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

    Managing increasing environmental risks through agro-biodiversity and agri-environmental policies

    Baumgärtner, S. & Quaas, M. F., 2008, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 28 p. (Working paper series in economics; no. 80).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  2. Published

    Managing Green Business Model Transformations

    Sommer, A., 2012, Heidelberg: Springer Verlag. 398 p. (Sustainable Production, Life Cycle Engineering and Management)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  3. Published

    Managing entrepreneurial and corporate contributions to sustainability transitions

    Schaltegger, S., Loorbach, D. & Hörisch, J., 02.2023, In: Business Strategy and the Environment. 32, 2, p. 891-902 12 p.

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

  4. Published

    Managing Eco-efficiency Development for Sustainability: An Investigation of Top Carbon Polluters in Australia

    Qian, W., Kaur, A. & Schaltegger, S., 2018, Accounting for Sustainability : Asia Pacific Perspectives. Lee, K.-H. & Schaltegger, S. (eds.). Cham: Springer International Publishing, p. 103-124 22 p. (Eco-efficiency in industry and science; vol. 33).

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

  5. Published

    Managing Biodiversity Correctly: Efficient Portfolio Management as an Effective Way of Protecting Species

    Figge, F., 2002, Köln: Gerling Versicherungs-Beteiligungs-AG, 34 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  6. Published

    Managing and Measuring the Business Case for Sustainability: Capturing the Relationship between Sustainability Performance, Business Competitiveness and Economic Performance

    Schaltegger, S. & Wagner, M., 08.09.2017, Managing the Business Case for Sustainability: The Integration of Social, Environmental and Economic Performance. Schaltegger, S. & Wagner, M. (eds.). Sheffield: Greenleaf Publishing, p. 1-27 27 p.

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

  7. Published

    Managing and accounting for corporate biodiversity contributions mapping the field

    Schaltegger, S., Gibassier, D. & Maas, K., 07.2023, In: Business Strategy and the Environment. 32, 5, p. 2544-2553 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Managerial Eco-Control in Manufacturing and Process Industries

    Schaltegger, S. & Sturm, A., 1996, In: Greener Management International. 13, 1, p. 78-91 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Management von Stakeholderbeziehungen mit dem EFQM-Modell: Untersuchung im Rahmen der Erarbeitung einer Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie der ABB Deutschland.

    Albrecht, D., 2008, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 93 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  10. Published

    Management von Ökoeffizienz im Lichte der Unternehmensstrategie

    Schaltegger, S., 2005, Materialeffizienz: Potenziale bewerten, Innovationen fördern, Beschäftigung sichern. Liedtke, C. & Busch, T. (eds.). München: Oekom Verlag, p. 64-72 9 p.

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