Environment and sustainability
The University of Gothenburg is actively involved in environmental and sustainability efforts as part of its research, education, collaboration, and daily operations. As a student, you have numerous opportunities to engage in the University's sustainability initiatives.
Study environment
This page is about the University's work on environmental and sustainability matters. You can also read about what applies to your study environment.
Get involved during your study period
As a student, you have many opportunities to engage in the University's sustainability efforts.
Reporting
You can report any issues that hinder the university's environmental goals from being achieved or cases where environmental laws, regulations, or policies are not being followed.
You can report or make suggestions through the IA system
Student Influence
Within the student unions at the University of Gothenburg, there is active work on sustainability where you, as a student, can contribute and get involved. Contact the respective union or student union association for more information. You can also become a student representative in one of the councils or bodies at the university that address sustainable development. These student representatives are appointed by the respective student union or student union association.
Student Unions and Associations at the University of Gothenburg
Sustainable development is a part of our vision
Sustainability is part of our vision and an integrated part of our research, education, collaboration, and daily operations. We strive to further develop and strengthen our sustainability efforts, increasing our relevance as a societal actor and partner, thus contributing to Agenda 2030 and the global goals for sustainable development, encompassing economic, social, and ecological dimensions.
We are certified according to the international standard for environmental management system ISO 14001 and registered under the EU equivalent EMAS. We actively work to reduce the University’s climate impact.
Please watch our films on
Sustainability at the University of Gothenburg
Sustainability-labeled programmes
Every fifth course and nearly every fourth program offered at the University of Gothenburg is sustainability-labeled. Our sustainability labeling is based on criteria that reflect the multidimensional concept of sustainable development.
Further information about our efforts can be found on the Sustainable Development page on gu.se.
GUSTA: The University of Gothenburg's Sustainability Essay Prize
GUSTA, the University of Gothenburg's Sustainability Essay Prize, recognizes and awards prizes to outstanding essays written on topics related to sustainable development at the University of Gothenburg. The prize aims to motivate students to critically engage with sustainability issues and seek more knowledge towards a sustainable world. The project is open to all bachelor's, master's, and doctoral students in all programs at the university.
The winners are selected by a scientific committee consisting of eight professors from eight different faculties at the University of Gothenburg. Some of the evaluation criteria include: comprehensive integration of various dimensions of sustainable development, originality, critical thinking, and contribution to current knowledge in sustainable development.
Call for application - Sustainability Thesis Award – GUSTA 2025
The application for GUSTA 2025 is now open.
2024 award, recipients and motivations
Angela Raji, whose Master's thesis is a critical and well-argued exploration of sustainability in architectural education, with a particular focus on environmental ethics and the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study highlights architectural education in the Swedish context as a field ripe for transformative contributions. The work is a valuable addition to the discourse on sustainability and education.
Shani Anuradha's Master's thesis is an outstanding examination of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), which critiques epistemic injustice while firmly positioning itself within sustainability debates and the context of the SDGs and global challenges. Shani’s holistic approach offers critical and original insights into social injustice within ESD.
Shalala Hasanova's Master's dissertation addresses critical aspects of sustainability in food production and food security. The focus is on how wheat strains with both salt tolerance and high nitrogen use efficiency can be identified through advanced crop breeding and molecular techniques to support sustainable agriculture.
Cecilia Axelsson's Master's thesis is a high-quality and well-written mapping of the conflicts and synergies between offshore wind farms and local fish stocks – two critical natural resources for fossil-free energy production and food supply. With its thoughtful discussion and robust methodology, the work holds strong relevance for sustainability research and practice.
Joséphine Perini Stefansson's work demonstrates exceptional quality, as she uses participatory and design methods to address complex issues of well-being and belonging among migrant teenagers in Angered, Gothenburg. The study reflects original thinking, thorough research, and a beautifully presented narrative.
