A sustainable university
At Linnaeus University, we believe that we best contribute to solutions to societal challenges within sustainability by working through our research, education and collaboration. The starting point is our Vision and Sustainability policy and together with UN's global sustainability goals Agenda 2030 we aim to create a sustainable university – ecologically, economically and socially.
How do we work with sustainability at Linnaeus University
Linnaeus University's sustainability policy (hållbarhetspolicy) highlights that the university has a key role in the transition towards a sustainable and fair society and we therefore have a great responsibility. Linnaeus University can contribute to this in various ways.
We contribute by following the mission that comes from the Higher Education Act's requirement, that the higher education institutions through their activities must promote sustainable development, that gender equality must always be observed and the importance of mutual cooperation with the surrounding society. We want sustainability in the broadest sense to be integrated into structures and cultures throughout Linnaeus University's operations. This means that by seeing sustainability as crossing borders, utilizing the variety of competences that exist, we must work to raise awareness of requirements, expectations and needs in the area of sustainability through education, research and through our working methods.
Linnaeus University must be an example as a sustainable study and workplace; in meetings between people, in our accessible physical and digital environments, in our resource use and in our climate and gender equality work.
We want to be a University that takes responsibility for the future!
Linnaeus University's vision "We set knowledge in motion for a sustainable societal development" extends until 2030. It is therefore broken down into five goals that describe what the university must have achieved during the period 2021-2025. One of these goals concerns how Linnaeus University contributes knowledge-based solutions to global societal challenges through systematic and visible sustainability work in all parts of the university.
Linnaeus University's sustainability work includes the following perspectives: environment/climate, gender equality/equal conditions, work environment and internationalization.
Agenda 2030
Agenda 2030 is an action plan that UN member states adopted in 2015. It consists of 17 goals, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which aim to create a transition to a sustainable society for people, planet and prosperity. The goals are integrated and indivisible and encompass the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, the social and the environmental.
Linnaeus University sees the 17 goals in Agenda 2030 as a map that includes the various parts of the university's work with sustainability. Through our activities as a university, through research and our own work to achieve internal ambitions, we work towards reaching the goals in Agenda 2030.
Read more about the work in the Linnaeus University's SDG report with examples of education, research and collaboration linked to the goals in Agenda 2030.
Linnaeus University contributes to climate transition
The world is facing a climate emergency, as highlighted in the latest report by the UN’s climate panel, the IPCC. The international community acknowledges that the next few years are critical for limiting climate change and avoiding the worst consequences, making them crucial for the future of humanity. In 2022, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) stated that only a complete transformation of our economies and societies can save us from an accelerating climate catastrophe. Universities play a central role in this transition. We educate today’s and tomorrow’s citizens and decision-makers and generate knowledge through our research. We also take responsibility for reducing the negative climate impact of our own operations based on scientific grounds.
The Linnaeus University has decided on a climate action plan 2023-2025 where activities and measures have an impact through education, research and cooperation and by taking responsibility for reducing the negative climate impact from our own activities on a scientific basis. The Linnaeus University has two overarching goals regarding the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, both of which are compared to the 2019 level:
Climate targets:
- Carbon dioxide emissions from business travel should be reduced by 50% per full-time equivalent by 2025, compared to the 2019 level.
- Linnaeus University’s total carbon dioxide emissions should be reduced by 50% per full-time equivalent by 2030, compared to the 2019 level.
Gender Equality at Linnaeus University
Linnaeus University works from a gender equality perspective with focus on intersectionality and sustainability where gender is the base but focus also lays in how gender interacts with other power structures. In this way of proceeding, the starting point is always gender, but never only gender. Applying the gender equality perspective with an intersectional approach means reflecting and considering what possible consequences a decision, a document or measure, for example, may have in terms of attaining the goals for gender equality and equal opportunities. Human conditions are complex and are affected by the interplay of several factors such as: class, gender identity or gender expression, ethnicity, religion or other fundamental belief, functionality, sexual orientation, and age. At Linnaeus University, gender equality is organised as part of the University’s work for sustainability to realise the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Read Gender equality plan 2023-2025 here
Student project on sustainability
Linnaeus University announces funds for students who wish to carry out a project within sustainability. Linnaeus University wants to make the most of our students’ commitment, interest and knowledge in sustainability, but also enable learning for sustainable development, beyond regular studies. These student projects are part of the university’s overall sustainability work, and therefore, a contribution to a sustainable societal development.
Many different project ideas are possible, in both content and form. It can be a book circle, an information campaign, a clothing swap day, a farming project, an exhibition, a film screening, an open lecture, or something that somehow relates to sustainability.
Criteria for apply
- The person applying for funds must, during the project period, be a student at Linnaeus University, i.e. registered on a course or programme during the academic year 2023–2024.
- The project must be time-limited, i.e. have a start date and an end date. If the project will continue to run after the project period, funds will only be paid for expenses made during the project period.
- Reimbursement can be paid for costs during planning and implementation of the project. Thus, no funds will be paid for the working hours that are dedicated to the project.
- Reimbursement is only paid for project activities that are not part of the regular studies.
- A precondition for reimbursement is that Linnaeus University is not biase in terms of party politics, religious beliefs or other organisational affiliations that could harm the university, individuals, or operations. The democratic principles serve as guideline.
- In the project application, the student should motivate in what way the project contributes to sustainability.
Decision on granting of funds:
- Students submit their project description, including budget, to the coordinators for sustainable development: hu@lnu.se.
- Deputy vice-chancellor responsible for sustainability assesses the project descriptions and decides which projects will be granted funds.
- Students who have been granted funds must, after completion of the project, present their result in writing. Financial statement with verifications/receipts should be submitted together with the project presentation.
- Expenses are reimbursed based on granted project budget. Expenses that have arisen before or after the project period, cannot be reimbursed by the university. Lack of receipts/documentation means that payment of reimbursement cannot take place.
Decisions on granted funds will be made continuously until 31 March 2024. Projects that have been granted funds must be completed and presented by 15 June 2024 at the latest.
Course for teachers: Learning for a sustainable development
How can education in my subject contribute to a sustainable societal development? How are environmental issues linked to economic and social issues? What knowledge and skills will be required to meet the challenges of tomorrow?
The course provides an introduction and a fundamental understanding of the subject sustainable development. It is offered every year to teachers from all fields of subject. It is a unique opportunity to meet across disciplines and learn from each other’s seminars, lectures, and texts relating to the big challenges of the future. The course participants contribute with the content through their knowledge and experience from their own fields of subject and are given a lot of opportunity to develop their own teaching, in the form of a project assignment.
Do you want to learn more?
Learn more about the course Learning for sustainable development, 3 credits
Syllabus
Registration and questions
Contact the course coordinators Johan Älvgren and Sofia Jönsson Ekström, coordinator for sustainable development, hu@lnu.se.
Reports and accounts
- The university’s sustainability work is presented annually in a separate sustainability account.
Sustainability account 2020 (In Swedish)
Sustainability account 2019 (In Swedish)
Sustainability account 2018 (In Swedish) - The work at universities and university colleges to promote a sustainable development – a thematic evaluation, part 1 (In Swedish)
- The work at universities and university colleges to promote sustainable development – a thematic evaluation, part 2 (In Swedish)
- Linnaeus University’s direct and indirect environmental impact is mapped out in an environmental study.
Linnaeus University’s environmental study 2018 (In Swedish) - Report: Accounts of sexual harassment and assaults at Linnaeus University. (In Swedish)