Logo: Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA)

UniNEtZ SDG 13

The UniNEtZ (Universities and Sustainable Development Goals) project aims to support (political) decision-makers in implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Austria. The SDG 13 group deals with "climate protection measures". 13 research institutions are working together under the auspices of the CCCA (= "Sponsorship* for SDG 13").

Phase I

In UniNEtZ I, around 300 scientists, artists and students from 16 universities, the Geological Survey of Austria (GBA), the Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA) and the student association forum n worked for three years (2019-2021) on around 150 options and around 1,000 measures to achieve the SDGs and compiled them in a comprehensive report. In Phase I, 11 options from the SDG 13 group were developed.

The UniNEtZ Options Report: "Austria's options for action to implement the UN 2030 Agenda for a future worth living" was submitted to the Austrian Federal Government on March 1, 2022.

Phase II

In UniNEtZ II, the main focus is on contributing to the transformation of society towards sustainability. In order to fully exploit the transformation potential, the 17 SDGs were supplemented by five focus areas. From transdisciplinary dialog with various stakeholder groups to scientific monitoring of the implementation of the options, the design of a sustainable research landscape and the creation of inter-university, transformative study programs, a wide range of topics are covered that work towards the same goal: a socio-ecological transformation that should enable a good life for all.

You can find more information HERE.

Further activities of the UniNEtZ SDG 13 Group

Here you can see a selection of our activities that were carried out as part of UniNEtZ I - in addition to developing the options - and as part of UniNEtZ II:

Climate, art and science - active together (UniNEtZ II, 2023/24)

As part of the Sustainability Challenge, students from several universities will explore the question of whether and how cooperation between artists and scientists can effectively contribute to the implementation of the SDGs and the necessary social transformation.

SDG 13 in the Austrian Parliament (UniNEtZ II, May 2023)

On May 24, 2023, the Austrian Parliament, or more precisely the foyer of the plenary chamber, was dominated by the UniNEtZ cooperation with SDG 13. 

Evening event on the 23rd Climate Day (UniNEtZ II, April 2023)

The evening event took place in cooperation between UniNEtZ SDG 13 and the voestalpine Metal Engineering Division at the Donawitz site. A tour of the plant was followed by a brief insight into the highlights of UniNEtZ SDG 13 and voestalpine Metal Engineering GmbH, which, supplemented by quiz questions on the SDGs, led to lively discussions at the bar tables. 

SDG mid-term - a world worth living in for all by 2030? (UniNEtZ II, October 2022)

The public event at BOKU posed the questions of how successful we/Austria currently are on the path to fulfilling the 2030 Agenda and what steps need to be taken to achieve these goals. SDGs 2, 6, 13 and 15 were the focus and were discussed in several workshops (across SDGs). The focus of the SDG 13 workshop was on the bioeconomy (referring to option 13_09). The event concluded with a panel discussion. 

Agenda 2030 conference of the Austrian Association of Municipalities and Cities "Thinking urban and rural areas into the future" (UniNEtZ II, May 2022)

The Agenda 2030 conference was held at the Tulln Garden. There were various SDG experience spaces on the site that demonstrated the implementation of the 17 sustainability goals. As part of UniNEtZ, there were stands on SDGs 11 and 13. 

Evening event on the 21st Climate Day (UniNEtZ I, April 2021)

In cooperation with UniNEtZ SDG 13 and CCCA, the evening event took place as a virtual reception due to corona and invited networking between the various SDG topics. After a short welcome, the rest of the evening was open for a cozy exchange at virtual bar tables in Zoom and Miro. 

Video series "What future do we want?" (UniNEtZ I, May 2020 - March 2021)

Since May 2020, the video series "What future do we want?" has brought the voices of 30 scientists from all over Austria in front of the curtain to show alternative solutions, innovative ideas and holistic approaches for the transformation of our society towards sustainability. The video series was created in close cooperation with the Alliance of Sustainable Universities, the CCCA, Scientists for Future and the UniNEtZ project on the initiative of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. 

Reference National Energy and Climate Plan (Ref-NEKP) (UniNEtZ I, 2019)

In order to present possible implementation paths with which Austria can achieve its fair and appropriate contribution to the Paris climate goals, a reference plan was drawn up as the basis for a scientifically sound National Energy and Climate Plan for Austria (Ref-NEKP) that is in line with the Paris climate goals. 

Publications & publications

Press releases

Who is Who of the SDG 13 Group

Sponsorship*/Coordination

CCCA - Climate Change Center Austria

Participating research institutions

BOKU – Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (UniNEtZ I + II)

AAU – Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt (UniNEtZ I + II)

MOZ – Universität Mozarteum Salzburg (UniNEtZ II)

MUL – Montanuniversität Leoben (UniNEtZ I + II)

TUG – Technische Universität Graz (UniNEtZ I + II)

UAK – Universität für angewandte Kunst Wien (UniNEtZ II)

UWK – Universität für Weiterbildung Krems (UniNEtZ I + II)

JKU – Johannes Kepler Universität Linz (UniNEtZ I)

KFU – Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz (UniNEtZ I)

UIBK – Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck (UniNEtZ I)

WU – Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (UniNEtZ I)

GeoSphere Austria (UniNEtZ I + II)

Weatherpark (UniNEtZ I + II)

*The cooperation in the UniNEtZ is regulated by the cooperation agreement between all UniNEtZ partners. A sponsorship means the management and coordination of the content-related work of all participating institutions and coordination with the other UniNEtZ groups.

You can find all further information about the project on the UniNEtZ website.

Contact for UniNEtZ SDG 13: Ingeborg Schwarzl und Lisa Waldschütz