For Sustainability and Against Climate Change
03/26/2025Representatives of the Coimbra Group met in Durham, UK, to mark the 40th anniversary of the university community. They sent out a clear signal in favour of sustainability and against climate change.
From 24 to 26 March 2025, Durham University hosted theCoimbra Group Climate Symposium. As part of the event, the universities associated in the European university community - including Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) - signed the "Durham Declaration". It consists of seven principles on the topics of sustainability and climate change as well as an expandable list of examples of measures and initiatives that the universities can take together.
"The Durham Declaration is a commitment by our universities to the sustainable future of our planet. It strengthens our shared responsibility to advance research and education and to develop effective solutions for the preservation of nature and climate protection," explained JMU President Paul Pauli at the signing ceremony.
Proud of Achievements, But Still Much to Do
The signatories emphasise that, despite the successes already achieved, efforts to preserve nature and protect the climate must be further intensified. Universities have a special role to play here in the area of innovation and knowledge transfer. The education of the next generation is also of paramount importance. The universities in the Coimbra Group together have over one million students.
Furthermore, the universities themselves want to set a good example and make their own facilities as sustainable as possible.
"With our sustainability strategy, we at JMU are well on the way to advancing the major task of transforming into a sustainable university. It's great to see that European universities are pulling in the same direction here," says a delighted Anja Schlömerkemper, Vice President for Equal Opportunities, Career Planning and Sustainability.
Together for Sustainability
Mutual support is a central component of the declaration. Professor Doris Fischer, Vice President for Internationalisation at JMU, is convinced that "we can only achieve these important and ambitious goals as a community. The Coimbra Group is a great example of European cooperation and can be a role model here."
The Coimbra Group
Founded in 1985, the Coimbra Group is an association of high-ranking European universities. Its aim is to create special academic and cultural links in order to promote internationalisation, academic cooperation, excellence in teaching and research and service to society.
In doing so, the 41 members focus on productive exchange with each other. The University of Würzburg has been a member of the Coimbra Group since 2013.
