September 29th is International Employee Climate Action Day!
Sustainability Days 2025
The Sustainability Working Group of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Cologne organized the Sustainability Days on July 2–3, 2025, bringing together employees, researchers, and students. The event showcased sustainability initiatives, encouraged networking, and raised awareness of sustainability in healthcare. The program featured more than 20 initiatives, as well as discussions, talks, workshops, information booths, and an exhibition on healthy hospital food.
Project Goals
Changing Awareness & Attitudes & Raising Awareness Across the Organization
Expanding Knowledge & Skills
Generating Ideas & Exchanging Perspectives
Taking Action & Enabling Experiences
Focus Area
Health & Climate Adaptation & Resilience
The Outcome
The Sustainability Days brought together employees, students, researchers, and more than 20 sustainability initiatives and organizations. The event fostered interdisciplinary exchange and networking between the university, University Hospital, and regional initiatives, while providing participants with new ideas and inspiration for more sustainable practices in their professional and academic lives. Hands-on activities, including bicycle and electronics repairs, were particularly well received.
The Impact
The Sustainability Days helped establish sustainability as an integral part of university culture and healthcare while strengthening collaboration among existing initiatives. The positive response has also encouraged several stakeholders to support another edition in 2026, helping to build long-term engagement with sustainability across the campus.