Jump to content
HomeAbout AAUProfileSustainability

AAU Climate Plan

AAU Climate Plan

AAU's Climate Plan 2030 focuses on reducing the university's climate footprint within nine focus areas. The first three relate to the university's handprint, where we want to create a positive imprint through our degree programs, research and behavior. The last six relate to the university's footprint, where we want to reduce the climate footprint of our operations, travel and procurement, among other things.

AAU Climate Plan

AAU's Climate Plan 2030 focuses on reducing the university's climate footprint within nine focus areas. The first three relate to the university's handprint, where we want to create a positive imprint through our degree programs, research and behavior. The last six relate to the university's footprint, where we want to reduce the climate footprint of our operations, travel and procurement, among other things.

AAU's Climate Plan 2030 sets the direction and framework for the university's work to reduce its climate footprint by 2030.

In its work on the climate plan, the university will therefore focus on organisational anchoring and implementation, further development of goals, methods and actions, as well as continuous evaluation and improvement. The implementation of the climate plan rests on four fundamental principles:

  1. AAU as part of society
    AAU will do our part to ensure that society moves towards a sustainable and climate-neutral future.
  2. It must be easy to be climate-friendly
    The climate-friendly choice must be visible in the day-to-day life of students, staff and guests at AAU. At the same time, the university will work to break down inappropriate structures and processes that hinder climate-friendly choices.
  3. Research-based climate action
    Research environments must be involved and engaged in the development and implementation of climate action.
  4. AAU as a living lab
    The university's facilities, processes and data are made available to staff and students to develop the testing of new sustainable ideas and solutions.

The handprint is where AAU can improve society's opportunities for action through knowledge and innovation. In addition, the handprint is also about influencing attitudes to and knowledge about climate change through education, research, collaboration, as well as internal and external behaviour and engagement. Here, the focus is on creating a positive impact through the university's core tasks. The handprint is therefore not directly measurable but will be assessed qualitatively.

The footprint is the areas where AAU leaves a climate footprint in the form of, among other things, business travel, operation of the campus, procurement of goods and services, waste management, etc. AAU wants to reduce its footprint through efficiency, innovation, new thinking and behavioural changes. The climate footprint of AAU's footprint is calculated annually in the climate accounts.

The nine focus areas

The climate plan sets out objectives and sub-goals for each of the three handprints and six footprints, as well as several proposals for activities that can support the achievement of the goals. The specific activities will be developed and unfolded as action plans are developed for the individual areas.

Each focus area is presented below.

The nine focus areas
The nine focus areas

Climate plan 2023

AAU Climate plan 2030 (EN)

AAU Klimaplan 2030 (DK)

Contact

Do you have questions about the climate plan?

Contact us by email: klimaplan@aau.dk