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. Published

    Der Nachhaltigkeitsprozess der Universität Graz - analysiert durch das Grazer Modell für Integrative Entwicklung

    Mader, C., Mader, M. & Diethart, M., 2011, Nachhaltigkeit - Regionalentwicklung - Tourismus: Festschrift zum 60. Geburtstag von Friedrich M. Zimmermann. Zimmermann, F. (ed.). Graz: Institut für Geographie und Raumforschung, p. 63 - 69 7 p. (Grazer Schriften der Geographie und Raumforschung; vol. 46).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Der Mensch und das Naturverständnis der Humanökologie

    Katz, C., 2004, Naturverständnisse in der Nachhaltigkeitsforschung. Rink, D. & Wächter, M. (eds.). Frankfurt [u.a.]: Campus Verlag, p. 73-102 29 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  3. Published

    Der MBA "Sustainament": das Rüstzeug für den Business Case des Nachhaltigkeitsmanagements

    Schaltegger, S., Petersen, H. & Kalisch, C., 2007, Berufsbild CSR-Manager. Lenzen, E. (ed.). Münster, Westf: Macondo Verlag, p. 30-34 5 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  4. Published

    Der MBA "Sustainament": Das Rüstzeug für den Business Case des Nachhaltigkeitsmanagements

    Schaltegger, S., Petersen, H. & Kalisch, C., 2010, Berufsbild CSR-Manager. Lenzen, E. (ed.). vollst. überarb. u. erw. Neuaufl. ed. Münster: Mediengruppe macondo, p. 186-190 5 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  5. Published
  6. Published

    Der Konflikt zwischen Klima- und Naturschutz bei der energetischen Verwendung von Waldrestholz

    Pietsch, L., 01.2013, In: Natur und Recht. 35, 1, p. 29-32 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Der Kompass "Nachhaltiger Konsum"

    Fischer, D., 2011, Bildungsinstitutionen und nachhaltiger Konsum (Handreichung): Nachhaltigen Konsum fördern und Schulen verändern. Michelsen, G. & Nemnich, C. (eds.). Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, 24 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesTransfer

  8. Published

    Der Kohlenstoffkreislauf im Klimawandel

    Niebert, K., 2009, In: Unterricht Biologie. 33, 349, p. 34-40 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesEducationpeer-review

  9. Published

    Der Handabdruck: Ein Ansatz zur Messung positiver Nachhaltigkeitswirkung von Produkten. Stand und Ausblick: Arbeitspapier Nr. 2 im Rahmen des Projekts "Der Handabdruck: ein komplementäres Maß positiver Nachhaltigkeitswirkung von Produkten"

    Beckmann, J., Eberle, U., Eisenhauer, P., Hahn, R., Hermann, C., Kühnen, M., Schaltegger, S., Schmid, M. & Silva, S. L., 2017, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 28 p. (Arbeitspapier Handabdruck; no. 2).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  10. Published

    Der Gold Standard als Garant für die Nachhaltigkeit von CDM-Projekten in Entwicklungsländern?

    Guerra González, J. & Schomerus, T., 2010, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, 25 p. (Wirtschaft & Recht; no. 5).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers