SDU’s climate ambassadors

Behaviour, involvement and communication are an important part of SDU’s plan to reduce the University’s greenhouse gas emissions by 70% in 2030, compared to emissions in 1990.

SDU’s greenhouse gas emissions depend to a great extent on the behaviour of staff, students and guests.

It is about the choices we consciously or unconsciously make, for example, in connection with transport to and from campus, transport during study and work-related trips, the purchase of goods, in the canteen, etc.

It is also about how we support the collective choices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, for example, in reducing paper consumption, the new travel rules, more flexible use of premises and equipment, waste sorting, etc.

SDU has therefore decided to educate a number of employees as climate ambassadors who will strengthen local ownership and involvement in the work with the climate plan. The climate ambassadors will continuously acquire tools and skills to help with their work.

The climate ambassador is first and foremost a colleague or employee with a big green heart who is part of a network with other climate ambassadors in SDU’s climate organisation.

The expectation for the climate ambassadors is not that they should know everything that goes on in the work with SDU’s climate plan, but they know who to ask. So if they don’t know the answer themselves, they know where to find it

Climate ambassadors can represent the green agenda at meetings and ensure that it is not forgotten. The climate ambassadors can therefore ensure that a local culture is created where employees take a more sustainable and climate-friendly approach to their daily work and activities.

The climate ambassadors can also be helpful if there is a local desire to focus on green habits and behaviour. This can take be brought up at a department meeting or similar.

SDU’s climate plan includes initiatives to lower the University’s energy consumption, increase the share of renewable energy, promote green mobility and contribute to minimal, smart and circular consumption.

But the climate plan is not an exhaustive list, and we still need ideas and suggestions for how we can operate SDU in a more climate-friendly way. No idea or suggestion is too big or too small. Go to the climate ambassador if you have an idea or if your department wants to contribute to SDU’s climate plan.

The climate ambassadors come with different backgrounds and experiences and have different functions across SDU. Common to them all is a desire to contribute to making SDU greener and more climate friendly.

This combination is a crucial strength in the work to reduce SDU’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The climate ambassador can help:

• to test out the initiatives in SDU’s climate plan before they are implemented
•  to develop new initiatives that can supplement the climate plan initiatives
• to inspire colleagues with climate-friendly behaviour and actions at work
• to launch local initiatives in collaboration with your own manager
• to communicate ideas and suggestions about climate initiatives from colleagues to SDU’s climate organisation

It is the Rectorate’s expectation that time and space will be created locally for the work of the climate ambassadors.