Climate Action


We Take Responsibility for Climate Action

UTN is in a unique situation: newly founded in 2021, we are currently rebuilding the entire university from scratch. We are therefore making strategic decisions today to ensure that the development of our campus, operations, IT, and mobility is climate-friendly. The climate action concept actively contributes to our ambitious and realistic goal of achieving greenhouse gas neutrality by 2040, step by step.

We developed the concept – including the greenhouse gas inventory (in accordance with the internationally recognized Greenhouse Gas Protocol Standard), scenarios, and reduction strategy – between May 2024 and May 2025 in cooperation with the sustainability consulting company plant values. The concept was approved by the Executive Board on June 5, 2025.

PDF-Download Climate Action Concept (German)

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWK)
is funding the project.

Collaborative Participation Process for the Climate Action Concept

Climate action can only succeed if we work together, which is why we developed the concept with many stakeholders from the university—in an open, transparent, and participatory manner. Employees from all areas of the university—from IT, governance, HR, and real estate to students—contributed their ideas in interviews, workshops, and discussions. Together, we calculated emissions, analyzed scenarios, and developed an action plan.

Greenhouse Gas Inventory for 2023 at a Glance

We calculated our greenhouse gas emissions for the first time in 2023. The result: 259 tons of CO₂e (CO₂ equivalent or carbon dioxide equivalent), which corresponds to around 2.2 tons of CO₂e per university member. We use this data as a basis for targeted emission reduction measures.

Greenhouse Gas Inventory According to Scopes

We recorded our emissions in accordance with the GHG Protocol. In this process, we included all mandatory and, for us, significant emission categories in the Scopes. 87% of the total emissions originated from Scope 3 (upstream processes) and 13% originated from Scope 2 (purchased heat and electricity).

Greenhouse Gas Inventory According to Hot Spots

For greater clarity, we summarized the GHG Protocol’s emission categories into four hot spots that we consider relevant. These four hot spots show CO₂e in tons in mobility, procurement, operations, and construction.

Climate Action Scenarios up to 2050

What will happen after 2023? How will UTN emissions develop in the coming decades – with and without targeted climate action measures? To answer this question, we modeled two possible future scenarios, each in 5-year increments up to the year 2050.

The reference scenario shows how much emissions could rise if no targeted climate action measures are taken. This contrasts with the climate action scenario, which shows how emissions can be significantly reduced through strategic and responsible action.

Two paths, one decision: we opt for the climate action scenario – a clear commitment.

Our Climate Goals

In concrete terms, UTN has set clear climate goals: We want to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality in Scope 1 and 2 by 2028 and net zero across all areas by 2040 at the latest. To achieve this, we are focusing on closely linking climate action with research, teaching and learning, administration, and campus development.

Benefits for

our Students

Green campus for learning and living
Help shape the future, direct reference to good practice
Sustainable studying and research

our University

Clear strategic plan
Cost savings
Pioneering role locally, nationally, globally

our Employees

Transparency and clear orientation
Climate action anchored in everyday working life

the Public

Regional Catalyst and Role Model
Open Dialogue
Driving Innovation in the City

Our Activities in 7 Areas of Action

Based on our GHG inventory sheet, we analyzed our hot spots and their expected development until 2050 and broke down our goals into specific measures. In accordance with the requirements of the funding agency, the measures were categorized into the following seven areas of action.

short term: 1 year, medium term: 5 years, long term: more then 5 years

Procurement

Strategic measures

Training courses on sustainable procurement
Develop a list of criteria and guidelines
Record supplier information for transparency

Quick Wins

  • Check the necessity of procurements
  • Use internal exchange channel and eGon platform (non-essential items online)

Operation

Strategic measures

Digital resource monitoring
Zero waste and paper reduction
Implement EMAS environmental management

Quick Wins

  • Worm box for organic waste
  • Standby devices with power strips
  • IT donations for schools/social department stores
  • Energy saving information for university members

Renewable Energy

Strategic measures

additional PV areas
Energy storage and load management
Cooperation for waste and heat recovery

Mobility

Strategic measures

Integrated mobility concept
Subsidized commuter ticket
Zero-emission vehicle fleet
Making business trips climate-friendly

Quick Wins

  • Virtual alternatives to travel
  • E-bikes and bicycles
  • Pedestrian infrastructure
  • Carpooling platform
  • Better bike connections between locations

Campus Infrastructure

Strategic measures

Smart campus with AI automation
Energy-positive flagship building
Sustainable building standard
“Sponge campus”, rainwater harvesting

Quick Wins

  • Flowering meadows
  • Guidelines for circular construction materials

Land and Space Management

Strategic measures

Check demand before new construction
Optimal land use and less sealing
Green campus with landscaping and beekeeping

Quick Wins

  • Consider mobile working
  • Flexible room concepts
  • Ensure efficient use of space

IT

Strategic measures

Sustainable device lifecycle management
Resource-efficient data management
Virtualization instead of dedicated servers

Quick Wins

  • Server cleanup and deletion routines
  • Reduce data waste
  • Green coding
  • Use energy-saving hardware
  • Optimize devices in energy mode/use
  • Make meetings efficient
  • MDM-supported maintenance and updates

From Concept to Practice

Concepts alone are not enough – it is crucial that they are prioritized, implemented, reviewed, and consolidated. That is why we view climate action as a continuous process with clear responsibilities, regular evaluation, and room for further development:

  • Annual GHG accounting
  • Regular review and further development of the climate action concept Interlocking and integration with the sustainability strategy and other concepts
  • Integration into governance and processes

This is how we create structures that work – today, tomorrow, and in the long term. In this way, our climate action concept becomes a living part of our university.

FAQ

Because we now have the opportunity to do everything right from the very beginning: instead of retrofitting later, we integrate sustainability directly – in buildings, processes, IT, teaching, and mobility. This saves emissions, costs, and energy in the long term.

To make the climate impact of different greenhouse gases comparable, the unit CO₂ equivalent was introduced. It expresses how strongly a gas contributes to the greenhouse effect compared to carbon dioxide.

Net zero means that all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions must be removed from the atmosphere through appropriate measures. Only when these emissions are fully offset by natural or technical sinks is the climate inventory net zero.

The climate action concept is part of the emerging sustainability strategy. This ensures that it is not a one-off project, but a lasting compass for the university’s development – scientific, visionary, and practice-oriented.

There were various participation formats to shape climate action together: interviews with staff and students, action workshops, online information events, as well as the opportunity to provide feedback via email or tools like Miro. The exchange within the core climate action team, as well as presentations, discussions, and feedback in the Founding Executive Board and committees, were also part of this participatory process.

In the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, emissions are divided into Scopes to clearly distinguish different sources:
Scope 1: Direct emissions caused by the organization itself, e.g., through its own combustion processes such as boilers, combustion-engine vehicles, or emergency generators.
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heat, or cooling.
Scope 3: All other indirect emissions, e.g., from procurement, mobility, supply chains, or events.

At our university, there are currently no emissions in Scope 1 because there are no direct combustion processes or emissions on campus – we do not heat with fossil fuels on site and do not operate vehicles powered by fossil fuels. Therefore, the direct emissions are zero. At present, our emissions arise from Scope 2 (electricity and heat) and Scope 3 (e.g., mobility, procurement).

If you have any further questions, we will be happy to help you.

  sustainability@utn.de