Sustainable development at Uppsala University
Uppsala University aspires to a leading role in the transition to a more sustainable society. The education and research we conduct translate into new knowledge, better technology, improvements in the organisation of society and changed patterns of behaviour. The University will also contribute to sustainable development in its own activities. This requires us to set an example in the management of finite resources and to actively address the climate impact of our own activities.
The above paragraph is from the foreword of Uppsala University’s Mission & Core Values.
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Climate inventory at Uppsala University
Over the course of a year, Uppsala University’s activities are estimated to produce emissions equivalent to 50,500 tonnes of CO2, corresponding to around 8 tonnes of CO2 per full-time employee. The largest sources of emissions are business travel, buildings and purchases of goods.
The climate inventory used the University’s costs that were entered into the accounts as a basis, breaking them down into product and service groups which were then linked to pre-calculated emissions. The analysis was then supplemented by three in-depth life-cycle analyses for business travel, computers and screens and energy use. Emissions are calculated more precisely in the life-cycle analyses as they are based on consumption.
As the climate inventory is based on costs entered into the accounts, emissions that do not lead to a cost item in the University’s accounted costs are not included.
Units at the University working specifically with sustainability issues
- UUSI – Uppsala University Sustainability Initiative
- The Baltic University Programme
- Climate Change Leadership
- CEMUS – Centre for Environment and Development Studies
- SWEDESD – Sustainability Learning and Research Centre
- UGHRIS – Uppsala Global Health Research on Implementation and Sustainability
- Buildings Division
- The research programme Natural Resources and Sustainable Development
Uppsala University is a member of Uppsala Klimatprotokoll
Uppsala University is an active member of Uppsala Klimatprotokoll where private and public sector, universities and NGO's collaborate to reach the Uppsala county climate targets.
Find an expert on sustainability
Whether you are looking for an expert who can help your company, hold a leture or lead a project, we want to help you get in touch with the right person. Here we have gathered researchers at Uppsala University who are experts in different types of sustainability issues, as a resource for you and to enable the researchers to forge new connections and help their research results come to practical use for society.

Three researchers in sustainable development

Ulrika Persson-Fischier
Ulrika Persson-Fischier conducts research into sustainability, tourism and visitor trade, entrepreneurship and culture.

Mats Målqvist
Mats Målqvist focuses his research on health systems, implementation research and health equity.

Marika Edoff
Marika Edoff heads a research group working with thin film solar cells.
Graduate School in Sustainable Development
Uppsala University Multidisciplinary Graduate School in Sustainable Development is based at Campus Gotland. Eight departments from the University are collaborating on five research projects. Twelve PhDs are working in the projects that started in January 2021.
Research projects
- Sustainable destination development.
- Gotland’s sustainable energy system transition: resources, demand and planning.
- Fisheries and coastal development in a small island context – the past, present and future.
- Getting the balance right - Applying legislation when seeking a balance between energy transition and the conservation of cultural values.
- Digital innovation for sustainable consumption.