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

    Corporate Sustainability in International Comparison: State of Practice, Opportunities and Challenges

    Schaltegger, S. (Editor), Windolph, S. E. (Editor), Harms, D. (Editor) & Hörisch, J. (Editor), 2014, Cham: Springer International Publishing AG. 255 p. (Eco-Efficiency in Industry and Science; vol. 31)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  2. Published
  3. Published

    Corporate Sustainability Barometer 2010: Wie nachhaltig agieren Unternehmen in Deutschland?

    Schaltegger, S., Windolph, S. E. & Harms, D., 2010, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 84 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  4. Published

    Corporate Sustainability Accounting: Beyond Unfreezing

    Zvezdov, D., 2012, In: Journal of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Accountability. 18, 3, p. 181-198 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Corporate Sustainability Accounting: A Catchphrase for Compliant Corporations or a Business Decision Support for Sustainability Leaders

    Schaltegger, S. & Burritt, R., 2006, Sustainability accounting and reporting. Schaltegger, S., Bennett, M. & Burritt, R. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer Science+Business Media, p. 37-59 23 p. (Eco-Efficiency in industry and science; vol. 21).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  6. Published

    Corporate Sustainability Accounting: A Nightmare or a Dream Coming True?

    Schaltegger, S. & Burritt, R. L., 09.2006, In: Business Strategy and the Environment. 15, 5, p. 293-295 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Corporate Sustainability

    Schaltegger, S. & Burritt, R., 2005, The International Yearbook of Environmental and Resource Economics 2005/2006: A Survey of Current Issues. Folmer, H. & Tietenberg, T. (eds.). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 185-222 38 p. (New Horizons in Environmental Economics ).

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

  8. Published

    Corporate Social Responsibility und Corporate Sustainability - gesellschafts- und zukunftsfähig durch Nachhaltigkeitsmarketing

    Petersen, H. & Schaltegger, S., 2016, Die 10 wichtigsten Zukunftsthemen im Marketing. Stumpf, M. (ed.). Freiburg: Haufe Mediengruppe, p. 81-117 37 p.

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

  9. Published
  10. Published

    Corporate Social Responsibility: Trend oder Modeerscheinung

    Müller, M. (Editor) & Schaltegger, S. (Editor), 2008, München: oekom verlag GmbH. 262 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch