KLIMAPLANREAL

Initial situation and research questions

The federal and state governments have set ambitious sustainability goals, such as Agenda 2030 and climate neutrality by 2045. The decision of the Federal Constitutional Court in spring 2021 has not only shown that these climate goals must be much more ambitious in the short term than previously thought. It also emphatically draws attention to intergenerational justice in climate protection. This makes it even more important to achieve climate protection goals at an early stage at universities (HS) as well. In this project, new forms of initiating and supporting transformation processes at universities are being used and investigated. There are already many recommendations and good practices that address climate neutrality (netzwerk n, Hoch N project), but change is still slow at universities, including those in this network from Saxony-Anhalt. So far, good ideas too often fail because of the system, e.g. because of system boundaries such as political or state-specific difficulties, or because of the resulting intensified lines of conflict within the institution and between the member groups. It is not yet clear what measures can be taken to release the motivation of all university members in such a way that self-supporting transformation paths can develop at universities.

Goal - Climate-neutral university

The aim of the project is to develop a climate plan with action measures for all universities. The special feature of the deliberative approach chosen here is the targeted and systematic use of participatory instruments that promote dialogue between the various member groups and thus actively involve everyone in the transformation process. This process is being comparatively researched and evaluated across universities. In an empirical multi-wave survey, the question is being investigated in particular as to which processes lead to a stronger collective expectation of effectiveness at universities and to a stronger commitment to climate protection (cross-university transformation research). This approach of the double participatory process - first deliberative in the form of university climate councils (planning cells), then transfer labs (real lab activities) - is documented and processed in such a way that other HEIs can use the phased approach in the sense of the "best follower principle". Overall, KlimaPlanReal is thus highly relevant for the practical implementation of a transformation towards sustainability (NHK), because 1) transformation knowledge (planning cell and reallaboratory approach & research of impacts) and 2) transformative knowledge (implementation processes in reallaboratories) on socio-ecological change are generated and 3) general barriers to implementation are uncovered and practical implementation and transfer advice is developed as blueprints, and 4) systemic barriers for the HS in the state of Saxony-Anhalt can be identified and possible solutions found. Blueprints are already being derived from the university climate councils and will be further developed in the ongoing process. In summary, the aim of the project is to have a transformative effect and to advance climate protection at universities in Saxony-Anhalt, while at the same time conducting transformation research by evaluating participatory methods adapted to the university context. Furthermore, insights into the work with transformation teams will be gained.