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 change agents for sustainability: Transforming organizations from the inside out

    Schaltegger, S., Girschik, V., Trittin-Ulbrich, H., Weissbrod, I. & Daudigeos, T., 04.2024, In: Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility. 33, 2, p. 145-156 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Corporate Carbon and Climate Change Accounting: Application, Developments and Issues

    Schaltegger, S., Zvezdov, D., Günther, E., Csutora, M. & Alvarez, I., 2015, Corporate Carbon and Climate Accounting. Schaltegger, S., Zvezdov, D., Alvarez Etxeberria, I. & Günther, E. (eds.). Cham: Springer, p. 1-25 25 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  3. Published

    Corporate Carbon and Climate Accounting

    Schaltegger, S. (Editor), Zvezdov, D. (Editor), Álvarez-Etxeberria, I. (Editor), Csutora, M. (Editor) & Günther, E. (Editor), 2015, Cham: Springer. 257 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  4. Published

    Corporate Biodiversity Management Handbook: A Guide for Practical Implementation

    Schaltegger, S. & Beständig, U., 2010, Berlin: Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit. 64 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  5. Published

    Corporate and entrepreneurial contributions to sustainability transitions

    Schaltegger, S., Hörisch, J. & Loorbach, D., 01.03.2020, In: Business Strategy and the Environment. 29, 3, p. 1617-1618 2 p.

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

  6. Published

    Coronabezogene Zukunftsangst bei Grundschulkindern im Verlauf von 8 Monaten der Pandemie

    Voltmer, K. & von Salisch, M., 23.05.2023, In: Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie. 72, 4, p. 305-322 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Co-productive agility and four collaborative pathways to sustainability transformations

    Chambers, J. M., Wyborn, C., Klenk, N. L., Ryan, M., Serban, A., Bennett, N. J., Brennan, R., Charli-Joseph, L., Fernández-Giménez, M. E., Galvin, K. A., Goldstein, B. E., Haller, T., Hill, R., Munera, C., Nel, J. L., Österblom, H., Reid, R. S., Riechers, M., Spierenburg, M., Tengö, M., Bennett, E., Brandeis, A., Chatterton, P., Cockburn, J. J., Cvitanovic, C., Dumrongrojwatthana, P., Paz Durán, A., Gerber, J. D., Green, J. M. H., Gruby, R., Guerrero, A. M., Horcea-Milcu, A. I., Montana, J., Steyaert, P., Zaehringer, J. G., Bednarek, A. T., Curran, K., Fada, S. J., Hutton, J., Leimona, B., Pickering, T. & Rondeau, R., 01.01.2022, In: Global Environmental Change. 72, 17 p., 102422.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Co-production of nature's contributions to people: What evidence is out there?

    Kachler, J., Isaac, R., Martín-López, B., Bonn, A. & Felipe-Lucia, M. R., 01.08.2023, In: People and Nature. 5, 4, p. 1119-1134 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. Published

    COPERNICUS in Lüneburg: Higher Education in the Context of Sustainable Development and Globalization

    Michelsen, G. (Editor), van Dam-Mieras, R. (Editor) & Winkelmann, H. P. (Editor), 01.09.2002, Frankfurt am Main: Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 253 p. (Innovation in den Hochschulen: Nachhaltige Entwickliung; vol. 8)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  10. Published

    Cooperating With “Open Cards”—The Role of Small Intermediary Businesses in Realizing Sustainable International Coffee Supply

    Weber, H. & Wiek, A., 15.07.2021, In: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 5, 14 p., 663716.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review