With first place in the Structural Networking category and in the Communication and Decision-Making category, the "UniNETZ – Universities and Sustainable Development Goals" – cross-university project for the implementation of the SDGs and the reference plan "National Energy and Climate Plan for Austria" - two projects in which CCCA is a supporting partner - have been awarded this year's 7th Sustainability Award. CCCA member organisations, such as TU Wien, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz and WU Wien were also recognised.

Climate protection minister Gewessler and science minister Faßmann presented awards to particularly sustainable projects from Austrian universities and higher education institutions

Climate protection minister Leonore Gewessler and science minister Heinz Faßmann today presented this year's "Sustainability Awards 2020" in the ceremonial hall of the Technical Museum. This award, which has been presented every two years since 2008 across a total of eight categories, puts pioneering projects in the field of sustainability from universities and higher education institutions in the spotlight. With 104 project submissions from 19 universities, eight universities of applied sciences and seven universities of teacher education, interest and participation in the 7th Sustainability Award was greater than ever before. The previous record stood at 76 submissions in 2018.

Climate protection and sustainability are central issues for universities and higher education institutions too

Climate protection minister Gewessler is delighted about the popularity of the Sustainability Award. Sustainability is a topic for all parts of society. Because climate protection always involves engaging with other aspects such as equality, social justice, poverty reduction and integration. All of these issues are addressed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). "Climate protection is a task for society as a whole. And this is precisely where higher education institutions and universities can make a major contribution — in research, but also in the communication of knowledge," said Gewessler.

"The fight against the climate crisis is the defining question of our time. And we can only succeed if we all pull together. From politics to business and education, we are working together on the best solutions — so that we can make Austria a climate-friendly country of the future," Gewessler emphasised.

Sustainability Award recognises pioneering achievements by universities and higher education institutions

For science minister Faßmann, making a significant contribution to the successful implementation of the SDGs is a core objective for universities and higher education institutions. The Sustainability Awards recognise pioneering achievements that show how the complex and diverse challenges in climate protection and sustainability can be tackled through innovative, new approaches and solutions in teaching, research, university administration, creative student initiatives, enhanced inter-institutional cooperation and novel communication and decision-making processes. These achievements deserve to be put in the spotlight," Faßmann emphasised.

He was particularly pleased that this year, a notably high number of cross-institutional initiatives — seven in total — made it into the top 24. And that projects from higher education institutions in almost every federal state are among the winners. Five of these were submitted by Viennese institutions, four from Salzburg, three from Styria, two from Upper Austria and Carinthia, and one project from Tyrol. "This shows that it truly is an Austrian sustainability prize," said Faßmann.

Here you can find the projects that were awarded the "Sustainability Award 2020"!

Further information can also be found at openscience4sustainability.at!