In order to make operations at the University of Innsbruck sustainable, great importance is attached to the efficient use of resources, energy, and mobility. This includes energy, space, and resource management as well as the sustainable design of catering services and procurement.
Since 2018, the university has been purchasing 100% eco-label certified green electricity and, since 2019, has been producing an annual CO2 balance sheet to transparently document its progress. In doing so, the University of Innsbruck follows the “ClimCalc” methodology, which has established itself as the de facto standard for Austrian universities within the framework of the “Climate- Neutral Universities” working group of the Alliance of Sustainable Universities in Austria. CO2 balances are currently available for 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 (see Figure 2). The CO2 balances for 2023 and 2024 are currently being processed and will be completed as soon as all the necessary data is available.

 The evaluation clearly shows that the areas of energy, in particular the consumption of natural gas for heating buildings, and mobility, in particular business travel, are responsible for the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions. Other areas, such as material consumption, generate relatively low emissions. In the area of mobility, a sharp decline in emissions can be seen in the two calendar years 2020 and 2021, which were heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, when there were
hardly any business trips and commuter traffic was also reduced due to an increase in working from home.

It is also worth mentioning that the University of Innsbruck purchases 100% green electricity, which is certified according to the eco-label (UZ-46). This results in relatively low greenhouse gas emissions, despite the high demand for electricity. If electricity without UZ-46 certification were purchased, emissions would be ten times higher. If electricity without UZ-46 certification were purchased, emissions would be ten times higher.

The University of Innsbruck has set itself the goal of becoming climate neutral by 2035. Similarly, the owner of most of the university buildings, the Federal Real Estate Company (BIG), is striving for climate neutrality in its portfolio. One example of such a project is the Campus Technik, which is owned by BIG and leased by the University of Innsbruck.

The campus, which houses four faculties of the University of Innsbruck, consists of 19 buildings, most of which were constructed in the 1970s, with a total area of 57,000 m². The campus is currently supplied with heat from natural gas. As part of the INNERGY project coordinated by the University of Innsbruck’s Energy-Efficient Construction Department in cooperation with the Federal Real Estate Company and the Department of Buildings and Infrastructure, the plan is to develop a detailed measurement concept and, based on this, to simulate the entire campus in detail in terms of energy with all coupled energy flows. The result should be the creation of a fossil-free energy concept that takes a variety of aspects into account. These include

• Heat sources available on campus from groundwater and soil
• Waste heat from the IT center, laboratories, and cooling systems
• Increasing cooling requirements due to larger laboratories and climate change
• The possibility of connecting to a district heating network
• The House of Physics, which, with a net floor space of approx. 26,000 m², is being built to the Klimaaktiv Gold standard and will be completed in 2028
• Two buildings that underwent high-quality thermal renovation in 2014 (Technical Sciences and Architecture buildings)
• Political and legal constraints.

Further projects that contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through renovations and changes in energy sources are also planned for the other buildings and locations of the University of Innsbruck.

At the Sport Campus, a project was implemented in 2024/2025 that significantly reduced natural gas consumption by converting the heat supply. Here, “cold district heating” fed by a well, in conjunction with decentralized heat pumps, has been turned into an innovative concept. The University of Innsbruck obtains heat from BIG, and the energy supply for the Sports Campus is almost entirely fossil-free.

Another area that demonstrates the joint efforts of the University of Innsbruck and BIG to promote renewable energies is the expansion of photovoltaics (PV) on the roofs of university buildings. For example, a PV system with a capacity of 381kWp has already been installed on the Sports Campus, which has been in operation since July 2023. At the end of 2024, another 224 kWp system was installed on the roof of the SoWi building on the Universitätsstraße campus. Further projects are in the planning stage, with the installation of PV systems being considered and reviewed for all future construction projects.

Mobility

With the goal of climate neutrality by 2035, climate-friendly travel guidelines were introduced in 2021, which, among other things, prohibit flights to nearby destinations and promote climatefriendly alternatives. In addition, the University of Innsbruck offers additional company benefits designed to promote sustainable mobility among employees.

Employees can apply for a subsidy of € 365 for annual public transport passes. Furthermore, employees who wish to purchase a bicycle can receive a salary advance in the form of an interestfree loan of up to € 7,300. Thanks to an agreement with Innsbrucker Verkehrsbetriebe (IVB), employees of the University of Innsbruck can use the “Stadtrad Innsbruck” bicycle rental system at a preferential rate, with no annual fee. With the preferential rate, the rental of a Stadtrad bicycle is free for the first 30 minutes of each trip, after which usage fees apply depending on the duration of the trip. Thanks to the special conditions for Stadtrad bicycles for employees, their use has increased significantly since 2017 (see Figure 3).

