantly affected by these activities, whilst the majority perceive only minor or occasional impacts. Just under a third have not yet noticed any noticeable impact.

Around 29 % of participants have already been actively involved in a sustainability initiative. The Biodiversity/Sustainability Round Table and the tree-planting campaign were mentioned particularly frequently.

Outside-Inside Perspective

The survey assessed the extent to which external developments – such as legal requirements, societal expectations or climate change – might influence the university. Two groups of particularly relevant topics emerged:

The following topics were rated as having the highest relevance (on a scale of 1–5):

• Collaboration with local businesses and initiatives (3.90)
• Promotion of remote working and reduction in business travel (3.89)
• Strategic sustainability and, tied for second place, the integration of sustainability in research collaborations and funding (3.77)

These results show that external demands on the university are perceived primarily in the context of structural changes – for example, in collaboration with external stakeholders, mobility, and the integration of sustainability into research and teaching. The highest scores (combining rating and participation rate) were achieved by:

• Sustainable construction and renovation (factor 3.13)
• Energy consumption (factor 3.12)
• Energy efficiency (factor 3.08)

Whilst collaboration, mobility and research are regarded as particularly relevant external factors, the calculated factors show that, despite being mentioned less frequently in terms of relevance, sustainable construction and refurbishment play a central role in the sustainability awareness of university members due to high levels of engagement.

Inside–Outside perspective

This perspective highlights the areas in which the university itself, through its activities, has an impact on the environment, society and the climate. Here, too, two groups of particularly relevant topics stand out:

The highest relevance (on a scale of 1–5) was attributed to the following topics:

• Use/allocation of university funds from a sustainability perspective (3.97)
• Innovative, sustainable spin-off projects (3.96)
• Incorporation of sustainability considerations in research collaborations and funding (3.89)

The highest scores were awarded to:

• Sustainable construction and renovation (factor 3.08)
• Promotion of biodiversity on campus (factor 3.02)
• Green roofs and façades (factor 3.00)

From the university’s own perspective, too, sustainable construction and refurbishment are regarded as a key area for action in terms of its environmental impact and are therefore considered an effective means of designing its infrastructure in a sustainable manner.

The survey results reveal clear thematic priorities – both in terms of the perceived challenges and the university’s own scope for action. The high degree of agreement on certain aspects, such as construction methods, energy or biodiversity, underscores that sustainability is already a prominent issue within the university community – and offers a wide range of starting points for future measures.