Freie Universität Berlin has published its Sustainability Report 2026. It looks back on 25 years of commitment — from reduced energy consumption and the biodiversity strategy to new funding opportunities for climate protection — while also presenting the sustainability program for the coming three years.

New is the internal Climate Protection Fund established in 2026: it finances ideas and initiatives from university members as well as climate-friendly and biodiversity-promoting measures for buildings and campus — exclusively for projects that go beyond legal requirements. University President Günter M. Ziegler sees this as a tool that creates transparency about emissions through internal pricing and enables targeted funding. Chancellor Andrea Güttner also points to new binding sustainability principles for business travel, as well as newly visible "handprint activities" such as transformative teaching offerings and real-world labs (Reallabore).

The report also shows what has already been achieved: in 2024, Freie Universität became the first German university to adopt a biodiversity strategy, and since 2001 it has reduced energy consumption by 32 percent through its energy management. Andreas Wanke, head of the Sustainability & Energy Management Unit (Stabsstelle Nachhaltigkeit & Energie), emphasizes that sustainability affects all levels of the university and can only succeed collectively.

The full Sustainability Report 2026 is available online.