Another measure to promote sustainable mobility at the University of Innsbruck is internal e-car sharing. Two electric vehicles (a car and a minibus) are available for this purpose and can be used by all employees for business trips.

They are ideal for destinations that are difficult or impossible to reach by public transport, such as field research in high mountains or excursions with students.

Since the 2020/2021 academic year, all courses at the University of Innsbruck have been assigned to one or more of the UN Agenda 2030 sustainability goals (Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs) zugeordnet. The assignment can be viewed in the public course catalog of the University of Innsbruck.

With its “Sustainability” elective package,  the University of Innsbruck offers an educational program that is aligned with the goals of Agenda 2030 and enables students to integrate systemic thinking and sustainable development into their fields of study.12 The elective package comprises a variety of modules totaling 30 ECTS credits, which include both theoretical and practical approaches. The aim is to give students from all disciplines the opportunity to integrate sustainability issues into their individual academic context. The Peer Learning Activity (PLA) teacher training course on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) held in spring 2024 also promotes interdisciplinary exchange among teachers and supports the implementation of teaching formats related to sustainability.

As part of the PLA, teachers from various departments at the University of Innsbruck came together to design innovative teaching formats based on methods and approaches of education for sustainable development that strengthen students not only in their subject knowledge but also in their ability to solve problems in an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary manner. The PLA also offers a platform for reflection and feedback, which not only promotes a learning process among teachers, but also supports the establishment of a network.

The PLA was awarded silver in the “Learning” category at the Sustainability Awards in November 2024. The Sustainability Award is an initiative of the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection and the Federal Ministry of Education, Science, and Research and is presented every two years.

One example of a course that emerged from the PLA and was presented as part of the poster exhibition at Sustainability Week 2024 was the interdisciplinary excursion “Education for Sustainable Development in the Spirit of the Humboldt Brothers. A (self-)reflective expedition to the Alpine region.” Courses such as this or the lecture series “Climate Protection” raise students’ awareness of different concepts of nature and climate protection. In addition, such interdisciplinary offerings not only promote subject-specific knowledge, but also the development of transdisciplinary skills in the sense of education for sustainable development, such as critical thinking, collaborative problem solving, and communication skills. For the first time, a course co-organized by students on the topic of “Exploring Economics – Insight into the Diversity of Economic Theories” was also offered.

The course combines lectures on evolutionary economics, Marxist political economics, behavioral economics, institutional economics, (post)Keynesianism, and ecological economics with interactive group work, covering topics such as change, the common good, and uncertainty with the aim of broadening economic understanding of current and future crises through different perspectives and practical reflections. The course is open to students of all majors.

As a cross-cutting issue, the many facets of sustainability are becoming a subject of research in a wide variety of disciplines at the University of Innsbruck. From technical, solution-oriented research projects on energy efficiency, sustainable building materials and resource use, to the importance of using artificial intelligence for sustainable applications and economic studies on the functioning of eco-scores and monetary incentives, to psychological aspects of sustainable behavior and the impact on social and ethical implications of technological developments in the sense of sustainable development, the topic of sustainability is gradually becoming an integral part of numerous research projects at the University of Innsbruck.

The social aspect of sustainability is also addressed in many research projects. These focus on power relations, democratization processes, and social justice.

The following section takes a closer look at some examples that were presented as part of the poster exhibition during Sustainability Week 2024. The posters can be found in this document. Projects such as “Enabling Cities,” which are carried out as part of the master’s program “Geography: Global Change - Regional Sustainability”, examine inclusive urban development and social aspects of sustainable urban transformations. Another example of good practice in the field of sustainability-related research is the project “European Tourism Sustainability Monitoring,” which analyzes the status quo of sustainability knowledge in the tourism sector. It also includes the development of innovations, the implementation of sustainability measurements, and the establishment of certifications to make the tourism sector more sustainable.

Another project operates at the interface between the fields of research and education. A study conducted among teachers and students at the University of Innsbruck examines the key challenges for society in the 21st century as perceived by both groups. Among other things, it shows that both teachers and students are most aware of climate change as a key planetary challenge. With regard to social aspects, awareness of the challenges of political representation and social justice is particularly pronounced in both groups. The relatively high awareness among teachers (>50% of responses) of the challenge of securing peace and justice also stands out.

The research projects described here, with their predominant focus on research into sustainability, are only a small insight. A more comprehensive overview of the various research activities relating to climate, biodiversity, and sustainability is provided by the PEAK platform – Perspectives on Engagement, Accountability, and Knowledge. On this platform, the communications team of the Office for Public Relations brings together the multifaceted research activities and offers media representatives access to this knowledge through an expert database. This service provided by the University of Innsbruck is not only important for the field of research, but also for dialogue with society. 

