Manifesto for the Green Way to the University of the Future

We want universities that take the lead. Universities we can be proud of and which create the framework for meaningful everyday life. For us this means sustainable educational institutions and education, which also looks outside the walls and helps to create solutions for the community of which it is a part. Sustainability has environmental, financial and social aspects. This manifesto concerns itself with the environmental aspect. The sustainable university is our end – the Green Way is the means:

The Green Way to CO₂-neutral operation:

• The goal for new buildings is for them to be energy-neutral. Renovation must aim to minimise energy consumption.
• We must combat energy wastage if reorganisation is to succeed. Energy savings must therefore be part and parcel of all operational decisions.
• The universities must insist that their energy suppliers provide sustainable energy. The universities must experiment with their own provision of sustainable energy whenever possible.
• The universities must take care of student and staff mobility and seek to provide sustainable forms of transport.

The Green Way to responsible use of resources:

• Recycling and the sorting of waste demands a special effort. The universities' current consumption of resources must be minimised. This requires sorting and recycling of everything that can be recycled.
• Certain types of sustainable purchase must be controlled by law. The time has come for us to transform words into action. Furthermore, all university purchases must be made with a view to sustainability.
• Canteen food should be purchased in accordance with sustainable principles.

The Green Way to sustainable ideas:

• Sustainability must be integrated into existing courses where relevant. New courses in sustainability must be set up to ensure that those interested can get a recognized education.
• The communication of sustainability-related issues is of prime importance. The students must be given the wherewithal to put their knowledge into practice. It is also important for the universities' researchers to participate in the public debate to make it as qualified as possible.
• Research into sustainability is of fundamental importance as far as the above points are concerned..
• Competent research environments create the sustainable ideas, which need to be taught at the universities and communicated to the world outside.
• The universities create a framework for cross-disciplinary recognition and seek actively to collaborate with commerce and civil society.
• The universities must inspire a sustainable lifestyle among students and staff.

In endorsing the Green Way Manifesto, the signatories express their support for the above points as well as declaring that the nature of the problems requires immediate action.