A highlight of the 25th Styrian Climate and Energy Forum, which took place on 22 September at the Unicorn at the University of Graz, was the presentation of the Green Academia Award 2025 by the University of Graz, recognising excellent research and climate-friendly behaviour on international business travel.
First place, worth 50,000 euros, went to the field of Earth sciences, followed by business administration (20,000 euros) and history (10,000 euros). The prize money is to be invested in further climate protection and sustainability projects in research and teaching.
The award, which was presented for the third time, is part of the University of Graz's climate neutrality strategy through to 2040. It aims to motivate researchers to make international collaborations lower in emissions, as business travel accounts for a large share of the university's greenhouse gas emissions. The assessment is based on a method developed by the Wegener Center that combines the achievement of climate protection targets with high-quality publications while taking into account the specific circumstances of individual disciplines.
In addition, ten further academic fields, including environmental systems sciences, psychology and law, were each awarded recognition prizes of 1,000 euros for particularly strong performance in meeting their climate targets in line with the university's performance agreements.
Styrian Regional Councillor Simone Schmiedtbauer paid tribute in her welcoming message to the significance of the University of Graz's Green Academia Award. She emphasised that the award is not merely a distinction, but a powerful statement and a milestone for the academic community. The Regional Councillor praised the award recipients for their courage, perseverance and ability to inspire others through their own initiative and drive. She referred to them as "pioneers" and stressed that real change begins in small ways. In closing, she congratulated the nominees and winners and thanked them for their inspiration in helping to pave the way towards a greener and fairer future.
