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The Climate Framework for Higher Education Institutions in Sweden

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Handbook of Best Practices in Sustainable Development at University Level

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Abstract

In this nation-wide initiative, the Higher Education sector in Sweden has created a Climate Framework to serve as the basis for climate strategies at individual Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The Climate Framework is the product of 38 HEIs with the aim of contributing to both national and international commitments to reach the 1.5 °C target. Although several universities in different countries have made similar commitments, this unique initiative brings the whole sector in a country together under a common aim. Higher education institutions have a central role in efforts to combat climate change. An important task is to contribute through teaching and research, but HEIs also need to contribute by reducing the impact of their own operations. The HEIs that have signed the framework consider the climate to be a crucial and prioritized issue and will take action in line with national and international targets and allocate resources for it. The Climate Framework includes a commitment and a guideline document that list several key areas for climate impact from HEIs. This paper will describe the process for develo** the Climate Framework as well as the framework itself.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank everybody that was involved in develo** the Climate Framework and contributed in different ways. Also thanks to Erica-Dawn Egan, KTH for reviewing the English. This paper is based on the Climate Framework commitment and guidelines (Chalmers n.d.; KTH, n.d.), as well as shorter presentations (Finnveden 2020; Hörstedt and Finnveden 2021).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 10b, 10044, Stockholm, Sweden

    Göran Finnveden

  2. Chalmers University of Technology, Chalmersplatsen 4, 41296, Göteborg, Sweden

    Maria Djupström & Fredrik Hörstedt

  3. KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 1, 10044, Stockholm, Sweden

    Kristina von Oelreich

Authors
  1. Göran Finnveden
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  2. Maria Djupström
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  3. Fredrik Hörstedt
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  4. Kristina von Oelreich
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Göran Finnveden .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

  2. Engineering Department, Federal University of Paraíba—UFPB, Joao Pessoa, Brazil

    Claudio Ruy Portela de Vasconcelos

Appendix

Appendix

Higher Education Institutions that signed the Climate Framework

  • Beckmans College of Design

  • Blekinge Institute of Technology

  • Chalmers University of Technology

  • Dalarna University

  • Ersta Sköndal Bräcke University College

  • Halmstad University

  • Jönkö**s University

  • Karlstad University

  • Karolinska institutet

  • Kristianstad University

  • KTH Royal Institute of Technology

  • Linkö** University

  • Linnaeus University

  • Luleå University of Technology

  • Lund University

  • Malmö University

  • Mid Sweden University

  • Mälardalen University

  • Red Cross University College

  • Sophiahemmet University

  • Stockholm School of Economics

  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

  • Södertörn University

  • The Newman Institute

  • The Royal College of Music

  • The Royal Institute of Art

  • The Swedish Defence University

  • The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences

  • Umeå University

  • University College Stockholm

  • University of Arts, Crafts and Design

  • University of Borås

  • University of Gothenburg

  • University of Gävle

  • University of Skövde

  • University West

  • Örebro teologiska högskola

  • Örebro University

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Finnveden, G., Djupström, M., Hörstedt, F., von Oelreich, K. (2022). The Climate Framework for Higher Education Institutions in Sweden. In: Leal Filho, W., Portela de Vasconcelos, C.R. (eds) Handbook of Best Practices in Sustainable Development at University Level. World Sustainability Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04764-0_11

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