The strategy 2021–2030 of the University of Helsinki outlines that we want to be a leader in responsibility and sustainability. Ambitious targets do not happen overnight nor without concrete actions. This plan presents an overview of the University of Helsinki’s sustainability targets and initiatives for 2022–2024. This collection of initiatives championed by various units, groups and individuals highlights our effort to integrate sustainability and responsibility into everything we do and move from single initiatives to a more holistic sustainability approach.
In its strategic plan, the University has set the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. The roadmap for a carbon neutral University by 2030 includes steps to reach the University’s related goals. We promote ecological sustainability by reducing the carbon footprint of our operations through investment in smart energy solutions, low-emission travel and transport as well as sustainable eating habits and procurement.
This report presents highlights from our sustainability and responsibility efforts in 2022. It is a collection of activities related to research, teaching, public engagement and our everyday operations. This is the third comprehensive report on the sustainability and responsibility efforts of the University of Helsinki.
As one of the highlights of the year, we released our sustainability and responsibility plan for the period 2022–2024 in March. In this report, we will demonstrate how we made progress in terms of the measures included in the plan during its first implementation period.
The report has been split into sections on the website to improve readability and accessibility. The full report can also be downloaded in a low-resolution format.
Table of contents, Foreword by Vice-Rector Tom Böhling, and introduction of the report.
The organisational structure and operating culture of the University create the preconditions for the promotion of sustainability and responsibility. The University of Helsinki's strategy for 2021–2030 states that sustainability and responsibility will guide all of the University's operations. Sustainability-themed research centres, communities and institutes support our sustainability and responsibility efforts.
Over the course of the year, we progressed as planned in the three priority areas chosen for the governance and management element of the report. For example, we established a sustainability fund, included sustainability themes in target negotiations held with the rector and launched a sustainability and responsibility network open to the entire University community. In other words, the efforts to integrate sustainability and responsibility into all of our
governance are well underway.
Over the course of the year, we made progress in the priority areas chosen for research as expected and achieved, among others, the following goals: For example, we increased the number of strategic doctoral researcher positions in the multidisciplinary research themes of sustainable development by recruiting 10 multidisciplinary doctoral researchers focused on these themes, strengthened our global partnerships by establishing an exchange programme for early-career researchers at African universities and contributed to protecting threatened scholars through the Scholars at Risk network.
In the priority areas associated with teaching, we took big strides towards our goals during the year, some of which were achieved. Among other things, we published a sustainability micro-credential long under preparation in the Una Europa alliance, and included sustainability studies in the curricula of degree programmes to be launched in autumn 2023. We also implemented the One Health Early Career Champions partnership with the University of Nairobi.
Over the course of the year, we made progress according to plan in many aspects of the priority areas for societal interaction. We strove to bring
research-based knowledge to the public by organising several sustainability-themed events open to all during the year. We made the theme of sustainability and responsibility an increasingly integral part of all University communications. Together with Aalto University, we organised the annual Sustainability Science Days conference. To strengthen responsible partnerships, we updated the ethical guidelines for business collaboration. In addition, we created opportunities for promoting innovations focused on sustainability.
Over the course of the year, we progressed as planned in many of the priority areas chosen to promote everyday sustainability and responsibility. For example, we drew up the Carbon neutral University of Helsinki by 2030 roadmap, which was published in April 2023. We intensified the use of workspaces, creating better opportunities for hybrid work and, consequently, the reduction of commuting. We revised the University’s procurement and tendering principles, which emphasise the principles of moderation, sustainability and responsibility. With the focus on disability inclusion in our equality and diversity efforts in 2022, we provided our staff related training and developed our operations from the perspective of inclusion. We also took steps to improve student wellbeing and continued to promote anti-racism efforts.
This report presents highlights from our sustainability and responsibility efforts in 2021. It is a collection of activities related to research, teaching, public engagement and our everyday operations. This is the second comprehensive report on the sustainability and responsibility efforts of the University of Helsinki.
The report has been split into sections on the website to improve readability and accessibility. The full report can also be downloaded in a low-resolution format.
This is the first comprehensive report on the sustainability and responsibility efforts of the University of Helsinki. At the beginning of the new strategy period 2021–2030, we are taking a look at the past to better plan for the future. This report is a review of our sustainability and responsibility work carried out in the previous strategy period of 2017–2020, and a way of making our efforts increasingly transparent and open.
