Sustainability management at Freie Universität Berlin follows a holistic approach, which encompasses the entire university. We strive to continuously increase sustainability in teaching and research, on campus, in administration, and in collaborations with external stakeholders.

The Sustainability Mission Statement, adopted in 2016, is the starting point for the systematic implementation of our sustainability goals. As early as 2011, Freie Universität Berlin became the first university in Berlin to enter into a climate protection agreement with the State of Berlin, which was extended in 2018. As an international network university, we consider ourselves as a modern, cosmopolitan university and as a platform for diverse cultures. To us, gender equality and diversity are important aspects of social sustainability. International collaborations, moreover, are a self-evident aspect of sustainability management.

With the Climate Emergency Declaration in December 2019, Freie Universität took on a pioneering role in the German university landscape. In the international context, we are part of a growing community of over 1,100 universities that have taken a similar step. This awareness of the international context of our activities strengthens our motivation to consistently advance these measures. The discussion of climate neutrality is also increasingly shaping the discourse within and between German universities.

The Climate Emergency Declaration provides clarity and reliability. It remains a fundamental basis for our work at the Sustainability & Energy Department. It also reinforces our understanding of connecting stakeholders in various areas of our university and embedding sustainability systemically and culturally. The strategic advantage of the sustainability theme is that it resonates almost everywhere at the university, capturing interest and attention.