Department for Tackling the Climate Crisis
The University of Hamburg and the climate crisis.
On the one hand, there is outstanding climate research and genuine expertise; on the other hand, there are 60,000 tons of CO2 that are emitted here every year. Expensive buildings in poor structural condition, our own combined heat and power plant that burns natural gas, electricity and heat from gas and coal and not a single (connected) solar system - some call this a double standard, because the situation could not be more urgent.
The climate crisis is the major problem of our time. It is already destroying habitats, robbing people of their livelihoods and will have a major impact on all our lives in the years and decades to come. Tackling the climate crisis is probably the greatest challenge that humanity has ever faced. In order for us to have a chance of mastering this enormous task, all social actors at political, economic and academic level are called upon to make their contribution - and Universität Hamburg in particular. It is a pioneer in science and research, but lags behind in climate protection.
So what does the Department for Tackling the Climate Crisis do?
As the Department for Overcoming the Climate Crisis, we are the first student point of contact for all climate policy issues and matters relating to Universität Hamburg. We are committed to ensuring that the University does its part to leave a planet worth living on for future generations. This requires a university that criticizes and questions, aligns the content of education and research with societal challenges and disseminates its findings to society. One of our goals is therefore to integrate the topics of ecological sustainability, climate protection and environmental protection into all departments.
We work productively in all university committees and are working hard to make the university climate-neutral, because the best research approaches and alternative solution models are gathering dust in a drawer instead of helping to tackle the climate crisis. In order for scientific findings to be translated into concrete political action, we need a self-confident university that participates in society. The Department for Tackling the Climate Crisis will therefore work to ensure that the university finally lives up to its social responsibility and role model function. From knowledge to action!
At the same time, we always have an open ear for you! If you have any suggestions for projects or topics, would like to get actively involved in the climate protection movement or simply need a place where you can get your questions, wishes, fears or worries about climate issues off your chest, please get in touch with us at any time!
Ash Brandt
Officer of the Department for Tackling the Climate Crisis
ash.brandt"AT"asta.uni-hamburg.de