Climate Work at GU - Newsletter fom the ST section
Publicerad: 2026-11-10
Nyhet ST’s local climate group at the University of Gothenburg aims to contribute to the University’s sustainability efforts. In this newsletter, you can find out more about the group’s work and the issues currently on its agenda.
Why is climate a union issue?
The 2024 policy programme of the Union of Civil Servants (ST) addresses the public sector’s responsibility in relation to climate change and establishes that the climate transition is a union issue. This is both because workplaces have an impact on the climate and therefore need to transition, and because climate change affects our workplaces and society as a whole.
In the longer term, the climate transition will affect what kinds of jobs are created and what resources the government will need to allocate to adaptation. ST believes that the government should lead the climate transition and set an example. In its climate efforts, the government must safeguard democracy and ensure that social inequalities do not increase. Read more about ST’s climate work.
What has ST done so far?
- Created a new union representative role – Board Member Responsible for Climate Issues.
- Defended a member who participated in an action organised by Rebellmammorna (Mothers Rebellion) in their spare time.
- Participated in the climate demonstration in Stockholm on 23 August.
- Published an opinion piece in Dagens Arena: Facket behöver ta ansvar i klimatomställningen | Dagens Arena.
ST’s local climate group at the University of Gothenburg aims to contribute to the University’s sustainability work. We review what is being done across the University, including GU’s official guidelines and policy documents as well as good practices in different areas. The climate group also collaborates with other unions in the Gothenburg area and organises joint events for members to build engagement and union strength. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact us atst@gu.se.
How does the University of Gothenburg work with climate and sustainability?
A lot of good work is already being done at GU, but there is room to do more. If you know of activities already under way or have suggestions for new initiatives, please email us at st@gu.se.
The Staff Portal provides information about GU’s work on sustainable development. Staff can also submit suggestions for improvements via the IA system.Sustainable Development(login required).
GU is a signatory to the Climate Framework together with all Swedish universities and higher education institutions. Each institution that has signed the framework is expected to have implemented measures by 2030 that put it in line with the 1.5°C target.Climate Framework(login required).
To support this work, GU has a carbon budget and uses the Carbon Intelligence System (CIS) as a tool for calculating the University’s carbon footprint. All employees can log in to see how GU is performing. It is also possible to view data for individual faculties, emissions per employee, and more. Carbon Intelligence System(login required).
Environmental representatives and environmental coordinators. There is a network of environmental representatives and coordinators from each faculty who meet regularly to discuss current issues, make study visits, and more.
GU’s furniture reuse service, “Återbruket”, opened in 2025 and is the University’s internal marketplace for reused furniture and equipment. Departments and faculties can find furniture and equipment free of charge instead of buying new items. Reuse Marketplace(login required).
There are many examples of good practices across different faculties and departments.
Here are just a few:
- Courses and training, such as Education for Sustainable Development – Inspiring Learning for a Sustainable Future(login required).
- Solidariskt kylskåp (Solidarity Fridge) – solikyl.se is an organisation that collects surplus food that would otherwise be thrown away. The food is distributed free of charge, with one distribution point at the School of Business, Economics and Law and another at Pedagogen.
- TaGe shelves can be found at various locations around GU.
Other tips
In spring 2026, ST at GU and Vision jointly organised a screening of a film about sustainable economic systems. You can watch the film for free here: Outgrow the System — RåFILM
Johan Rockström is one of the world’s leading climate researchers. In 2025, he was named International Swede of the Year. Rockström — Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Read Johan’s opinion piece ahead of Sweden’s 2026 election, which discusses, among other things, why Sweden’s emissions are not nearly as low as our politicians claim:DEBATT: Behov av korrekt information kring Sveriges klimatutsläpp