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. Research communication reports › Research
  2. Published

    Betriebliches Nachhaltigkeitsbarometer Niedersachsen 2024: Einblicke in Nachhaltigkeit und Klimaschutz in der niedersächsischen Wirtschaft

    Hartmann, E., Wilkens, M. & Heinrichs, H., 20.11.2024, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, 42 p. (Schriftenreihe Nachhaltigkeit, Politik, Gesellschaft; no. 7).

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  3. Published

    Der gestaltende Staat im Kontext gesellschaftlichen Wandels: Herausforderungen und Gestaltungsansätze für Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien und -politiken

    Heinrichs, H., 11.2017, Dessau: Umweltbundesamt, 58 p. (Texte; no. 107/2017)(Für Mensch & Umwelt).

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  4. Published

    Educating Future Change Agents: Research instruments applied in case studies on Teacher Education for Sustainable Development

    Brandt, J.-O., Bürgener, L., Redman, A. & Barth, M., 2020, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, 45 p.

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  5. Published

    Förderung von Mehrwegverpackungssystemen zur Verringerung des Verpackungsverbrauchs: Mögliche Maßnahmen zur Etablierung, Verbreitung und Optimierung von Mehrwegsystemen

    Rödig, L., Jepsen, D., Falkenstein, A., Zimmermann, T., Hauschke, F., Cayé, N., Schüler, K., Burger, A., Schomerus, T., Jacobj, H., Heckel, F., Gödde, J.-P., Seying, N. & Oppermann, A., 05.2025, Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt, 338 p. (Texte/Umweltbundesamt; vol. 2025, no. 61).

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  6. Published

    Förderung von Mehrwegverpackungssystemen zur Verringerung des Verpackungsverbrauchs – Mögliche Maßnahmen zur Etablierung, Verbreitung und Optimierung von Mehrwegsystemen: Teilbericht I

    Rödig, L., Jepsen, D., Falkenstein, A., Zimmermann, T., Hauschke, F., Cayé, N., Schüler, K., Burger, A., Schomerus, T. & Jacobj, H., 12.2022, Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt, 247 p. (Texte/Umweltbundesamt; vol. 148).

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  7. Published

    Innovationsverbund Nachhaltige Smartphones: Ergebnisdokumentation Workshop I - "Nachhaltige Produktdesigns und Lieferkette"

    Hansen, E. G., Weber, U. & Schaltegger, S., 2016, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 30 p.

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  8. Published

    Innovationsverbund Nachhaltige Smartphones: Ergebnisdokumentation Workshop II "Vom Gerät zur Lösung: Produkt-Service Systeme als Basis nachhaltiger Nutzungssysteme"

    Hansen, E. G., Weber, U., Schaltegger, S. & Zufall, J., 2017, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 34 p.

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  9. Published

    Innovationsverbund Nachhaltige Smartphones: Ergebnisdokumentation Workshop III - "Endgeräte als Materialdatenbanken: Wie Altgeräte für die Wertschöpfung erhalten bleiben"

    Hansen, E. G., Eggers, A.-C., Weber, U., Revellio, F. P., Schaltegger, S., Zufall, J. & Norris, S., 2017, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 29 p.

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  10. Published

    Kommunales Nachhaltigkeitsbarometer Niedersachsen 2024: Eine Erhebung zum Stand von Nachhaltigkeit in niedersächsischen Landkreisen, Städten und Gemeinden

    Redenius, P. & Heinrichs, H., 17.12.2024, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, 36 p. (Schriftenreihe Nachhaltigkeit, Politik, Gesellschaft; no. 8).

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  11. Published

    Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien erfolgreich entwickeln: Grundlagen, Analysen und Gestaltungsoptionen

    Heinrichs, H. & Laws, N., 2015, Gütersloh: WBV Bertelsmann Verlag, 214 p.

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch