Sustainability at Lund University 2021

Ambitious plans and new initiatives for sustainable development

Per Mickwitz summarises his first year as pro vice-chancellor with responsibility for sustainability issues.

A Sustainable Campus

Re-use instead of single use

New agreement for circular flow of furniture at the University

Support for sustainable solutions

The University has developed a fund to support sustainable innovations and ideas from students and staff.

The environmental management system as guide

During the year, a project was launched to more clearly include and support the entire organisation in environmental and sustainability work.

Biodiversity on campus

Changes to green area maintenance benefit biodiversity.

Climate impact

Equipment, travel and premises account for the largest climate footprint at the University.

Education and Student Collaboration

New support to education about and for sustainable development

Initiative to integrate sustainability more in study programmes.

A student is studying in a library with a computer. Photo.

Open course with focus on sustainability

A new Lund University MOOC is launched. The course “Working for a sustainable future: concepts and approaches” is designed to introduce key concepts, methods and vocabulary evolving in sustainability science, with input and examples across a number of disciplines.

Change Maker Future Track

Martina Oxling about the initiative for a new type of expertise.

The number 2030 filled with different pictures and figures. An illustration.

New course for teachers: Universities and Agenda 2030

All teaching staff will be offered a training course within Agenda 2030. More information on this soon.

Research for a Sustainable Future

Research conference on sustainable development

On 4 May 2021, the first University-wide research conference on sustainable development was held at Lund University: Knowledge for Sustainable Development. Over seventy research papers were presented to researchers, students and international participants. The conference highlighted Lund University’s vast repertoire of sustainability-related research. The conference was held again in May 2022.

Doctoral students’ conference on sustainable development

In autumn 2021, the Agenda 2030 Graduate School organised a doctoral students’ conference focusing on sustainability issues. The conference will return in 2022. (in Swedish)

Excellence programme for sustainable development

In spring 2021, the University decided to allocate SEK 100 million to postdoc positions and the Agenda 2030 Graduate School.

Investment in social resilience

Social resilience can be described as the ability of people, groups or society as a whole to handle external stressors and threats. What factors enable certain groups or communities to manage difficult situations better than others? The Faculty of Social Sciences has invested in research in this field. (in Swedish)

New digital working methods

The development of digital meetings has benefited sustainability in research in various ways. A few examples:

It has facilitated the participation of international experts in recruitment procedures and as external reviewers at the public defence of doctoral theses.
The Academy of Music has been granted funding for a new studio for real-time digital musical activities with no lag, so that musicians can collaborate and play together without needing to travel.
MAX IV has enabled researchers to study samples in the facilities via remote control from their home laboratories. This allowed research activities to continue during the pandemic, despite many researchers being prevented from travelling to Lund.

Person looking out of train window. Photo.

Sustainable internationalisation

There is a high level of engagement in sustainable internationalisation. A working group has been set up and a workshop was held on the subject at the start of the year. Fanni Faegersten, international coordinator and one of the initiators of the workshop, was interviewed about the challenges of developing internationalisation while meeting the sustainability goals. (in Swedish)

Workshop on the Sustainable Development Goals

Research news on sustainability

Read research news related to sustainability, climate and environment.

Collaboration in Society

Sustainability Week in Lund

Every year, the University and the City of Lund organise a thematic week around sustainability. In 2021, around 60 seminars, exhibitions and city tours were held. A new Sustainability Week is planned for 2-7 May 2022.

Researchers are evaluating climate policy

Climate research can influence decision-makers in society. Researchers from Lund University participate in the UN’s expert panels on climate change (IPCC) and biodiversity (IPBES), they sit on the climate policy council of the City of Lund and take part in the national climate policy council.

Markku Rummukainen on the national climate policy council’s report 2021 – lu.se (in Swedish)

Roger Hildingsson and Lena Neij, researchers and members of the climate policy council of the City of Lund – lu.se (in Swedish)

The Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden is working to preserve biodiversity and increase public awareness of environmental issues. During the year, their activities have included an exhibition on invasive alien species and one on the environmentally adapted methods they use, such as electrical gardening machines, toxin-free horticulture and composting.

Vattenhallen Science Center

Vattenhallen Science Center organises educational activities in the field of sustainability. For example, the centre has an exhibition about Earth and the climate through the ages and school activities on the global sustainability goals.

Thematic collaboration initiatives

Solving key societal challenges requires broad interdisciplinary collaboration within academia, in cooperation with organisations outside the University. The University has several active external engagement projects.

Lecture series on the environment and climate

The Lund Society for Nature Conservation, Lund City Library and the Sustainability Forum at Lund University invite you to a series of popular science lectures and panel debates every semester.

Future Week

Future Week at Lund University is a University-wide initiative aiming to provide the University with an opportunity to highlight urgent and crucial issues for the future under a common theme.

Sustainability Forum’s new remit

Since 2021, the Sustainability Forum has a renewed remit that reinforces sustainability work in research, education, external engagement, communication and student influence.

How to become a sustainable university?

Welcome to submit your ideas and suggestions for improvement for a sustainable Lund University.

About the compilation

This page contains a selection of events and projects conducted in 2021 that are linked to the University’s sustainability strategy. The selection is based on section 1.3 about sustainability in the Lund University Annual Report. The working group consists of the office of the Sustainability Forum and staff at the Security and Environment Division.

Lund University Annual Report

Sustainability strategy for Lund University

If you have any questions, please contact jenny [dot] hansson [at] cec [dot] lu [dot] serel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"