News

09/30/2026

Application period for the EUniWell course program open until October 4

The application period for the current EUniWell course program remains open until October 4, 2026, and offers international learning opportunities on a variety of topics. The program also includes courses related to sustainability and sustainable development that combine diverse academic and practice-oriented perspectives.

Among the offerings is the “LUMOMAT: Light-Matter Interactions” Winter…

09/16/2026

Climate Festival Cologne 2026: Discover sustainability in your own city

From September 21 to 27, 2026, the Cologne Climate Festival will take place with numerous events focusing on climate action in Cologne. Throughout the week, guided tours, workshops, talks, and other formats invite participants to explore new perspectives on climate action and sustainability, exchange ideas, and develop their own ideas. The University of Cologne is also contributing to the program…

09/10/2026

A climate coalition for heavy industry

An international research team involving Professor Axel Ockenfels from the University of Cologne proposes an international climate coalition for particularly emissions-intensive industries. The initiative focuses on steel, aluminium, cement and fertiliser production, which together account for a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions.

At the core of the proposal are a common minimum…

09/02/2026

Fair Trade International Symposium 2026: Opening Panel on September 23

On September 23, 2026, the panel “Trade and Just Sustainability Transitions between Global Dynamics and Local Contexts,” organized by the Sustainability Research Hub at the University of Cologne, will open the Fair Trade International Symposium (FTIS) 2026. The panel will focus on the impact of global trade dynamics on local sustainability transitions, as well as on how trade-related governance…

08/31/2026

University of Cologne sets new record in STADTRADELN campaign 2026

The University of Cologne once again took part in the STADTRADELN campaign this year, continuing its commitment to climate-friendly mobility. This marked the University’s third participation in the nationwide competition. During the campaign period from 10 to 30 June 2026, almost 400 staff members and students cycled more than 62,000 kilometres together – around 5,000 kilometres more than in the…

08/31/2026

Lecture on 3 September: From Climate Science to Action

On 3 September 2026, meteorologist, climate researcher and astronaut candidate Insa Thiele-Eich will give a lecture entitled “Time to Act – Changing Course on Spaceship Earth” as part of the “Sustainability Days 2026” organized by the Sustainability Working Group of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Cologne. The lecture will explore how scientific findings on climate change can be…

08/31/2026

Climate Innovation Forum on 16 September: “The Future of Energy Systems”

On 16 September 2026, the “Climate Innovation Forum: The Future of Energy Systems” will bring together start-ups, researchers and representatives from the energy sector. The event will focus on how innovation, digitalization and artificial intelligence can help advance the energy transition and shape the energy systems of the future.

In two keynote presentations, Hendrik Sämisch, entrepreneur and…

08/24/2026

Open-air event “Sustainability Days 2026” on September 9 and 10

This year, the “Sustainability Days” will once again take place on the biomedical campus on September 9 and 10, 2026. The multi-day open-air event is organized by the Sustainability Working Group of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Cologne and, together with numerous initiatives, highlights the diverse sustainability efforts on campus and in the region. The program includes lectures,…

08/18/2026

Cologne Climate Lab: Action day showcases solutions to urban heat

At the “Climate Lab Cologne” action day on August 21, researchers and students will present current research findings on climate adaptation in Cologne’s city centre at Wallrafplatz from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Using Hohe Straße as an example, they will demonstrate how measures such as shading, green façades and water misting can help reduce heat stress in densely built-up urban areas.

The research…

08/18/2026

Researchers measure air quality over North Rhine-Westphalia using a zeppelin

Scientists from the University of Cologne and Forschungszentrum Jülich are using a Zeppelin to investigate air quality over North Rhine-Westphalia. Their research focuses on volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are emitted by forests and urban areas, among other sources, and can contribute to the formation of particles in the atmosphere that affect both the climate and air quality.

Among…