Sustainability

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Article list Sustainability

23.04.2024 Study program “Biodiversity”

Master’s Program in Biodiversity to Launch in the 2024 Fall Semester

The new Bachelor’s program in biodiversity – the first of its kind in German-speaking countries – launched at UZH last fall. Following its success, with more than 140 students enrolled, the Master’s program in biodiversity will be offered for the first time starting this Fall Semester.

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26.03.2024 IceAgeCam

Experience Ice Ages and Climate Change Up Close

The new IceAgeCam installation on Felsenegg gives an impressive demonstration of the human influence on climate change. Visitors can immerse themselves in an interactive experience of the changing glacial landscapes. It is the result of an interdisciplinary project involving researchers from UZH, the University of Lausanne and the Zurich University of the Arts.

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19.03.2024 Initiative Sustainable Finance

Building Bridges

The Department of Finance at the University of Zurich has launched the "Initiative in Sustainable Finance". Its aim is to become a leading global center for research in this area and to promote dialogue between science, business, politics, and society.

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04.03.2024 Scientific Research Stations

Researching in the Wild

UZH’s Faculty of Science operates research stations in far-flung places, where researchers analyze the effects of climate change or observe mountain chimps and meerkats in their natural environment, among other things. Five of these stations are presented below.

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20.11.2023 Zurich Seed Bank

Zurich Seed Bank

Researchers at UZH are freezing the seeds of threatened local plants to help increase the biodiversity of ecosystems in the future.

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15.11.2023 Sustainability

UZH As Real-World Laboratory

UZH tapped into the collective wisdom of its community to find out how to make everyday university operations more sustainable. It is now supporting several projects to improve sustainability. The various projects are aimed at reducing flight-related greenhouse gas emissions, increasing plastic recycling in labs, curbing electricity consumption in radiology, and managing the vegetation on Irchel Campus.

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14.06.2023 Soil Science

Climate Change Releases Carbon Stocks Deep Underground

Global warming is accelerating the decomposition of soil humus. It is also affecting the waxy and woody compounds – previously thought to be stable – which help plants store carbon in their leaves and roots.

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08.06.2023 2021/22 Sustainability Report

On the Path to Climate Neutrality

Over the past two years, UZH has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions. Overall, the university has taken a number of effective measures to promote sustainable development, as shown in its latest Sustainability Report.

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19.04.2023 Sustainability

Infrequent Flyers

UZH aims to reduce its emissions from air travel by at least 53 percent by 2030. The faculties have now announced how they plan to achieve this goal.

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29.03.2023 Sustainable Digitalization

“We’re not at the mercy of the future”

Digital technologies make many systems and processes more efficient. Lorenz Hilty, professor of informatics, is researching how the digital transformation can also be harnessed for sustainable development.

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09.03.2023 UZH Teaching Fund – Part 5: Transdisciplinary

“Reality is much more complex”

In the interdisciplinary lecture series “Sustainability Now!”, Right Livelihood Award recipients talk about how they have been able to initiate sustainable developments, from peacebuilding to preserving biodiversity. The lectures are presented and chaired by students who want to learn how to translate academic learning into practice.

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01.02.2023 Sustainable assets

Green Investing

Investors can contribute to the sustainable development of the economy, says economist Falko Paetzold. Supporting innovative start-ups is the most high-impact way of doing so.

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11.01.2023 Jurisprudence

Taking Climate to Court

Over a dozen climate-related lawsuits are pending at the European Court of Human Rights, putting legal processes at the institution to the test. Two UZH lawyers are investigating how courts can reach fair and judicious decisions in climate cases.

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03.11.2022 Biodiversity

A Unique Academic Program

The University of Zurich is introducing a new degree program on biodiversity in the 2023 Fall Semester. Students can complete the study program, the only one of its kind in German-speaking countries, at Bachelor’s and Master’s level.

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08.09.2022 Climate change

Longer, hotter and more frequent heat waves in Swiss cities

Hot days followed by sweltering nights without any temperature relief in between might become a new norm towards the end of the 21st century. Researchers from the University of Zurich have analyzed the frequency, intensity and length of such extreme events for five Swiss cities. Lugano and Geneva would be most affected.

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23.08.2022 Eating Plants

Weeding, Mulching, Sowing, Reaping

Students garden on the Irchel Campus, and a literary scholar gets involved in a farming cooperative: the act of growing one's own vegetables contributes to food security, brings people together, makes them healthier and promotes sustainability.

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16.08.2022 Research Policy

Seeds for All

Important patents for gene-edited seeds are held by universities. While this presents an opportunity for farmers in developing countries, we are unlikely to see speedy deregulation of this new technology anytime soon.

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11.08.2022 Climate Change

Extreme Heat and Drought Require More Systematic Risk Assessment

Simultaneous extreme heat and drought have consequences in a variety of areas – for example the economy, health and food production. In addition, due to complex socio-economic connections, such extreme events can cause knock-on effects.

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29.06.2022 Sustainable Food

More Broccoli, Less Steak

If we want to avoid destroying our planet, we need to transform our eating habits – and this starts in our kitchens. We have to find a balance of healthy and sustainable food, with less meat and more veg.

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29.06.2022 World Biodiversity Forum

Reversing the Trend

At the World Biodiversity Forum in Davos this week, the focus is on how to slow down species loss and protect ecosystems. The UZH-organized conference aims to inspire action by bringing together researchers and practitioners.

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