Logo: Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA)

UniNEtZ SDG 13

The UniNEtZ project (Universities and Sustainable Development Goals) aims to support (political) decision-makers in implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Austria. The SDG 13 group focuses on "climate protection measures". 13 research institutions are working together under the auspices of CCCA (= "sponsorship* for SDG 13").

Phase I

In UniNEtZ I, around 300 scientists, artists and students from 16 universities, the Geological Survey of Austria (GBA), the Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA) and the student association forum n worked together for three years (2019–2021) to develop approximately 150 options and around 1,000 measures for achieving the SDGs, compiling these in a comprehensive report. In Phase I, 11 options were developed by the SDG 13 group.

The UniNEtZ options report: "Austria's options for implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for a liveable future" was handed over to the Austrian Federal Government on 1 March 2022.

SDG 13 Options Report
UniNEtZ Options Report (complete)

Phase II

In UniNEtZ II, the main focus is on making contributions to the transformation of society towards sustainability. To make full use of the transformation potential, the 17 SDGs were supplemented by five priority areas. From transdisciplinary dialogue with various stakeholder groups, to the scientific monitoring of the implementation of options, the shaping of a sustainable research landscape, and the creation of inter-university, transformative study programmes — a broad range of topics are covered, all working towards the same goal: a socio-ecological transformation that enables a good life for all.

You can find more information HERE.

Activities of the UniNEtZ SDG 13 Group

Here you'll find a selection of our activities carried out as part of UniNEtZ I — alongside the development of the options — as well as within the framework of UniNEtZ II:

klima2go – Action Compass includes UniNEtZ options and future building blocks

It all started with the question: "What do we actually share with decision-makers specifically about the options and measures from the options report?", followed by: "How can the extensive knowledge from various disciplines be communicated as effectively as possible to those who want and are able to implement it?" From this, the idea for klima2go – Action Compass developed, as a service of CCCA, implemented in cooperation with the UniNEtZ SDG 13 group and the Earth4All Austrian Chapter project. More… 

Activities around Climate & Gender (UniNEtZ II, 2023 & 2024)

Fact Sheet Climate and Gender in Industrialised Countries – Connections and Opportunities
In 2023, a collaboration between SDG 13 and SDG 5 was realised as part of a CCCA Fact Sheet, shedding light on the links between climate and gender. This Fact Sheet addresses both the challenges and the opportunities of an intersectional examination of these areas, and provides a well-founded basis for transdisciplinary approaches to solutions.

Podcast "Nachhaltigkeit, feministisch / Sustainability, the feminist way" 
The audio series "Nachhaltigkeit, feministisch / Sustainability, the feminist way" was broadcast on community radio stations in Austria from October 2024 and has been available online since December 2024. Episode 2 "Who cares? Climate, Care and Gender in Capitalism", produced in cooperation between UniNEtZ SDG 13 & SDG 5, explores the interactions between gender, the climate crisis and the care crisis, as well as the role of the capitalist economic system in the gendering of these issues. Taking an intersectional perspective and drawing on dialogue between Gender Studies and Sustainability Studies, the series shows how feminist approaches can help shape sustainable development in a gender-equitable way (SDG 5). The aim of this cooperation within UniNEtZ was to raise awareness and provide analytical tools for a more just and sustainable future.

"Nachhaltigkeit, feministisch": Special issue of the feminist journal for politics and society "aep informationen"
In collaboration with UniNEtZ representatives and experts from Sustainability and Gender Studies, a special issue of "aep informationen" is being prepared, exploring perspectives on sustainability, feminism and gender justice. Developed in parallel with the audio series "Nachhaltigkeit, feministisch", this issue is due to be published in spring 2025 and creates space for critical reflection on gender and sustainability. A key contribution from the perspective of SDG 13 in collaboration with SDG 7, entitled "Climate (in)justice: Gender and intersectional perspectives on the Global North", addresses the complex entanglements of climate justice and gender issues, thereby providing an important foundation for further feminist and sustainability-oriented discussions.

