As the Research Group for Empirical Political Science at the University of Duisburg-Essen, we want to contribute to the sustainable use of resources. We have therefore set ourselves the goal of minimizing the outputs of CO₂, energy consumption, waste, and use of resources such as rare earth elements, as well as minimizing land use.

We regard business travel as the most important area in which we can reduce the environmental impact of our work. For this, we follow the principles set out in the decision tree for business travel.

We strive to reduce our electricity consumption and energy use for heating. Since 2020, the University of Duisburg-Essen has sourced 100% of its electricity from renewable sources (Ökostrom). Our goal is to reduce our research group's electricity consumption by switching off devices and lights and working in as energy-efficient a way as possible. 

When it comes to purchasing in all its aspects, we take sustainability criteria into account. For all procurement, we ask ourselves how we can obtain the most sustainable products and equipment possible.

At the office workplace, we print and copy as little as possible and double-sided wherever we can. We separate the waste generated at work into paper and residual waste, recycle as much as possible, and dispose of any other waste properly.

We strive to choose low-CO₂ modes of transport for commuting to work. We support the University of Duisburg-Essen's efforts to create incentives for commuting by bicycle or public transport.

We ask guests to avoid traveling by plane where possible and instead point them toward low-CO₂ alternatives such as train travel. However, guests are free to make their own decision about how they travel.

▶ The sustainability strategy of the Research Group for Empirical Political Science as a PDF.