TU Dresden is treading a new path in its commitment to combating climate change. "Climate change is a threat to the planet and to humanity - in ecological, economic and social terms," says Prof. Roswitha Böhm, Vice-Rector University Culture. "As a university, we are obliged to deal with this topic intensively across all member groups and academic disciplines." The Extended University Executive Board intends to link the efforts and successes of all central and decentralized actors even more closely while backing them up with a joint action plan. "This can only be sensibly implemented in a university-wide process," explained Böhm. TUD has therefore launched an open discussion process on content priorities, organizational structures, resources and processes, in which every member of the university can participate. Information about the Climate Change Initiative can be found on the website: https://tu-dresden.de/tu-dresden/umwelt-und-klima/climate-change, which can also be seen on the banner in the Auditorium Centre of the university.

The current priorities include the reform of the Environment Commission, which means that the topics of climate protection and sustainability can be given the appropriate attention by a competent committee; on top of this, strategic measures can be developed and implemented, according to Prof. Stefan Gumhold, Chairman of the Commission. In addition, the committed climate protection efforts of various actors at the university are to be made more visible. A further point is the structural anchoring of the issue of sustainability in research, teaching and administration. Among other things, the establishment of a Green Office is in discussion following the suggestion of a student initiative. "TUD was one of the first universities in Germany to introduce a validated environmental management system from as early as 2003," explains Kathrin Brömmer, Environmental Management Officer of TUD. She points out that a lot has already been achieved in terms of sustainability and environmental protection. "But, in order to become truly excellent, we have to tackle the issue cooperatively and make additional investments", emphasizes the Vice-Rector University Culture. Administrative units, alongside the scientific community and numerous student initiatives, are involved in shaping the process, and this is has been very well received. "Many students have been involved in a number of different initiatives and have contributed their ideas. We now hope that a large part of the university will follow suit so that we can make our contribution together," says Jennifer Vaupel, member of the TUD Environmental Initiative and part of the student organization of the Climate Change Initiative. "We are always happy to receive support and hope that we can win over many more people at TU Dresden to support us in this cause," says student senator Lutz Thies. "Everyone is encouraged to get in touch with the groups that have been involved in the Climate Change Initiative so far and to get involved themselves."

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