News

06/25/2026

Albertus Magnus Professorship 2026: Johan Rockström as guest at the University of Cologne

As part of the 2026 Albertus Magnus Professorship, the University of Cologne will welcome the renowned Earth system scientist Professor Dr. Johan Rockström. With his professorships in Potsdam and Stockholm, as well as his roles as founder of the Stockholm Resilience Center and director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, he is one of the most influential voices in international…

06/25/2026

Controversial Philosophy: Lecture on Climate Change and Responsibility on July 6

Under the title »Klimawandel und Verantwortung«, the “Philosophie kontrovers” event series will conclude this semester’s final session on July 6, 2026. The lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. in Lecture Hall VII of the Main Building at the University of Cologne. The speaker is Professor Dr. Dr. Frauke Rostalski from the Chair of Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Philosophy of Law, and Comparative Law at…

06/18/2026

Will Germany Miss Its Climate Targets? The Scientific Perspective of the Expert Council on Climate Change with Prof. Dr. Marc Oliver Bettzüge

The German Expert Council on Climate Change has concluded that Germany is likely to miss its climate targets and that the federal government's current measures are insufficient to meet the legally defined goals for 2030 and beyond.

But how can policymakers balance the challenge of achieving ambitious climate targets while safeguarding economic interests? How are scientific findings incorporated…

06/11/2026

Start of the Application Phase for Focus Theme Program 2 “Resilience”

The application phase for the second funded Focus Theme Program, “Resilience,” has officially begun.

From July 2026 to March 2027, all members of the University of Cologne will have the opportunity to engage with the topic of resilience in an interdisciplinary and co-creative setting and to develop project ideas aimed at advancing teaching and learning.

At the heart of the focus theme…

05/15/2026

STADTRADELN 2026: Call for Participation in the University Team

From 10 to 30 June 2026, the University of Cologne will once again take part in the nationwide STADTRADELN campaign. Together with the City of Cologne, students and employees are sending a strong signal in support of climate-friendly mobility. The aim of the campaign is to cover as many journeys as possible by bicycle and to collect kilometres for climate protection.

All members of the university…

04/27/2026

Research group led by Dr. Tomo Saric receives the University Sustainability Award 2025

At the University of Cologne, outstanding achievements were recognized across several categories as part of this year’s University Awards. A particular focus was placed on sustainability.

The award in this category was presented to the Sustainability Working Group of the Faculty of Medicine, led by Dr Tomo Saric, Faculty Representative for Sustainability. The recognition highlights the…

04/20/2026

Diverse Program: “Summer of Sustainability 2026” at the University of Cologne

With the “Summer of Sustainability 2026,” the University of Cologne invites participants to explore sustainability from a variety of perspectives. The initiative comprises a wide range of activities and events aligned with the central fields of action of the university’s sustainability strategy: research, teaching, learning and education, as well as transfer and campus life.

As part of a broad…

04/17/2026

NRW Universities Publish First Joint Greenhouse Gas Inventory

The University of Cologne, together with 29 other public universities in North Rhine-Westphalia, has compiled a joint greenhouse gas inventory for the first time. The project was carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the State Agency for Nature, Environment and Climate North…

04/16/2026

New Carpooling Platform for the University of Cologne

The University of Cologne provides “PENDLA”, a platform for arranging carpooling among students and staff. The aim is to make commuting more efficient and environmentally friendly while also reducing costs. 

Users can find suitable ride-sharing options free of charge or offer their own trips. This helps to better coordinate travel and make more efficient use of existing road capacity.

For the…

04/14/2026

Planetary Health Diet: Nutrition that supports us and the planet

As part of the “Summer of Sustainability,” the Gesunde Uni Köln invites participants to a workshop on the Planetary Health Diet—an approach to eating that benefits both personal health and the planet. Under the title “Nutrition that supports us and the planet,” attendees will receive an accessible overview of the recommendations of the EAT-Lancet Commission and learn how principles such as “more…