The SDG Research Dashboard of the Aurora European University Alliance, a network of which the University of Innsbruck is also a member (for more information, see Field of Action Interuniversity Cooperation), provides a detailed overview of the scientific publications of the member universities (as of May 2022) that relate to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The dashboard shows the extent to which these research results are freely accessible and which non-)governmental organizations cite them in their policy documents. In addition, the dashboard enables the identification of researchers within the network who have contributed to specific SDGs.

One example of good practice in the field of social dialogue is the “Pop-up University”. The “Pop-up University” brings scientific findings to the general public in an accessible way, especially in peripheral regions. Interactive workshops, lectures, and discussions strengthen understanding of climate issues and reduce skepticism toward science.

Another example is the research project „KIDZ PAZ - NOWn“,which brings together young people, scientists, and cultural professionals in the spirit of research-education cooperation. 

Together, creative solutions to social challenges are developed, with art serving as an emotional and inspiring medium. Through projects such as these and other peer-to-peer educational formats, climate change research and practice are actively linked. In the dialogue between science and schools, pupils and students become active participants in climate education and are sensitized to the topic.

Such approaches also underscore the role of emotional and value-oriented learning environments in motivating young people to take climate-friendly action. At the same time, research projects such as “KIDZ PAZ - NOWn” show that the boundaries between research and social dialogue can be fluid.

In addition, regularly organized lectures and discussions promote exchange with civil society. The aim is to link local and global perspectives and raise awareness of the connection between individual actions and global challenges. As part of the event series “Food for thought – science and practice in dialogue,” organized by WuV (Verein Wissenschaft und Verantwortlichkeit), key sustainability issues such as waste as a resource and a car-free city center were discussed.

Der Verein Wissenschaft und Verantwortlichkeit (WuV) ist  ein Gemeinschaftsprojekt der Universität Innsbruck, der Medizinischen  Universität Innsbruck, des MCI – Management Center Innsbruck, der UMIT  Tirol – Die Tiroler Privatuniversität und der fh gesundheit.

As described in the introduction, the University of Innsbruck strives for comprehensive structural anchoring of sustainability in order to fulfill its social responsibility and operate as a sustainable institution in the long term. This project is based on a “whole-institution approach” that encompasses all areas of university activity and aims to systematically integrate sustainability into education, research, administration, and everyday university life (see introduction).

A central element of this anchoring will be the Forum for Sustainability and Future Issues, which is intended to enable broad participation. Delegates from the service and organizational units, the Rectorate, the works councils, the ÖH (Austrian National Union of Students) and the Green Office, as well as interested members of the university, will be represented here. Among other things, the forum will be tasked with raising awareness, promoting exchange, and proposing thematic working groups and concrete proposals for action. The working groups will serve to focus on the development and implementation of operational measures. The exact procedure and the associated implementation of the next steps are currently being worked out and coordinated. In any case, constructive interaction between the Rectorate, the forum, the working groups, and other bodies such as the Senate will be essential, as will adequate human and financial resources to initiate and implement groundbreaking changes.

In addition, the existing Green Office will be restructured and strengthened. The planned restructuring of the Green Office at the University of Innsbruck represents a groundbreaking step towards effectively advancing the university’s sustainability efforts and strengthening the involvement of students. This is a project supported jointly by all faculties.
The aim is to significantly increase the effectiveness and visibility of the Green Office through better staffing and resources and a clearer organization. Among other things, the restructuring plans to further enhance the appeal of the Green Office through a variety of sustainability projects in order to actively involve students in the design and implementation. This enables institutionalized, low-threshold participation and strengthens the bottom-up principle, in which the ideas and commitment of students play a central role. At the same time, there are plans to establish the Green Office at other university locations, for example by opening a Green Office at the SoWi/Universitätsstraße location, in order to ensure university-wide participation and leverage cross-faculty synergies.

Another crucial component is the establishment of a central coordination unit, which will be based in the Vice-Rectorate for Digitalization and Sustainability. This will ensure that student employees of the Green Office are dedicated to both cooperation between the locations and contributing to ensuring the medium to long-term continuity of the projects. In addition, central coordination enables the pooling of resources necessary for events such as Sustainability Week or participation in committees.

The reorientation represents a significant step toward making the Green Office a central institution for sustainable transformation at the University of Innsbruck. With a clear focus on cooperation, anchoring, and resource security, the foundation is being laid for future-oriented and sustainable development.

The University of Innsbruck is involved in various networks that promote transformative measures for sustainable development. These range from local to national and international initiatives.

