One of Umeå University's most vital tasks is to meet the ever-changing demands and expectations of society and work towards building a sustainable society. The university also has a high ambition to contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals of the 2030 Agenda and the climate targets of the Paris Agreement.
Using a proactive and innovative approach, Umeå University takes action for a sustainable society. The university contributes with research, education, new solutions and dissemination of knowledge as well as reduces emissions from the university’s own activities. This to achieve Sweden’s long-term target of having zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 at the latest.
Umeå University has also signed the Climate Framework for Higher Education Institutions.
Sustainability in numbers until 2020
96 programmes
in education have sustainable development in their qualitative targets
59 per cent
of our scientific articles contribute to the sustainable development goals
144 kWh/m2
was the university's average energy consumption in 2020
51 per cent
of procurements and purchases set environmental requirements in 2020
Key areas for climate and sustainability
Umeå University’s aims, objectives and activities to contribute to sustainable development are described in the university’s Action Plan for Climate and Sustainability for 2021–2023, which has been sectioned into the following six key areas.