University Potsdam
Environmental research and climate neutrality
Teaching and research at the University of Potsdam are concerned with questions of sustainability and climate change in several different fields. The environmental sciences and Earth sciences examine the interactions between the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the interdependencies in the Earth system and the anthropogenic influences on this system. Graduate programs undertake research on biodiversity, natural hazards and stress-resistant crops. Economics and the social sciences are concerned with sustainability issues and with supporting the transfer of results from climate and environmental research to politics and society. Additionally, ultra-modern data processing methods enable modeling and the generation of prognoses for the future. Climate protection is also an operative objective of the University of Potsdam, which has a climate protection plan in place that sees the university achieving significant reductions in its CO2 emissions and becoming climate-neutral by 2050. Fields of action have been identified, especially in the areas of buildings, energy efficiency, renewable power sources, green IT, catering, mobility, procurement, and waste disposal.