The sustainability milestones in detail
- Foundation of the sustainability working group: In fall 2019, a working group for sustainability was founded, consisting of academic and general staff as well as student representatives.
- Policy report of the Sustainability Working Group: In April 2020, the working group for sustainability completed an initial policy report with proposed measures as the basis for a sustainability strategy. Among other things, the report recommended drawing up a greenhouse gas balance sheet, establishing an internal university structure for sustainability and joining the Alliance of Sustainable Universities in Austria.
- Senate & Sustainability: In March 2021, the Senate of the University of Vienna drew up a document with considerations on sustainability with core areas for implementation in the field of environmental sustainability.
- Teaching & sustainability survey: In spring 2021, an internal survey on teaching and sustainability was conducted to analyze both the existing range of courses with regard to sustainability topics (sustainability as a focus, cross-cutting topic or cooperation) and the sustainability of teaching (resource consumption).
- Combined sustainability groups: Also in spring 2021, the University of Vienna's sustainability working group and the Senate's sustainability working group were united. The combined sustainability working group was instrumental in developing the sustainability strategy from the outset.
- Foundation of the Sustainability Advisory Board & Sustainability Coordination: The Sustainability Advisory Board of the University of Vienna was founded in fall 2021. It is made up of members of the former Sustainability Working Group as well as additional members. Additionally, Julia Gram was hired as Sustainability Coordinator.
- Resolution on first Sustainability strategy including the climate neutrality target: In September 2021, the University of Vienna published its first sustainability strategy. This also includes the goal of climate neutrality by 2030.
- Mobility survey: In January 2022, the mobility survey was held, which surveyed student and staff travel. These results were included in the greenhouse gas balance.
- First greenhouse gas balance: The first greenhouse gas balance was completed in spring 2022. It is based on the year 2019 and is considered the baseline for the goal of climate neutrality by 2030.
- Climate neutrality roadmap: A roadmap was then developed by December 2022 to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.
- Foundation of working groups: Eight working groups were established within the Advisory Board in spring 2023. They focus on various key areas of sustainability within the university.
- Foundation of Sustainability Office: The Sustainability Office of the University of Vienna will be founded in October 2023. The Sustainability Coordinator Julia Gram is thereby supported by two additional employees. The office is located on the campus (Altes AKH) of the University of Vienna (1.5.1).
- Further development of the sustainability strategy: Since the working groups were established, the Strategy Working Group has been working intensively on the further development of the sustainability strategy. The first version of a new strategy will be presented to the Advisory Board in fall 2023 and will be further developed in a participatory manner from then on.
Do you have questions about the timeline? Please contact nachhaltigkeit@univie.ac.at.