University of Göttingen: 500 universities work together for nature and the climate

The “Nature Positive Universities” network was officially launched at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) in Montreal. More than 500 universities worldwide are involved in the network. Its partners want to systematically record and promote local biodiversity and implement resource-saving measures. The University of Göttingen is one of the founding members of the network, which is led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the University of Oxford.

“Our goal is to preserve and, where possible, increase biodiversity on our University’s land,” says Professor Christian Ammer, Vice-President for Student and Academic Services at the University of Göttingen. “With the support of the Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use and the Green Office, our aim is to develop and implement climate protection and take action to promote biodiversity at the University. The exchange of experiences across the network will drive and inform this work.” The results will be published in an annual report.

The University of Göttingen looks after a stock of around 3,600 trees, plants flower strips on green spaces, runs three botanical gardens, and maintains an area for the protection of the European field hamster, which is threatened with extinction. Numerous University committees, student groups and interdisciplinary initiatives have initiated a diverse dialogue on sustainability and climate protection and driven forward the implementation of measures to help achieve this.

Staff and students of the University of Göttingen are invited to actively engage in sustainable projects on campus. Students can network as “student ambassadors” with other people worldwide, receive further training and initiate their own measures and projects in Göttingen.