Climate protection concept of the University of Cologne
The University of Cologne has acquired federal funding to create an integrated climate protection concept with climate protection management (initial project). The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) is funding the project with around 150,000 euros from February 2026 to January 2028 as part of its National Climate Protection Initiative. The university is investing around 60,000 euros, or 30 percent of the total amount, itself.
The project provides for the development and implementation of a comprehensive climate protection concept for the university, including a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the energy, mobility, material consumption and property sectors; this also includes the active promotion of climate-friendly practices on campus.
Since the application was submitted, the university has already made progress in reducing climate-damaging emissions as part of its sustainability strategy: for example, it has installed photovoltaic systems and promoted environmentally friendly travel to campus by building a bicycle garage. As part of the climate protection concept, the university is initially drawing up a greenhouse gas balance sheet and a potential analysis to identify the areas - including infrastructure and building management, mobility, procurement and nutrition as well as research and teaching - in which emissions can be reduced more effectively. Based on this, it develops an implementation strategy and a catalog of measures.
Duration of the project: 01.02.2026 - 31.01.2028
Project title: KSI: Creation of an integrated climate protection concept with climate protection management for the University of Cologne - initial project
Funding reference: 67K30426
About the National Climate Initiative
With the National Climate Initiative, the German government has been initiating and funding numerous projects that contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions since 2008. Its programs and projects cover a broad spectrum of climate protection activities: from the development of long-term strategies to concrete assistance and investment support measures. This diversity is a guarantee for good ideas. The National Climate Initiative helps to anchor climate protection on the ground. It benefits consumers as well as companies, local authorities and educational institutions.
Our ideas mailbox for climate protection
As part of the project funded by the National Climate Initiative (NKI) to develop an integrated climate protection concept for the University of Cologne, your ideas are also in demand!
Do you have specific suggestions on how we can further advance climate protection at the university? Then you are welcome to take part in our ideas mailbox.
Whether on campus, in teaching and studies, in research, in transfer or in everyday university life - your perspectives and experiences are valuable. Your suggestions will help us to identify relevant fields of action and develop effective measures for a sustainable climate protection concept.
All suggestions received will be carefully examined. We will be happy to contact you if there are any queries or if a further exchange is useful.
Thank you for your support and your commitment to climate protection at the University of Cologne!
Contact person
Department 14 - Sustainability
Martin Speer
Climate Protection Management
Tel.: +49 221 470 90217
m.speer(at)verw.uni-koeln(dot)de