From strategy to action: AU introduces climate action plan for 2026
Sustainability is a strategic focus area in Aarhus University’s Strategy 2030. The 2026 climate action plan translates AU’s commitment to sustainability into concrete actions we can take in the day-to-day.
![[Translate to English:] Bæredygtighedscertificering af laboratorier på hele universitetet er en af årets centrale indsatser i AU's kli-mahandleplan 2026.](/fileadmin/_processed_/3/a/csm_Klimahandleplan_2026_header_JPEG_363e0cbfbd.jpg "[Translate to English:]")
Aarhus University has a clear climate objective: the university must significantly reduce its CO₂ footprint. In recent years, great efforts have been made to reduce both the consumption of electricity and emissions from transportation.
The climate action plan for 2026 marks a new phase: going forward, the university will also focus on on translating its goals into concrete actions in the day-to-day. The action plan consists of four groups of initiatives to reduce AU’s climate footprint and resource consumption, and strengthen the efforts to increase sustainability taking place across the organisation.
Greener laboratories at AU
One of the key initiatives for 2026 is attaining sustainability certification for laboratories throughout the university.
At AU, the laboratories are one of the areas with the largest climate footprint. A pilot project with five laboratories at Health has shown that the internationally recognised certification LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework) can contribute to a systematic and practice-oriented approach to sustainability in the day-to-day. In practice, this can mean adjusting freezer temperatures, focusing on how we use the materials we purchase, turning off equipment and fume hoods when not in use, or finding better way to organise the sharing of chemicals to reduce waste.
The evaluation of the pilot project at Health indicates that participants are highly motivated, and several units have already expressed an interest in participating in the roll-out of the certification programme.
During 2026, the certification of laboratories at all of AU’s faculties will begin. The goal is for a considerable number of laboratories to achieve at least a ‘bronze’ level of certification. The university is also taking steps to gain experience with the higher levels of certification, ‘silver’ and ‘gold’.
“We have a responsibility to contribute to climate action – both through education and research and in the way we run the university. With the climate action plan, we are making sustainability an even bigger part of our overall strategic development and core tasks. LEAF is a good example of how concrete initiatives linked to our research activities can make a real difference,” says university director Kristian Thorn.
With the decision to to roll out LEAF in laboratories across AU, the pilot project will be transformed into a university-wide effort.
“We are very pleased with the decision to expand LEAF across the entire university. The pilot project has provided valuable insights and a solid foundation for these next steps, and has been a crucial step in systematically integrating sustainability into laboratory operations,” says Thomas Corydon, professor at the Department of Biomedicine and head of the steering committee for LEAF at AU.
Learn more about LEAF certification and the pilot project at Health
Four initiatives for 2026
The climate action plan for 2026 includes the following initiatives:
- Certification and sustainability in laboratories (LEAF)
- Focus on sustainability in the university’s procurement
- Recycling building materials, fixtures and tableware
- AU Viborg – academic growth without an increased climate footprint
These initiatives range from concrete improvements in everyday operations to larger restructurings of procurement and recycling, and utilising campus development to test more sustainable energy solutions. Though different, they all share a common goal: contributing to a more sustainable organisation through focused action and continued evaluation and monitoring of AU’s greenhouse gas emissions report.
Looking ahead to 2030
AU has not reached its climate goals yet. The climate action plan for 2026 marks the next step in a long process towards reducing the university’s climate footprint and integrating sustainable solutions throughout the organisation.
This work will continues towards 2030 – focusing on concrete improvements, organisational anchoring and a clear connection between sustainability and the overall development of the university.
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