By Trine Saaby, Campus Service; Susanne Clement Justesen, AAU Communication and Public Affairs.
Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication and Public Affairs. 
Graphics: Søren Emil Søe Degn, AAU Communication and Public Affairs.

AAU Climate Plan 2030 is the result of a long, but dedicated and participatory process. The plan sets ambitious goals for the university's climate efforts in nine focus areas. The climate plan stems from climate goals and climate accounts.

"I am incredibly pleased that we have now adopted a climate plan that we can be proud of. The plan is ambitious, but also realistic, so let's get the work started so we can achieve our shared goals by 2030," says Søren Lind Christiansen, University Director.

Guiding principles

The university has different roles to play within the nine focus areas consist of the climate footprint that AAU sets. The implementation of the climate plan is therefore based on the following four guiding principles:

1. AAU is part of society
2. It must be easy to be climate-friendly at AAU
3. Our climate actions are based on research
4. AAU is a living lab

"The climate plan is of great importance for our overall reduction of greenhouse gases, and our efforts to maintain AAU's position as a sustainable and climate-friendly university," Søren Lind Christiansen points out.

During the autumn of 2024, the Executive Management will decide on the governance structure that will ensure the anchoring of the climate plan, and there will be ongoing monitoring and follow-up of the planned activities.

Great interest in the climate plan

There has been great interest in the climate plan from a wide range of staff members in the organization. It was discussed by the Executive Management and subsequently qualified by the Strategic Council for Education and the Strategic Council for Research and Innovation.

The working group and the steering committee are pleased that the organization is already in the process of translating the climate plan into action. Part-time master's students in Environmental Studies are writing a project on how biodiversity and trees in AAU's outdoor areas can contribute to a positive climate footprint, and the Department of Health Science and Technology has decided that large quantities of disposable plastic mugs will no longer be purchased. Staff members must bring their own mug.

The work on the climate plan has also meant that the climate goals have been adjusted. Read more on AAU's sustainability site.

Contact

Trine Saaby, sustainability consultant and project manager on the climate plan, can be contacted by phone 93562223 or email trsa@adm.aau.dk