Management summary

The Executive Board published the Climate and Ecological Emergency declaration in February 2023. Several pledges have already materialized in 2023, while others are still being planned. One successful project following the declaration was the series of 12 EUR Sustainability Dialogues organised in 2023 and 2024, which saw over 550 students and employees engaging in a collective effort to generate input for the coming Strategy 2025-2030, where sustainability will remain one of the top priorities. Another noticeable achievement in 2023 was the publication of the results of the first version of the Industry Engagement Monitor that maps EUR’s relationship with companies. 

Our aim is to equip our students with the knowledge and skills to address sustainability challenges in their future careers. Currently, EUR boasts 106 degree and non-degree programmes focused on sustainability. In addition to these programmes, students and staff could participate in a wide range of workshops and initiatives, such as the Climate & Ecological Literacy to Action workshop, summer school by DIT and Transition Academy by DRIFT. 

Sustainability research at EUR is a collective effort by researchers from every faculty and discipline. In 2023, the Sustainability Monitor was launched to provide insight into how our research relates to the SDGs.

The number and range of inter- and transdisciplinary research initiatives at EUR are increasing. This year, researchers from the DIT platform produced a report exploring governance of transdisciplinary sustainability research programmes. Additionally, two researchers from the Erasmus School of Law (ESL) published a report that contributed to the banning of floating degassing.

As part of our efforts towards an eco-positive university by 2030, we have implemented numerous initiatives to reduce our environmental footprint. For example, as of 1 July 2023, all catering orders are vegetarian because of a modified catering policy for employees. Furthermore, in November 2023, prices for vegan meals were permanently reduced by approximately 25 percent. As part of the “bring your own cup” initiative, as of January 2024, disposable cups are no longer available on campus. In addition, we revised the sustainable mobility scheme for employees, extending the public transport and bike schemes while also increasing parking fees. 

In line with EUR's sustainability ambitions, various carbon-reducing actions and initiatives have been implemented in last years. To better measure their impact, the Real Estate & Facility department started reporting on EUR's annual carbon footprint in 2011. Each year, we strive to enhance the quality of these reports and provide the best possible picture of EUR's impact on the natural environment. This year, our carbon footprint calculations for 2022 and 2023 are complied with the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.

Integrating sustainability into our educational programmes, research and operations must happen in a fair and equitable way. The EUR IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access) centre plays a significant role in our plans to achieve to inclusive education, social safety and equitable opportunities for all our students and staff. The IDEA centre team published their first annual report  about their achievements of 2023.

In 2023, our engagement initiatives included a series of Sustainability Dialogues, the Sustainability Award for Economic Faculty Association Rotterdam (EFR), the second edition of the DIT day and the Erasmus Sustainability Days organised by the Erasmus Sustainability Hub. Additionally, student-led study associations across campus worked on reducing their own emissions through changes in mobility and food choices.