Local Growth and Eco-friendly Advancement
In the heart of Germany, Augsburg continues to set an example for sustainable development. The city's commitment to this cause was further cemented in 2025 with the publication of its Third Sustainability Report, spanning 250 pages and featuring 88 indicators.
This report builds upon the city's 2021 adoption of the updated "Future Guidelines for Sustainable Development" and its 2013 win of the German Sustainability Award as the most sustainable large city.
The strategies outlined in the report emphasise alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), integration of renewable energy, community involvement, and pioneering sustainability certifications.
One of the key strategies is the adoption of sustainability as a guiding principle in institutional policies. This is exemplified by the University of Augsburg's sustainability strategy, which is explicitly grounded in the UN SDGs.
Augsburg's commitment to renewable energy is evident in the significant investment in renewable energy infrastructure. A prime example of this is the installation of photovoltaic (solar) systems on university campus buildings, planned from 2023 through 2026.
The city also promotes sustainability leadership and role modeling. The University of Augsburg's environmental medicine lab, for instance, has earned the highest "green" certification from "My Green Lab" and won the Freezer Challenge, marking it as a pioneer in sustainable laboratory practices in Germany.
Supporting research and climate resilience is another key focus. The University’s Centre for Climate Resilience, for example, actively engages in international climate conferences, develops indicators to measure climate vulnerabilities, and devises adaptive measures.
Encouragement of networking and career support in sustainability-oriented research fields is also a priority. This is demonstrated by the establishment of a graduate center for fostering junior researchers in mathematics, natural sciences, and related disciplines.
While the exact text from the Third Augsburg Sustainability Report was not directly accessed, these themes closely align with the initiatives and achievements reported in 2025 by Augsburg institutions. Overall, Augsburg's sustainable development strategy is characterised by the integration of global sustainability goals into local policy, investments in renewable energy, pioneering sustainable practices in research and campus operations, and active contributions to climate resilience science.
- Augsburg's commitment to sustainable development extends to various disciplines, including environmental science, as evident by the University of Augsburg's sustainability strategy, rooted in the UN SDGs.
- The University of Augsburg's environmental medicine lab, a home-and-garden for sustainable practices, has achieved the highest "green" certification from "My Green Lab" and won the Freezer Challenge, setting a new standard in sustainable laboratory practices.
- In line with global efforts, Augsburg's sustainability strategy also emphasizes climate-change research and resilience, with the University’s Centre for Climate Resilience actively engaging in international climate conferences and devising adaptive measures.
