Our contribution to a better future
Sustainability and climate positivity
As one of the few universities in Germany, the SRH University in North Rhine-Westphalia has now received the "Climate Positive" seal. The prerequisite for certification were concrete measures to avoid climate-damaging emissions based on a detailed survey to determine the CO2 footprint.
Climate positive university
In order to achieve the certified climate positivity, the CO2 footprint of the university team was included in the evaluation, and this goal was achieved by supporting projects that target corresponding CO2 savings. The goal and concern of the university is, in addition to the pure implementation of compensation measures, also to take specific measures to improve the overall CO2 footprint, among other things. The climate seal implemented with the project flanks a series of measures at our university and is just the beginning of a comprehensive sustainability strategy.
For a sustainable life
The university has decided to support projects that, in addition to future-oriented sustainability effects, also result in optimizations in workplace design and creation. Project-related, the university is now initially investing in the areas of forest reforestation, green wind energy and job creation.
SRH is committed to moor conservation
In autumn 2021, the SRH University in North Rhine-Westphalia started its sustainability strategy under the name "orange but green". Through an evaluation of the CO2 footprint of the workforce and through the support of two sustainability projects in India and Peru, the university was one of the few universities in Germany to achieve the status "climate positive". The SRH has now identified another project that it supports and is involved in the moor renaturation in the natural area of the Diepholz moor lowland. "We made a conscious decision to also become active regionally as a university," says Dr. Jane Gleißberg, responsible for the sustainability strategy at the SRH. Peat soils cover an area of 14,190 km² in Germany, but around 95% of these areas have been drained and destroyed. With the destruction of the moors, many characteristic animal species lose their habitat, so that most moor species are endangered or even threatened with extinction. The SRH would like to support this with its commitment and has therefore secured a 240 m² moor area, which means that the supervising Bergwaldprojekt e.V. can now maintain and renature this area for the preservation of countless animal species and for storing carbon dioxide. “Many people may not be aware of the importance of moors, but they are of great importance for water retention and climate protection. In addition, they are important carbon reservoirs and important for the diversity of species and habitats," concludes Gleißberg.
Project III: BeeFuture
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Bee part of it!
A further project, the SRH made itself available as a sponsor of a bee colony. Bees are the backbone of our ecosystem. More than 80% of native flowering plants depend on pollination. A third of global food production depends on bees and other insects. This is where beefuture comes in. The mission: to save the bee. Beefuture operates sustainable nature and environmental protection with the help of companies and their investments in bee colonies. The SRH University supports this project.
Impressions of the arriving of the bees
The first harvest in July 2022
These projects are just the beginning of making a contribution to social, ecological and economic sustainability as part of our corporate social responsibility.
Peru
Here we reforest the rainforest
India
Here we are expanding wind energy
Germany
Here we reduce our CO² footprint
Outlook
Always one step ahead
The topic of "sustainability" is a central topic in the strategic orientation of the university. Therefore, it should not stop with the projects mentioned above and their support. The university has already initiated further measures for climate and environmental protection. In addition to our commitment to corresponding climate projects as part of the certification, it is important for us to implement specific projects at the university and ideally with the involvement of our students. The "Applied Sustainability Sciences M.Sc." was created specifically for this topic.