The University of Innsbruck is actively involved in the Tyrolean University Conference, an association of all eight Tyrolean universities that has been in existence since 2009. Among other things, this committee is also used to regularly exchange information on ongoing sustainability activities.

In addition, the University of Innsbruck is a partner and part of the BiNE (Education for Sustainable Development) Tyrol network. The aim of this association of 35 institutions, strategically managed by the Province of Tyrol, the University of Innsbruck, the Tyrol University of Education, the Edith Stein University of Education, and the Tyrol Education Authority of Tyrol, is to support educational institutions in imparting knowledge about sustainability and climate change, as well as to
contribute to the quality development of educational processes in line with the guiding principle of sustainable development, thereby assuming joint responsibility for ensuring the long-term ecological sustainability, social justice, and economic performance of society and the planet. As part of Sustainability Week 2024, BiNE-Tirol presented the first Tyrolean Sustainability Award for school projects.

At the national level, three networks in particular are of significance, in which the University of Innsbruck is involved: the Alliance of Sustainable Universities in Austria (Allianz), the Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA), and the UniNEtZ project – Universities and Sustainable Development Goals (UniNEtZ).

The Alliance of Sustainable Universities is a consortium of 21 universities committed to systematically embedding sustainability in research, teaching, and operations. The University of Innsbruck utilizes this platform to exchange best practices, develop joint projects, and provide impetus for sustainable higher education policy. Representatives from the University of Innsbruck participate in regular expert meetings and exchange ideas with colleagues from other universities
in various working groups within the network (e.g., on education for sustainable development, sustainable mobility, or sustainability reporting).

The UniNEtZ project brings together the expertise of a total of 23 Austrian universities and other non-university partner institutions to promote the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. In the first project phase (2019-2021), more than 300 scientists, artists, and students developed options for how the SDGs can be implemented in Austria.

This options report was submitted to the federal government in March 2021. In the second phase of the project (2022-2024), the working groups on the SDGs were expanded to include five additional focus areas in order to make more concrete contributions to Austria’s transformation towards sustainability. With regard to universities, UniNEtZ has developed a policy statement on the transformation of universities as an impetus for further discussion, which, among other things,
calls for the transformation process of universities towards sustainability to be considered from an institutional perspective and for the uniko Manifesto for Sustainability to be implemented.

Employees of the University of Innsbruck have been intensively involved in both phases of the project in the activities of UniNEtZ. In addition to contributions to individual SDGs (SDG 4, SDG 7, SDG 11, SDG 15, SDG 16), this included participation in and coordination of individual focus areas (transdisciplinary dialogue with society, scientific support and monitoring of social transformation, transformation in the field of teaching, transformation in the field of governance). During Sustainability Week 2024, three UniNEtZ activities were presented in more detail. A UniNEtZ vision for the future of the socio-ecological transformation of society was developed, along with proposals for transformation measures for sustainable development (known as “building blocks for the future”), which invite dialogue with various social actors. The UniNEtZ beWEGt - Hochschulen! (UniNEtZ moves - universities!) activity focused on the goal of discussing, developing, and communicating concrete proposals for the transformation of universities, taking the first steps toward their implementation, and strengthening cross-university cooperation. Walking in the sense of walking was an integral part of this.

With its vision of “Climate research for a sustainable future,” the Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA) serves as a platform for climate research in Austria. It supports networking among scientists, promotes knowledge transfer, and strengthens the role of science in the political decision-making process. The University of Innsbruck contributes to this with its expertise in areas such as climate modeling, extreme event research, and climate change adaptation. 

For example, the 2nd National Assessment Report on Climate Change in Austria (AAR2) is coordinated by the University of Innsbruck, with scientists from various disciplines contributing to individual chapters. The Austrian assessment reports are products of the Austrian Panel on Climate Change (APCC; based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)), which is coordinated by the CCCA. The aim of the report is to provide an in-depth analysis of the situation
in Austria and to identify transformation pathways at the national level.

The report is scheduled for completion in summer 2025. In addition, the University of Innsbruck will host the Austrian Climate Day for the second time in 2025 – one of the CCCA’s central dialogue formats.

Regarding international collaborations in the context of sustainability, the Aurora Network should be mentioned. The Aurora European Universities Alliance connects leading European universities distinguished by their focus on social responsibility and sustainability. Within the framework of this collaboration, the University of Innsbruck is working on innovative teaching and research projects that promote social inclusion, cultural diversity, and ecological awareness. Students and staff benefit, among other things, from a diverse range of courses and mobility support programs that enable them to gain international experience and develop intercultural skills.

Through these diverse collaborations in the field of sustainability, the University of Innsbruck strengthens its position as a pioneer in sustainable development and promotes the exchange of knowledge and resources at both the national and international levels.