KlimaPlanReal – Sustainable transformation paths to climate neutrality with planning cells and real-world laboratories (KlimaPlanReal)
Launched in October 2022, the project aims to support universities in Saxony-Anhalt on their path to climate neutrality. Sustainable transformation paths to climate neutrality are being explored with planning cells and real-world laboratories. The project examines both transformation and transformative processes with a focus on the goal of climate neutrality in the university organization.
In the first phase, cross-member group university climate councils were held in the summer semester of 2023, based on the planning cell method. With the support of experts (advisory boards), these councils developed recommendations for action to achieve climate neutrality.
In the following two project phases (2024 and 2025), selected recommendations from interdisciplinary and cross-administrative transformation teams will be implemented in initial pilot projects at the individual universities. This will take place in transfer laboratories, based on the real-world laboratory approach.
The entire process will be evaluated across universities in order to identify obstacles and potential for the transformation and transformative process. At the end of the project, the findings will be used to develop blueprints for other universities, which will be made available in a digital best practice report. These will be available in the DG Wiki Hoch N after the project has been completed.
Project priorities
Climate neutrality
Project region
Saxony-Anhalt
Further project details
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In preparation for the University Climate Council and the Climate Plan, the project team conducted a qualitative analysis of previous climate protection measures at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. This analysis describes cross-thematic processes as well as specific measures and research projects in the areas of renewable campus, sustainable commuting and business mobility, and sustainable nutrition and procurement.
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With the support of experts, the university climate councils developed specific recommendations for action to achieve climate neutrality for each university. The following topics were discussed in particular: commuting and business travel mobility, renewable campus design (including energy efficiency and biodiversity), nutrition, and procurement. The event took place over two days in the summer semester of 2023.
A special feature of the University Climate Council was that it was not formed through election or appointment, but rather that the participants were selected by lottery. The concept of citizens’ councils, in which members are randomly selected to work together to develop solutions, served as a model for this. The idea behind this is that a wide range of opinions is represented and that the agreements reached by this body are as widely accepted as possible and capable of gaining majority support. The process of forming the university climate councils was supported by the project’s scientific advisory board. A novelty here was that there was equal representation of students, who made up half of the council. Following a transparent and consistent procedure, accompanied by professional process management by the university climate councils, the recommendations for transformation measures were recorded in a university-specific climate plan with recommendations for action.
The climate plan was presented to the university management on November 15, 2023.
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In the project name KlimaPlanReal, “Real” stands for the implementation of two proposed measures from the climate plan of the University Climate Council within the framework of two transfer laboratories. These transfer laboratories are intended to initiate and accompany transformation processes. They are based on the real-world laboratory approach. They are characterized by their contribution to sustainability transformation, transdisciplinarity between science and practice, and cyclical learning processes and reflexivity.
In order to select suitable measures from the climate plan for the upcoming transfer laboratories, these were evaluated in terms of their greenhouse gas reduction potential, the expected implementation costs and duration, their feasibility within a transfer laboratory, and other criteria (impact assessment). This assessment resulted in a preliminary selection of seven promising measures from all six fields of action. This selection was presented to the project partners and the scientific advisory board and discussed with them. The implementation options were then also discussed with representatives of the university management. After these necessary consultations, two proposed measures were selected for implementation in the transfer laboratories.
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The first transfer lab was conducted from January 2024 to January 2025..
Sub-measure “Resource cycle” (equipment pool, reuse of equipment)
As part of this sub-measure, an online platform was set up at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences to simplify the internal transfer and lending of university-owned equipment. On the one hand, a transfer platform was set up for university employees, where they can voluntarily register equipment they no longer need, which can then be taken over by other university employees. On the other hand, a lending platform was set up for both students and staff to borrow equipment in order to expand the range of sustainable uses for equipment at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. The objectives of the measure were to establish the most sustainable use possible of existing devices at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences and to avoid multiple purchases and thus GHG emissions associated with the entire life cycle of devices (manufacturing processes, delivery, disposal, etc.).
Further information on the device pool can be found here.
Sub-measure: “Communicating sustainability goals – tips and tricks for saving energy in everyday university life”
The sub-measure “Communicating sustainability goals – tips and tricks for saving energy in everyday university life” was implemented by January 2025. The sub-measure aims to provide university members with understandable and user-friendly ways to save energy in everyday university life. The goal was to raise awareness among university members through “aha moments” and tips & tricks on the topic, thereby reducing energy consumption (electricity, heat) and ultimately achieving GHG emission reductions..
The results and further information on saving energy in everyday university life can be found here.
A blueprint for transfer to other universities can be found in the DG Wiki Hochᴺ.
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Sub-measures “More species-rich flowering meadows and area plantings” and “Species protection measures”
The second transfer lab was conducted from December 2024 to September 2025. The aim was to make visible contributions to biodiversity promotion and climate adaptation on the green spaces of Anhalt University of Applied Sciences’ campus. Campus areas that were previously of little ecological value, including intensively used mowed lawns and shrubbery consisting of neophytes, were converted into ecologically valuable, species-rich flowering areas consisting of native wild plants and insect-friendly shrubs. In addition, additional species protection measures were implemented and nesting aids for insects and birds were installed. An overview of the measures taken at all three university locations in Köthen, Dessau, and Bernburg can be found here. The switch to extensive land management will enable biodiversity to be permanently preserved and promoted, with less work and a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The University Climate Council has given this measure the highest priority in the field of biodiversity.
A blueprint for transfer to other universities can be found in the DG Wiki Hochᴺ.
The KlimaPlanReal project has provided new students starting in the 2025/2026 winter semester with wild plant seeds for 5 m². For these students and anyone else who is interested, we are providing step-by-step instructions for planting and maintaining a flowering meadow, as well as a template for documentation and monitoring.