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

    Ecological assessment of forest management approaches to develop resilient forests in the face of global change in Central Europe

    Huth, F., Tischer, A., Nikolova, P., Feldhaar, H., Wehnert, A., Hülsmann, L., Bauhus, J., Heer, K., Vogt, J., Ammer, C., Berger, U., Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Böhme, M., Bugmann, H., Demant, L., Buse, J., Dörfler, I., Ewald, J., Feldmann, E., Fichtner, A., Gossner, M. M., Grams, T. E. E., Häberle, K.-H., Hagge, J., Hartmann, H., Herzog, S., Kahmen, A., Kohnle, U., Krabel, D., Krämer-Klement, K., Kreyling, J., Manthey, M., Mellert, K., Meyer, P., Mölder, A., Muffler-Weigel, L., Ohse, B., Opgenoorth, L., Rewald, B., Rothe, A., Ruehr, N., Scharnweber, T., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Schmeddes, J., Schmerbeck, J., Schmidt, M., Seidel, D., Thomas, F. M., Tiebel, M., von Oheimb, G., Wagner, S., Weigel, R., Wilmking, M., Zang, C. & Schuldt, B., 08.2025, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 86, p. 66-100 35 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  2. Published

    Eco-Innovation in SMEs: An In-Depth Case Analysis of Transforming SMEs through Effective Partnerships

    Klewitz, J. & Hansen, E. G., 2012, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 47 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  3. Published

    Eco-Efficiency in Corporate Budgeting

    Burritt, R. & Schaltegger, S., 01.05.2001, In: Environmental Management and Health. 12, 2, p. 158-174 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Eco-Efficiency in Corporate Budgeting

    Burritt, R. & Schaltegger, S., 2001, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 29 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  5. Published

    Eco-Efficiency by Eco-Controlling: On the Implementation of EMAS and ISO 14001

    Schaltegger, S. & Sturm, A., 1998, Zürich: vdf Hochschulverlag an der ETH Zürich. 163 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  6. Published

    Eco-Efficiency: Combining Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Costs via Normalization

    Kicherer, A., Schaltegger, S., Tschochohei, H. & Pozo, B. F., 11.2007, In: The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 12, 7, p. 537-543 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Eco-Design

    Petersen, H., 2015, Nachhaltige Unternehmensentwicklung im Mittelstand: Mit Innovationskraft zukunftsfähig wirtschaften. Petersen, H. & Schaltegger, S. (eds.). München: Oekom Verlag, p. 109-126 18 p.

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

  8. Published
  9. Published

    Eco-Controlling for Environmental Management

    Sturm, A. & Schaltegger, S., 1997, In: Asia Pacific Tech Monitor. 14, March/April, p. 14-26

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Eco-Controlling for Environmental Management: An Environmental Management Tool to Implement Current Environmental Management Standards - ISO 14001, BS 7750, EMAS

    Sturm, A. & Schaltegger, S., 1995, Proceedings of Seminar on Environmentalist Business Management. Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT), p. 23-47 25 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch