Great success in the area of sustainability: University of Hamburg ranks first in Germany in the QS Sustainability Ranking

The University of Hamburg has established itself as a leading institution in the area of sustainability. In the current QS Sustainability Ranking, the University moved up 2 places to rank first among all German universities. It also ranks among the top international universities: in Europe, the University of Hamburg ranks 17 and world-wide 29. See the press release for more information. 

The QS Sustainability Ranking is an annual ranking that evaluates the sustainability activities of universities the world over. The ranking, which covers roughly 1,800 universities, is based on, among other factors, the 17 UN Sustainability Goals and it aims to highlight the efforts of universities and acknowledge their achievements in the area.

Chief sustainability officer and the Sustainability Office

The University of Hamburg has had a chief sustainability officer since December 2022. The chief sustainability officer and the Sustainability Office staff want to build on the concepts introduced by the Center for a Sustainable University and HOCH-N to take a participatory approach to develop and implement an integrated sustainability strategy for the University.

This aims to achieve an evidence-based integration of sustainability, digitalization, and knowledge exchange; to introduce a variety of participatory formats; and establish a culture of participation and active involvement.

Based on these goals, the Sustainability Office has two core responsibilities: impact measurement and reporting as well as community management.

Climate and environmental protection management

After many years of advancing sustainability activities and measures, the Center for a Sustainable University set up working groups on relevant areas of activity and an overarching coordination group under the leadership of the Executive University Board members responsible. This provides the framework for climate activities conducted by the working group for the climate-friendly use of resources.

It is coordinated by a climate and environment representative and a climate protection manager.

Excellence Strategy at the University of Hamburg

With its successful application for the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments, the University of Hamburg has committed to making sustainability a guiding principle for further development of the University and, as such, a central strategic goal. The guiding principle of “Innovating and cooperating for a sustainable future” was created to this end.

This is reflected in, among other things, four clusters of excellence in the fields of astrophysics, photon sciences, climate research, and written artifacts research.

Center for a Sustainable University

The Center for a Sustainable University was established in 2011 to anchor sustainability at the University of Hamburg across the faculties and administration. Until 2019, it guided the University on its way to becoming a University for a Sustainable Future.

There have also been three sustainability reports since 2012, initially supported by student initiatives. In 2016, the University strengthened its sustainability strategy with the adoption of a sustainability commitment by the Executive University Board and was the first research university to issue a declaration of compliance with the German Sustainability Code.

In addition, the University of Hamburg joined several sustainability-related partnerships and initiated the nationwide research alliance Sustainability at Higher Education Institutions (HOCH-N), in which it assumed the role of spokesperson. In 2017, the University of Hamburg participated in the development of the National Action Plan on Education for Sustainable Development of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.