Organisation profile

Sustainability has many facets. Inter- and transdisciplinary research and teaching characterize the School of Sustainability. Scientists in our research projects work together in the laboratory, on the heath, in the grassland, in the classroom, with the city administration, with farmers, with non-governmental organizations, with companies, with students in the lecture hall and of course at their desks.

Furthermore, we work with regional and national political actors, e.g. ministries, as well as international organizations, e.g. UNEP, UNESCO, EU. We are part of national and international bodies, e.g. sustainability advisory boards of companies, member of the German Sustainability Award, World Biodiversity Council (IPBES), in order to contribute to social change with scientific findings.

Main research areas

Vision
Sustainability science investigates on a theoretical, conceptual and empirical level how to promote sustainable development and how to find and implement effective solutions for current social and ecological challenges. The aim is to create a more sustainable future.

Sustainability researchers are called upon to take responsibility for their research, which is anchored in existing scientific knowledge and methods and serves to make the world a better place for everyone.

Mission
We promote change towards a sustainable future by developing theories, concepts and practices of inclusive education for sustainability, research, governance and management.

We acknowledge the diversity and dynamics of values, norms and behaviour and contribute with transdisciplinary methods to ensuring that tensions and differences between different disciplines, methods, topics and standards are fruitfully taken up and used with productive compromises and further developments towards sustainable development.

Principles
The School of Sustainability is guided by the normative concepts of ecological system integrity and social and economic justice.

Ecological system integrity refers to the safeguarding of life-support systems, as well as the maintenance of the well-being of life on Earth.

With social and economic justice we strive for a world in which all people can fulfil their potential without endangering system integrity and the well-being of others.

Information about the School
The School of Sustainability includes...
... ca. 25 professors
... ca. 100 research assistants
... ca. 1000 students in Bachelor and Master courses

In various inter- and transdisciplinary projects we are constantly researching and working together on changes and solutions for current challenges.

  1. Designing Understanding: Sustainability Entrepreneurs Connect with Adopters

    Eising-Mertsch, L., Weisenfeld, U. & Buhr, M., 17.06.2025, In: Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings. 2025, 1, 6 p., 22177.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearchpeer-review

  2. Kommunale Klimaanpassung in der Hochschullehre: Open Educational Ressource des Projekts StudiKommKlima

    Redenius, P., Möller, S., Steinhardt, A. & Hörisch, J., 10.04.2025, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg.

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  3. Stadt-Land-Plus-Verbundvorhaben: SUSTIL-Szenarien zur Umsetzung der UN-Nachhaltigkeitsziele in Stadt und Landkreis Lüneburg: Implikationen für die Steuerung von Landnutzung

    Hörisch, J., von Wehrden, H., Pfendtner-Heise, J., Hoveida, J., Subke, V., Ahlers, U. & Wiebe, P., 31.07.2025, Hannover: Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB), 55 p.

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  4. The Impact of Income Inequality on Sustainable Consumption

    Hörisch, J., Brieger, S. A. & Zhang, X., 17.06.2025, In: Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings. 2025, 1, p. 12541

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearchpeer-review

  5. Kulturen der Nachhaltigkeit von Hochschulen: ein konsolidiertes Arbeitsverständnis des Verbundprojekts KuNaH

    Singer-Brodowski, M., Holst, J., Fritz, H., Nölting, B., Löde, V. L., Lang, D., Ober, S., Parodi, O., Schaltegger, S., Scheiding, C., Weynand, M. & Potthast, T., 09.2025, 16 p.

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  6. A Meta-Analysis of Workplace Interventions for Pro-Environmental Behaviour

    Brack, F., Petrowsky, H., Hörisch, J. & Loschelder, D. D., 17.06.2025, In: Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings. 2025, 1, p. 24087

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearchpeer-review

  7. An Exploration of the Practical Relevance of Inquiries into Management Responses to Climate Change

    Imbrogiano, J. P., Ghinoi, S. & Schaltegger, S., 17.06.2025, In: Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings. 2025, 1, p. 13845

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearchpeer-review

  8. Preface

    Bäumler, J., Binder, C., Bungenberg, M., Krajewski, M., Rühl, G., Tams, C. J., Terhechte, J. P. & Ziegler, A. R., 2025, In: European Yearbook of International Economic Law. 15, p. v-x 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  9. Commonly observed sex differences in direct aggression are absent or reversed in sibling contexts

    Varnum, M. E. W., Kirsch, A. P., Beal, D. J., Pick, C. M., Al-Shawaf, L., Ambrosio, C., Barbato, M. T., Barry, O., Boonyasiriwat, W., Brandstätter, E., Ceylan-Batur, S., Correa Varella, M. A., Cruz, J. E., David, O., Ngom Dieng, L., Dubois, D., Fernandez, A. M., Galdi, S., Galindo Caballero, O. J., Graf, S., Grossmann, I., Guzman, D., Halama, P., Hamamura, T., Hřebíčková, M., Iuga, I., Javela, L., Jung, J., Karl, J. A., Kim, J. P., Kohút, M., Mafra, A. L., Ndiaye, D. G., Jiaqing, O., Perez Sánchez, B., Unzueta, E. R., Rizwan, M., Sevincer, A. T., Skoog, E., Suh, E. M., Sznycer, D., Thunell, E., Tognetti, A., Uskul, A. K., Valentova, J. V., Wee, Y. N., Lundkvist Winter, A., Young, T. P., Zambrano, D., Ziska, A. & Kenrick, D. T., 01.08.2025, In: PNAS Nexus. 4, 8, 10 p., pgaf239.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Intraspecific Functional Trait Responses to Experimental Warming Vary With Precipitation and Growth Form

    Erkelenz, J., Geange, S. R., Atkinson, J., Anderson, E., Correia, M., Ahler, S. J., Bradler, P., Löwenstein, C. E., Elsy, A., Maré, C., Eshelman, S., Mauki, D., Guclu, C., Eckberg, J., Maitner, B., Gya, R., Töpper, J., Klanderud, K., Enquist, B. J., Michaletz, S. T., Ray, C. A., von Oppen, J., Cubino, J. P., Halbritter, A. H. & Vandvik, V., 01.11.2025, In: Journal of Vegetation Science. 36, 6, 14 p., e70098.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review