Climate, Art and Science – active together (UniNEtZ II, 2023/24)

As part of the Sustainability Challenge, five students from a wide range of artistic and scientific disciplines explored the question of whether and how a collaboration between artists and scientists can make an effective contribution to implementing the SDGs and the necessary societal transformation. The outcome of this exploration was on display in May 2024 at the Klima Biennale Wien. More…

Publications: Climate and … (UniNEtZ II, 2022–2024)

In cooperation between the SDG 13 group and several other SDG and priority area groups, a number of new Fact Sheets have been produced as part of the CCCA Fact Sheet series. These clearly and scientifically illustrate numerous synergies and potential trade-offs between the pathways to achieving the goals of SDG 13 and the goals of other SDGs. To date, five Fact Sheets based on the UniNEtZ options report have been produced, initiated and coordinated by the SDG 13 group — see the "Publications and releases at a glance" section.

SDG 13 in the Austrian Parliament (UniNEtZ II, May 2023)

On 24 May 2023, the Austrian Parliament — more specifically, the foyer of the plenary chamber — was the setting for the UniNEtZ cooperation on SDG 13. 

Evening event at the 23rd Klimatag @Stahlwerk (UniNEtZ II, April 2023)

The evening event took place in cooperation between UniNEtZ SDG 13 and the voestalpine Metal Engineering Division at the Donawitz site. A factory tour was followed by a brief look at key highlights from UniNEtZ SDG 13 and voestalpine Metal Engineering GmbH, which — complemented by quiz questions on the SDGs — sparked lively discussions at the standing tables. 

SDG Halfway Point – a liveable world for everyone by 2030? (UniNEtZ II, October 2022)

The public event at BOKU raised the questions of how successfully we/Austria are currently progressing towards meeting the 2030 Agenda and what steps need to be taken to achieve these goals. SDGs 2, 6, 13 and 15 were the focus and were discussed in several workshops (spanning multiple SDGs). The SDG 13 workshop centred on the topic of bioeconomy (with reference to Option 13_09). The event concluded with a panel discussion. 

Evening event at the 21st Klimatag (UniNEtZ I, April 2021)

In cooperation between UniNEtZ SDG 13 and CCCA, the evening event took place as a virtual reception due to COVID-19, inviting participants to network across the various SDG topics. Following a brief welcome, the rest of the evening was open for relaxed exchanges at virtual standing tables in Zoom and Miro. 

Video series "What kind of future do we want?" (UniNEtZ I, May 2020 – March 2021)

With the video series "What kind of future do we want?", the voices of 30 researchers from across Austria have been brought into the spotlight since May 2020, showcasing alternative solutions, innovative ideas and holistic approaches for transforming our society towards sustainability. The video series was created in close collaboration with the Allianz Nachhaltige Universitäten, CCCA, Scientists for Future and the UniNEtZ project, on the initiative of the Universität für Bodenkultur Wien. 

Reference National Energy and Climate Plan (Ref-NEKP) (UniNEtZ I, 2019)

To outline possible pathways through which Austria can make its fair and appropriate contribution to the Paris climate targets, a reference plan was drawn up as a basis for a scientifically sound National Energy and Climate Plan for Austria that is in line with the Paris climate targets (Ref-NEKP). 

Climate changes health: Building competence in the health professions (UniNEtZ II, September 2022)

On 21 September 2022, the Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA), together with the Fachhochschule Kärnten, Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG), the Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (BOKU) and Health for Future (H4F) Austria, with support from the Klima- und Energiefonds and the BMK, invited participants to the dialogue event "Climate changes health: Building competence in the health professions" at the Universität für Bodenkultur Wien.

Agenda 2030 conference of the Austrian Association of Municipalities and Cities "Thinking cities and rural areas into the future" (UniNEtZ II, May 2022)

The Agenda 2030 conference took place at Garten Tulln. Across the grounds, there were a wide variety of SDG experience spaces showcasing the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. As part of UniNEtZ, there were stands dedicated to SDGs 11 and 13. 

Publications & releases at a glance

Press releases

Who is Who of the SDG 13 Group

Sponsorship*/Coordination

CCCA - Climate Change Centre Austria

*Collaboration within UniNEtZ is governed by the cooperation agreement between all UniNEtZ partners. A sponsorship entails the leadership and coordination of the substantive work of all participating institutions and liaison with the other UniNEtZ groups.

You'll find all further information about the project on the UniNEtZ website.

 

Contact for UniNEtZ SDG 13: Ingeborg Schwarzl and Lisa Waldschütz