Environmental report 2023

Foreword from the Vice-Chancellor

In this environmental report for the year 2023, we can note that we are on track with our high ambitions, but also that more work remains to be done before we reach our overall objectives.

Based on Strategy 2025, Malmö University's environmental work can be said to be conducted on a broad front in two main tracks. The University will contribute to meeting global climate challenges by producing and disseminating multidisciplinary knowledge, in collaboration with other societal actors. We also contribute by reducing the climate and environmental impact of our own operations.

The University's new 'Collegium for research on climate and societal transition at the University' is an exciting initiative to contribute with even more knowledge in the field of environment and sustainability in the future. The collegium was established last autumn on the initiative of an internal climate research network. The newly formed collegium already spans all faculty boundaries and will hopefully lead to even more interdisciplinary collaborations within the University.

Last year, we adopted a new guideline for sustainability considerations at meetings and events. This means, for example, that we will try to avoid food waste, use vegetarian food as a standard and choose digital channels for communication instead of printed material.

In 2023, we also focused more on environmental requirements in connection with procurement. The initiative has yielded positive results and will continue in 2024, in order to strengthen the skills of employees who carry out direct procurement and other purchases.

A number of initiatives have been implemented to improve the efficiency of both our premises and energy consumption. As a result, the University has been able to cancel some leases – and, thus, also reduce costs related to premises.

Following the termination of the Advisory Board for a Sustainable University, a review has also been carried out regarding how the joint environmental work should be coordinated and systematised. A further step in this work is the formation of an environmental group within the Joint University Administration and Services during this year, with the aim of increasing coordination and finding synergies between departments.

In conclusion, we can state that environmental work covers all parts of our activities and concerns us all. We must all think, act and take responsibility, perhaps by reminding ourselves of old, tired sayings such as "little streams make big rivers", or "no one can do everything, but everyone can do something". This applies to, for example, our business travel. The 2023 results show that we will not reach next year's emissions target at the current rate of reduction.

We are doing a lot of good, but together, we can try to do even better.

Urban studies reduce their environmental impact

In connection with operational planning, the university's departments and units are expected to concretise the central strategy and environmental goals, and formulate their own activities.

One department that has set a good example is the Department of Urban Studies at the Faculty of Culture and Society.

"We have taken several measures to reduce our environmental impact. For example, we have given doctoral students the opportunity to receive extra grants for travelling by train, and we have decided to have plant-based food as a standard in our food orders," says Head of Department Kerstin Sandell.

"When I heard that the possibility of ordering reused computers is available from the University's IT supplier, I thought it was obvious that this should be our first choice," says Hanna Runnqvist, administrative assistant at the faculty.

The Department of Urban Studies has also calculated its emissions from business travel. At the beginning of next year, a workshop on how to reduce emissions further is planned with the department's research council.