Newsletter: Climate action must be felt at Nat

Dear Faculty of Natural Sciences Employee,

Climate action and biodiversity need to occupy a larger space in our daily life at the faculty.

Of course, it's not solely our responsibility, but as a faculty of science, we cannot hide behind poor excuses. We must act. We should opt for trains over planes, stairs over elevators, fill our plates with more greens and legumes than meat, and align our behavior patterns in research and as employees according to their impact on the climate and the planet. Heavy experiments require a lot of energy - so they must contribute to real progress and be planned to use the fewest resources.

This doesn’t mean we can never fly to professional conferences again, or that the cafeteria will ban all animal products. But we will feel the necessary climate actions in our daily lives. We must prioritize our travels and purchases more carefully – and sometimes, we will need to differentiate between convenience and the green solution.

Aarhus University has just adopted a new climate action plan. And the message is clear: we need to act now! You can read the news about the new climate action plan here, where you can also find the plan itself. 

At the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the necessary actions are a direct extension of our own research and knowledge. We keep track of the water levels, the retreat of the inland ice, and the pressure on biodiversity. But we also transform plastic into new raw materials and endow plants with important properties. We contribute to all the knowledge that underscores the need for prioritization and action but also points towards new solutions.

The medicine may have side effects. It might become tedious, there will be hassle, but where an initiative for a better natural state and climate may seem troublesome at first attempt, we should be encouraged by the positive effect. We, of all people, can consider effects and choose the right solutions - and communicate them in a simple and substantiated manner.

Here at the faculty, we have already initiated many great actions, but over the coming months and years, we will intensify our efforts. Much will arise among our students and across the departments, and some will spring from the faculty management – but the biggest difference is made by us, individually. When we contribute with good ideas and actions that point in better directions, we can inspire and enrich each other.

Kind regards,

Erik, Kristine, Ole, and Poul

The dean and vice-deans.