University Senate Approves Continuation of Climate Protection Management
The University Senate's decision sets the course for climate protection and achieving climate neutrality by 2040.
A fundamental societal transformation is necessary for effective climate protection and to limit the climate crisis. Universities play a pivotal role through their core missions in research, teaching, and the transfer of knowledge and technology. Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences is committed to active and ambitious climate protection, which is to be firmly anchored in the university’s structures and processes and actively practiced by its members. Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences has already communicated this commitment, together with the other universities in Saxony, in the State Rectors’ Conference through the position paper on Climate Protection and Sustainability; it is committed to firmly integrating climate protection and sustainability into the university’s strategic planning, activities, and communications.
At its most recent meeting on April 17, 2023, the Senate of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences once again gave concrete expression to this commitment and adopted the climate protection strategy, thereby approving the implementation of the integrated climate protection concept.
The integrated climate protection plan and the climate strategy were developed by the Climate Protection Management team, led by the Chancellor, Ms. Hollstein, and supported by the university’s Climate Council. While the Climate Protection Concept deals in detail with the baseline assessment, the greenhouse gas inventory, the development of measures, and the analysis of potential, the strategy, based on the findings, specifically outlines the goals and necessary measures to be implemented over the next few years. Both documents are available for download on the Climate Protection Management website.
Click here for the complete Integrated Climate Protection Concept of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences!
What makes HSZG’s Integrated Climate Protection Strategy unique is that it emphasizes a holistic approach to climate protection by addressing various areas such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, mobility, resource consumption, and education. I welcome the decision of the University Senate and would like to express my sincere thanks to our university’s climate team and climate council. I look forward to supporting this comprehensive strategy for promoting climate protection.
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The overarching goal is to achieve climate neutrality by 2040. This will be accomplished through the implementation of various measures to avoid, reduce, and offset greenhouse gas emissions. The university’s Climate Protection Management office will continue to be responsible for implementation and overall oversight.
This is made possible by another aspect of the resolution: the decision to allocate a position for Climate Protection Management from the staff pool no later than the summer semester of 2027 and to provide the necessary budget to achieve the goals of the climate strategy. This decision by the Senate is of great significance, especially at a time when the number of tasks is increasing and budgetary resources available for them are limited. The members of the Senate did not take this decision lightly and engaged in a heated debate lasting over an hour.
However, climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity, and appropriate measures to protect the climate and mitigate the climate crisis are urgently needed. We, the Climate Protection Team, are therefore very grateful for the majority approval, which provides a very important and sound foundation for the continued work of Climate Protection Management as well as future sustainability management at our university.
Thank you very much for your commitment and for this forward-looking strategic direction of our university toward climate protection and sustainable development!
Climate protection is a necessary and highly complex issue affecting society as a whole, one that requires both individual and institutional efforts. As Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, we focus not only on the quantifiable emissions generated by our operations but also on our core competencies: teaching, research/knowledge transfer, and the third mission. In this way, we aim to actively fulfill our teaching and educational mission in this area, raise awareness among our university community about climate protection and motivate them to adopt climate-friendly technologies, as well as integrate concrete processes and measures into our daily university life. We also aim to serve as pioneers and advocates in the region and beyond. We are very pleased that our university’s Senate supports this effort with its approval of our climate strategy and the Integrated Climate Protection Concept, and that we—as Zittau/Görlitz University—will jointly address current and future challenges, including by providing the necessary resources.
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