Climate-adapted universities: Perspectives of university members at three locations in Germany

In the face of accelerated global warming, higher education institutions are facing increasing climate risks that lead to pressure to adapt to these changes. Although universities play an important role in researching adaptation needs at higher institutional level, there is little dedicated empirical research into the subjective needs of universities and thus which adaptation measures university members prioritise. Surveying the perspectives of university members is of great value to develop more targeted adaptation measures and reduce personal burdens. This article analyses the perspectives of university members on perceived climate change risks as well as attitudes towards possible adaptation measures and barriers to implementation. An online survey was conducted at three German universities in Bavaria, Brandenburg and Saxony. The survey results suggest that university members consider the current implementation of climate adaptation at their own institution to be inadequate. The results can identify priority areas for action in the planning of climate adaptation measures at the universities surveyed in the areas of information provision, heat adaptation, structures for participation and the institutionalisation and continuity of resources for climate adaptation.