The report has been split into sections on the website to improve readability and accessibility. The full report can also be downloaded in a low-resolution format.
Explore our thematic, sectoral and unit-specific reports on sustainability and responsibility.
In accordance with our strategic plan, we base our sustainability efforts on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations. In our operations, we are committed to promoting all 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
From 2022 to 2024, we will focus particularly on the following goals:
For information on measures related to the other SDGs, see the Sustainability Highlights reports at the top of the page.
SDG 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Examples of our actions during 2022 to promote the SDG 1 - No poverty:
⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2022 report.
SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Examples of our actions during 2022 to promote the SDG 2 Zero hunger:
⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2022 report.
SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Wellbeing has been chosen as one of the priority areas for daily operations in the Sustainability and responsibility plan 2022-2024.
Examples of our actions during 2022 to promote SDG 3 Good health and wellbeing:
⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2022 report.
SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
To promote SDG 4, we have chosen three priority areas for the sustainability and responsibility plan for the period 2022–2024:
The progress of measures related to the priority areas will be reported on in the Sustainability Highlights reports. The measures already implemented in 2022 include the following:
⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2022 report.
SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Examples of our actions during 2022 to promote SDG 5 Gender equality:
⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2022 report.
SDG 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Examples of our actions during 2022 to promote the SDG 6 Clean water and sanitation:
⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2022 report.
SDG 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Examples of our actions during 2022 to promote SDG 7 - Affordable and clean energy:
⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2022 report.
SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Examples of our actions during 2022 to promote the SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2022 report.
SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
The promotion of SDG 9 is reflected in the sustainability and responsibility plan for 2022–2024 in the following priority areas for research, societal interaction and daily operations:
The progress of measures related to the priority areas will be reported on in the Sustainability Highlights reports. Some of the selected measures, such as updating the ethical guidelines for business collaboration, have already been implemented during 2022. Measures to promote open science and research are well underway. The measures we have chosen for responsible investment, such as increasing impact investing and reducing the carbon footprint of investments, have so far progressed as planned.
⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2022 report.
SDG 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
SDG 10 Reduced inequalities - related measures listed in the Sustainability and responsibility plan 2022-2024, that were already implemented in 2022 include the following:
Other examples of our actions during 2022 to promote the SDG 10 Reduced inequalities:
⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2022 report.
SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Examples of our actions during 2022 to promote the SDG 11- Sustainable cities and communities:
⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2022 report.
SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Examples of our actions during 2022 to promote the SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production:
SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
The promotion of SDG 13 is reflected in the sustainability and responsibility plan for 2022–2024, particularly in two priority areas for daily operations:
The progress of measures related to the priority areas will be reported on in the Sustainability Highlights reports. The measures below have already been implemented in 2022. In addition to the measures implemented, we have promoted a number of other measures according to the plan. Among other things, we have taken energy-saving measures, located and fixed thermal leaks in properties, initiated the preparation of a roadmap for low-carbon construction and improved the preconditions for lower-carbon commuting, such as electric cars and cycling. We are also continuously striving to reduce the carbon footprint of our investments. We have already divested all of our investments in fossil fuel producers.
Measures already implemented under the sustainability and responsibility plan:
SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Examples of our actions during 2022 to promote the SDG 14 - Life below water:
SDG 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Examples of our actions during 2022 to promote the SDG 15 - Life on land:
⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2022 report.
SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
SDG 16 Peace, justice and strong institutions -related measures listed in the Sustainability and responsibility plan 2022-2024 that were implemented in 2022 include for instance the following:
SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
The promotion of SDG 17 is strongly reflected throughout the sustainability and responsibility plan for 2022–2024. It is an integral part of the different aspects of sustainability and responsibility, as well as the following priority areas:
The progress of measures related to the priority areas will be reported on in the Sustainability Highlights reports. The measures already implemented in 2022 include the following:
Nationally, the UNIFI (Universities Finland) theses on sustainable development and responsibility form the framework for the UH’s sustainability work. There are 12 theses in total and they have been divided under five different themes. In addition to the universities’ basic tasks (research, teaching and societal interaction), the theses cover (campus) activities and the preconditions for the universities’ operation more widely. The nature of the preconditions for operation is such that they create the framework for the other theses.
UNIFI’s theses on sustainable development and responsibility: