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Sustainability, climate and environment

With its nine faculties and breadth of research, Lund University has a unique opportunity to respond to each of the challenges described in Agenda 2030. It is through the creation and dissemination of scientific and artistic knowledge that we can make the most significant difference to solving the global challenges. We also strive to be a sustainable organisation. This means that we are to offer a good, secure, safe and accessible work environment and that we are to be a resource-efficient organisation with a minimised impact on climate and the environment. We see gender equality, equal opportunities and diversity as strengths.

Policy for sustainable development

The sustainability policy is the basis for the work on environment and sustainability.

Lund University’s policy for sustainable development (PDF 33 kB, new tab)

The policy states that the University’s wish and ambition is to be a driving force for sustainable development and to contribute to achieving the sustainability goals in Agenda 2030.

Read more about the global sustainability goals and Agenda 2030 at globalgoals.org

Strategy for sustainable development

The University has adopted a long-term sustainability strategy for 2019-2026, which applies to all of the University’s activities and all members of staff. The aim of the strategy is to provide direction and establish a number of visions, but not to regulate in detail how they are to be implemented.

Lund University’s strategy for sustainable development (PDF 510 kB, new tab)

The overall visions in the strategy are:

  • sustainable development is to be integrated into education, research, external engagement and organisational development
  • employees are to be very aware of their roles in sustainability work
  • the University is involved in development projects, virtual or physical forums and different external engagement activities together with other higher education institutions, the business sector and civil society so that scientific knowledge can provide leverage in society’s striving for sustainability
  • the University is a prominent voice within research and teaching as well as in public debate and cultural life
  • through good communication, our organisation is visible and transparent

Sustainability plan 2020-2026

Each faculty and organisational unit is responsible for drawing up an action plan that describes how it will implement the University’s sustainability strategy.

This sustainability plan is to establish concrete goals and initiatives to achieve the overall objectives of the sustainability strategy.

Here you will find the University’s general action plan which contains goals for first and second cycle education, research studies, research, external engagement and management and support organisations.

With its sustainability plan, Lund University aims to show that essential steps are being taken towards a sustainable organisation and a sustainable society. The plan is also a support for all the faculties and organisational units that are to draw up their own sustainability plans. The plan is to be revised in 2022, 2024 and 2026, which opens up opportunities to further raise the level of ambition and to add activities in the next few years.

Sustainability Plan Lund University 2020-2026, revised 2023 (PDF 3,8 MB, new tab)

Climate framework for higher education institutions

Lund University has adopted the Climate framework for higher education institutions.

The Climate framework is a framework for climate strategies that aims for higher education institutions in Sweden to continue to contribute to combat climate change through education, research and external engagement. Concurrently, the University is to reduce its own climate impact in line with society’s commitment as expressed in national and international agreements.

This means that by 2030, all the higher education institution signatories to the Climate Framework are to have implemented measures in order to be in line with the 1.5°C target. For Lund University, this means that our climate-impacting emissions are to be heavily reduced. More specific goal setting and measures are being drawn up in the sustainability plan.

Read more about Higher educations' climate network on the SLU website

University Management goals for increased sustainability

The Vice-Chancellor, in consultation with the University Management, has taken a decision on goals for their own organisation. Digital meetings and train travel are to be the first choice. Meals are to be vegetarian or have fish as the standard option, with meat only in exceptional cases. Whenever possible, ingredients are to have environmental or sustainability certifications.

Decision on the University management goals for increased sustainability 9 May 2019, in Swedish (PDF 119 kB, new tab)

Sustainable development in the annual report

You can read about our sustainable development work over the past year in the annual report. The Sustainable Development section describes activities within education, research, external engagement as well as the organisation’s internal work.

Find the annual report on the Annual and interim reports page

Annual environmental report

At the beginning of every year, the University submits a report on its environmental management work to the Government (the Ministry of Education and Research) and to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. In the report, you can read about the University’s efforts over the past year to achieve the environmental goals in the sustainability plan.

Lund University’s environmental report 2023, in Swedish (PDF 345 kB, new tab)

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, which is the coordinating authority, subsequently compiles a report on the environmental management work of all public authorities. This report is published in April every year.

Download the report "Miljöledning i staten 2022" from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency website, in Swedish

Climate impact calculation

The University has carried out a climate impact calculation, which gives an overall picture of the University’s climate-impacting emissions in 2018 and 2020. The method used is environmental spend analysis and the results are to be seen as an indication rather than a measurement of climate impact.

The analysis shows that the three largest categories, i.e. "goods and equipment", "travel and transport" and "premises", account for over 80% of the climate impact.

The results from the report will be used as one of several sources informing decisions on initiatives to enable the University to achieve the goal of substantially reducing its climate impact.

Read more in the Environmental Spend Analysis of Lund University, in Swedish (PDF 1.36 MB, new tab)

Environmental certification system

The University contributes to a better environment by reducing its environmental impact, for example, by imposing environmental requirements on the goods and services we purchase, streamlining our use of energy, and properly handling our chemicals and hazardous waste. 

One way that the departments are actively working to reduce their environmental impact is by becoming environmentally certified according to Lund University’s environmental certification systems.

Criteria for Lund University’s environmental certification, in Swedish (PDF 175 kB, new tab)

Measures and procedures – Criteria for environmental certification, in Swedish (Excel 154 kB, new tab)

If you want to learn more about environmental certification or have other questions concerning environmental and sustainability work at the University, please contact our head of sustainability Claes Nilén, or environmental coordinator Maria Nilsson.

Contact

Claes Nilén
Environmental manager
+46 46 222 41 59
claes [dot] nilen [at] bygg [dot] lu [dot] se

Maria Nilsson
Environmental coordinator
+46 46 222 70 82
maria [dot] nilsson [at] bygg [dot] lu [dot] se

Environmental report 2023

The university has completed or is on track with most of the activities to achieve the objectives of the sustainability plan. Read more in the report:

Environmental report 2023, in Swedish (PDF 345 kB, new tab)